Pocket Interview w/ John Tejada!
On a cool sunny Los Angeles afternoon our friend John Tejada sat down to his computer and answered a handful of questions we had for him, hoping to gain a little insight into the man who's involvement in all things musical spans the better part of 3 decades. Born to two classically trained musicians in Vienna Austria, John has spent the better part of his life in Los Angeles, where he's carved out a very unique niche for himself as DJ, producer and, if I do say so myself, genius composer. Many people know John's name as an amazing DJ and producer, having traveled the world doing both, and releasing more original and collaborative work than some people can muster in a lifetime, but John doesn't really fit the definition of a "superstar DJ," and that's just fine by him. When we first met John, behind The Woogie Stage at Lightning in a Bottle 2010, the first thing we noticed was how clear and grounded he was. Many DJ's are in varying states of frantic before their set, but John was cool, calm and clear, focused on the task at hand with his eye on the prize.
And it's exactly that clarity that makes him so influential in the studio, covering a variety of genres and often blending them into his own creations. We got some amazing insight into what John uses to create music and how he thinks in the process.
We also just featured a new, exclusive mix by John on our Beat Soup podcast, have a listen below. Hope you enjoy!
POCKET: Could you tell us a little about your live rig, what do you use, hows it all chained together?
JT: At the moment the live show consists of a Macbook Air running Ableton, running to a multi out sound card, Elektron Monomachine for live synth and sequencing, Novation Launchpad, Eventide Space pedal, and 16 channel mixer everything is plugged into. I’m also sending channels from the mixer back into the computer for processing.
POCKET: When you play these live shows, how much improvisation is happening?
JT: Everything in the computer is stemmed out and seperated into different sections of the song as well so its up to me to create where the song will go. The Monomachine is also receiving midi clock and is playing back different patterns per song which I have to adjust on the fly. That plus the effects make it something that feels live to me and evolves into something new every time I play the set. There were times when I was doing live PAs without a computer, but that was a bit too involved and worked better for me when I had another person there (when I’m playing live with one of my collaborators). I am giving some thought to trying it again however since I can load longer stems into the Octatrack. It’s a fun process that evolves as I try more things out.
POCKET: In the studio, what is your rig like, and what kind of outboard gear do you use. Whats your favorite piece of equipment?
JT: In my studio at the moment I have a collection of hardware synths and drum units. A bit of modular gear and analog sequencers as well as newer analogs like the Studio Electronics Code, Dave Smith Polyevolver, and Moog Voyager. There’s all the Elektron stuff (but that gets mostly used for touring) all the classic Roland xox boxes, most modified, a LL Electronics Rozzbox which is really unique, Nord G2, plus some things for my analog mixdown, summing amp, compressors, effects.
POCKET: What software are you using?
JT: I mostly use Logic Pro with a bit of Ableton Live here and there.
POCKET: You come from a very classical musical family, you’re a trained pianist turned drummer, so how did you end up making “techno”?
JT: When I moved to the states I discovered all these rock bands. I learned to drum playing along to Led Zepplin tapes. Soon after, I started hearing local sounds from our hip hop radio station KDAY which would feature many DJs doing mixes and tons of experimental at the time underground sounds. This was my introduction to Djing and electronic sounds. This went one step further when songs like Model 500s “No UFOs” was being thrown into the mix as well as some early house. For me, it was just an extension of what I was already into, the more electronic side of hip hop. So I just followed that to where I am today.
POCKET: Rush, Tower of Power or AC/DC? Why?
JT: Rush by far. Being a drummer I cant help but be fascinated by Neil of course. I really love the personality of the band. They really seem like the most normal guys in the rock biz. Ive always enjoyed the deep level of their concepts. I’m a big fan from everything from the first album to Moving Pictures, but favoring Fly By Night and Hemispheres. That was my favorite Rush era, however I still go to see them when they come through town. I just received my copy of the new Neil Peart tripple dvd. Time to watch those slow motion bits over and over with the laptop next time my drums!
POCKET: At Lightning In A Bottle 2010 we heard you play a very warm, musical set, and we’ve heard you play some pretty aggressive techno. Do you generally have an idea in mind of what you’ll play before you walk into a show, or do you feel it out? Or do you know that certain gigs expect something specific from you?
JT: I don’t have a predetermined idea of what I will play, however I don’t travel with 1000s of songs so I am limited to what I bring with me. I like to try different things. I get in different moods, or excited about different sounds time to time. Some venues do call for a more specific type of energy, but for me I feel this is rare. I prefer to show up and do what I feel I’d like to do. I don’t want the venue to change what I want to do that night.
POCKET: What can we expect to hear from you at Woogie Nights on Dec. 16th at King King?
JT: I’m actually not sure yet, but I will be trying to play the best stuff I can. I’ve been doing so many live shows that doing a DJ set feels like a treat. I’ve missed it, so I feel like I have lost any anxiety or routine which is good for me. I can get stuck with a certain crate only building on that, but at the moment I feel I can start a whole new crate from scratch.
POCKET: You’ve played all over the world, what is the strangest (or most interesting) show or situation that your touring has gotten you in to?
JT: There’s been so many. It depends of you mean good or bad? Going to Siberia this past June was definitely on the weirder side. Not the gig so much but the whole process of getting there and getting out. I’ve gotten to play some really interesting venues in weird places, that’s for sure. It’s been great to do all of it.
POCKET: This mix you just completed for our podcast Beat Soup, tell us a little about it, what’s your programming process?
JT: I just sort of go through recent music I’ve picked up and mix together some tunes I’d actually like to listen to myself. Make a good mix for the car. I also like to throw some odd classics in there when I can. Many of them end up sounding newer than ever these days.
Many many thanks to you John for taking the time to chat with us! We can't wait to hear what you're bringing to Woogie Nights on Dec. 16th and, of course, all your future projects.
Check out this video of John playing on the Woogie Stage at Lightning in a Bottle 2010 . . . what an amazing night!
