A stalwart of the independent hip-hop scene for over a decade, London’s DJ Yoda (aka Duncan Beiny) is no stranger to our shores, cementing his position as one of the world’s best party starters on his regular trips down under.
As the thermometer’s mercury hit 45 degrees in Sydney, Yoda shared his thoughts on hip-hop, poms on Bondi beach, and the state of the game in 2013.
“I’m down at Bondi at the moment with the rest of the English,” says Beiny down the line on a sweltering afternoon, “and I can tell you, it’s a lot better than being in London!”
The 36-year-old DJ has been in Australia since New Year’s, “playing a few festivals and hanging out with mates, there are a couple of shows coming up across the country and then I’m planning to lay down some tracks.”
So what is it about our country that keeps him coming back? “I just love the lifestyle here, Australian crowds are amongst the best in the world to play to.”
“I’m known as a hip-hop DJ, but to me that means hip hop in the old school sense, not just playing a load of rap records,” he explains. “Australian audiences get that.”
I can throw in a bit of funk, a bit of house, or a bit of drum and bass without throwing anybody. That’s really liberating for a DJ and some of my best nights have been over here.”“You should see some of the English people down here (in Bondi) today… surely looking like a lobster is never cool!”
Though known as a party-starter, Yoda says that it’s not always so easy. “You’d be surprised,” he offers. “I’ve played in some pretty heavy places in the past where you just get a load of vacant looking wanna-be thugs looking for some Chris Brown or something, and that’s not me.”
Having made his name in the 1990s with the now legendary Cut n’ Paste mix series, Yoda’s eclecticism is legendary, managing to stay ahead of the game without ever being part of a scene as such.
The disc jockey named after the Star Wars Jedi master has found his status has changed dramatically in the last few years, from somebody playing records in a dingy club to fully fledged rock and roll celebrity status, his position seems particularly unique among his contemporaries.
“Listen, each to their own, and everybody is just out for a bit of fun,” he responds modestly. “To be honest my view is just stay true to yourself and stick with what you love, not what’s popular.”
“I’ve been in this game a long time and I’ve seen lots of different things come and go. The very best artists in any field are those who maintain that integrity.”
Beiny says he’s strived to remain outside any one particular scene, “and so far – touch wood – it’s worked for me. I started in the turntabalist scene but found that a bit restrictive to be honest. Then there was the whole mash-up thing, but I never counted myself as a part of that either.”
It’s this rare integrity that keeps Yoda at the top of his game, but things don’t just start and end with rocking a party.
“I’ve been moving more and more into production, and that’s something I’ve been really enjoying. You don’t need a full studio these days to cut it, so I can bring my laptop wherever I want and just lay down some beats when they hit me.”
Including when on tour? “Absolutely, I have been working on a few things since I’ve been in Australia, the vibe here is perfect and I’m hoping to be able to share some tracks soon.” “I’ve been really impressed by Nick Bayer in Melbourne and Sampology from Brisbane is doing some pretty cool stuff…”
The DJ’s latest, Chop Suey dropped last year, with there already being “a few remixes and stuff flying about,” explains Yoda, “so I’m pretty happy with that side of things at the moment.”
When asked else he has in store for his Australian shows, the DJ quips, “What, apart from avoiding getting sunburnt?”
“You should see some of the English people down here (in Bondi) today, I mean, really. I know we don’t get much sunshine back home, but surely looking like a lobster is never cool!” he yelps.
Having just completed a killer set at The Espy on Australia Day in Melbourne, Yoda is headed to Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory to spin his wares. He explains that he loves the appeal of a headline gig.
“I love doing the festival thing, but in my own shows I can go a bit mad, bringing in lights and audiovisuals and cool stuff like that to try and push things a bit further. Apart from that I’m looking forward to catching some local acts.”
Anybody in particular? “I have been really impressed by Nick Bayer in Melbourne and Sampology from Brisbane is doing some pretty cool stuff at the moment,” says Beiny.
“To be honest the whole Aussie scene is wicked and it’s a pleasure to be able to keep coming back.”
DJ Yoda co-headlines with Nick Thayer at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory this Saturday 2nd Feb. Tickets & details here.
