LA-native and Tokyo-resident DJ Tha Boogie Bandit regularly performs on the main floors of Japan’s biggest venues including ageHa, WOMB, Sound Museum Vision, and more. As part of internationally known label Peakhour Music (one of Beatport’s Top 10 selling labels), he produces trap, bass house, future bass, and big room. He is also the head of Peak Hour’s bass music sublabel Hotslice.
In addition to regularly releasing on Peak Hour Music, Tha Boogie Bandit has released singles with Chuckie’s Dirty Dutch, Deorro’s Panda Funk, and EDM.com’s AIA labels. He has had 6 tracks in the Beatport Electro House Top 100 and 2 tracks in the Dubstep Top 100, with the jungle-infused dutch house big room track “OMFG” peaking at #16. Other notable releases include his original track Krazy, his bootleg remix of Skrillex & Rick Ross’s Purple Lamborghini, and his recent collab with Lucchii “Blow Up.” In addition to having his track “El3phat” featured in Showtek’s Yearmix 2016, his music is consistently supported by major artists and included in podcasts and live sets from MAKJ, Juicy M, Chainsmokers, Chuckie, Reece Low, Glowinthedark, Dada Life, Milk N Cooks, Far Too Loud, DJ Bl3nd, and more.
He has shared the stage with some of the biggest names on the planet - Jay Hardway, Tujamo, 3LAU, Wolfgang Gartner, Kill the Noise, Bobby Burns, Tim Mason, Thomas Gold, Daddy’s Groove, Lazy Rich, Lucky Date, Starkillers, Paris & Simo, Feed Me, Nari & Milani, Danny Avila, LA Riots, Jauz, and more. His time spent in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Seoul being an international flavor to his performance.
The “wubs, hoo’s, beats and peaks” of his songs are insane, a result of over ten year of experience in breakdancing, guitar, and drums. A DJ with an unsurpassable rhythmical sense, eclectic taste, and knowledge of contemporary music history, we chatted to Tha Boogie Bandit about his music, producing, and the way forward…
Hi there, how are you and what are you up to today?
Feeling good - sun is warm, grass is green, what more could you ask for? Today I'm gonna get back to working on a track that I have gone through three different versions of for the past 4 months and finally finish it up.
To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?
Eclectic hybrid fusion catchy bass dance music with a touch of the feels. I like combining genres to try and make something new and fresh, like putting together drum and bass and reggae, funk and bass house, or future bass and hybrid trap.
What are the 5 albums that have influenced you the most?
The Prodigy - The Fat Of The Land, Skrillex - Recess, RL Grime - Void, Linkin Park - Meteora, Above & Beyond - Group Therapy
Which other artists are you into at the moment and why?
I listen to everything from Kendrick Lamar to Getz and Gilberto (the Bossanova dudes) and try and take influences from all over. Dance music wise, I've recently been listening to a mix of Brohug, Herobust, Moksi, and Boombox Cartel. They're super consistent - every track I hear from them is pure fire. To make every track you release a banger AND something new and fresh, that is really, really, really hard to do. The biggest influences in dance music will occasionally release a dud every now and then but to be that consistent makes me have mad respect for them.
Are there any key pieces of equipment that you are using to define your sound?
I'm not really a gearhead, but if craft beer counts as a piece of equipment, it is definitely essential to my song-writing process. That and my French Bulldog puppy.
What would you say some of the challenges artists face today in the music industry?
I think a big challenge is how saturated the music industry has become. It's great that more people are being creative and trying to write and release music, but with so much music out there, it can be tough to be heard. Another tough thing is that artists can have a pretty negative "why should I work with you, what will you do for me?" kind of attitude where everything somehow has to be "me me me". I know it might sound a bit naive, but I want to be making connections, doing collaborations, and building a community without having to think about how this benefits me or you. I sometimes fall into that trap as well, but being nice and genuine goes a long way and I have been trying to approach the community in that way.
Where do you gather songwriting inspiration?
I listen to the big mixes like Diplo & Friends, but I find that I get the most inspiration and creative ideas when I listen to stuff I barely know. The other day I was at XLII's studio here in Tokyo (he's part of XXX$$$) and we were listening to some hardcore dancehall. I didn't leave the studio session thinking "oh yeah I am gonna make some dance hall now", but I did leave with tons of inspiration, new ideas, and ways to think about what different beats do to how people react and move their bodies.
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting your music together?
Whenever I sit down and force myself to start writing a new song, it never goes well. I have to constantly be thinking about music away from the studio throughout the day to find that spark of an idea. Once I get that initial idea, I hit the studio, crack open a Lagunitas IPA and before I know it I have the basic structure of the song put together in only a few days. All of the little details are what take the longest - I can spend weeks to months fine tuning tracks or even restarting the entire project.
What’s the best gig you have ever done and why?
The best gig I have ever done was in the summer of 2011. I was still relatively new to DJ-ing at the time and it was actually my first gig in Tokyo. My old DJ partner Foxx Boogie was in Japan and we played at this huge crazy all day beach party, with a tuna slicing show, barbecue, unlimited booze for 10 hours, thousands of half-naked party-goers, and my closest friends. Honestly the best part about it was the memories with my closest friends. Friends are really important to me so being able to spend big moments together like those tend to make for memories that I will keep for a lifetime.
And the worst?
I'd like to think they were all pretty good.
If you weren't a musician what would you be?
Probably a strategy consultant. Or I would open my own taco shop, and call it Taco Betty (my grandma's name is Betty).
Do you have any information regarding upcoming releases, projects or gigs in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?
I recently launched a sub-label under Peak Hour Music called "Hotslice." We focus on bass music and have had about 7 releases so far, with several more locked down for release in the future. I'm also close to finishing up the material for my first EP, which I hope to release later this year.
Follow Tha Boogie Bandit on his social media links below:
http://thaboogiebandit.com/
https://soundcloud.com/tha-boogie-bandit/
https://www.facebook.com/ThaBoogieBandit/
https://www.instagram.com/thaboogiebandit/
https://www.beatport.com/artist/tha-boogie-bandit/360203
