Q&A: DJ EDDIE KAY Talks Up His Work with INAYA DAY, Upcoming Projects, What He Likes in a Guy, more
New York spinmaster DJ Eddie Kay takes some time out of his busy schedule to talk up his collaborations with Inaya Day, upcoming projects with Carol Jiani, Tameka and Mark of CONTROL, what he likes in a guy, in the sack and much more. He also offers up some really great advice for you dudez thinking about becoming a DJ - what he says is very true! Lets get to it...
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Eddie: Thank you, Muzo! I'm very excited about them...It's a blessing when you're appreciated. It's twice a blessing when it's by someone whose works you appreciate...
Carol Jiani is wonderfully warm and personable, with a WICKED-good sense of humor! We've had some conversations using double entendres that make me laugh anytime I think of them! In honor of those moments, I called the track: "The Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows Mix."
I'm very 'visually oriented'... When I write, I have to create a storyboard or music video in my head then try to create a soundtrack to go with it... Carol has this really HOT b/w profile pic on her Facebook page... She also has a really sexy "Proper" English accent - I dig accents... We were speaking on the phone one evening, and she explained to me she was driving in her "Jag-uuu-ah" on her way to a gig... When I got the a capella (vocal track) of 'Fascinated' from her, I noticed she performed the song with this great Tina Turner-esque-smoky/sensual quality in her voice... I got this visual of her driving down the street in her Jag, top down, "DIVA-ed" up, then, coming up on a stop light where Ryan Kwanten (from "True Blood") is hangin' out waiting for a bus... (cue the music)....
Tameka and Mark of CONTROL contacted me and sent me a copy of their track, 'CRY'... I dig vocalists who, when singing their own back-up tracks, seem to create a 'character' with it's own personality. They then add that voice to the 'back-up choir,' and it turns out very Bohemian-Rhapsody-layered-cool! Some of Tameka's a capella tracks had the 'soul' of Etta James, while others had the 'sweet/pop' of Janet Jackson! She gave me so much to work with! All that gets wrapped up in a song about 'revenge' with some HOUSE SHAKING BASS!
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Eddie: Yes, I would have never imagined that I would be collaborating with a world class, Billboard Dance Chart-topping artist! I had been spinning at some of the hottest clubs in NJ (Studio 9, The Colosseum), and I'd noticed that if you wanted to get the dance floor really pumping, you throw a track by Inaya Day. EVERY club-goer knows her songs!.... One year, Halloween was coming up, and I wanted to bring her in to Headline the club's Halloween Party. I'd just finished putting together the third-generation of my Audio/Video Studio, and I was making a promo package/presentation for the owners of the club. As part of this package, I wanted to include a video montage/mix of her hits. At the time, she had 11 Hits but only 6 videos, so I had to take what videos I had and edit/cut them, so it appeared that her singing and performances went along with the audio mix I had created. I sent a copy to her -not really expecting a reply, except, maybe, a short and simple 'Thank You.' I received a message from her saying, 'Eddie... You Rock Da Bells!' - I was jazzed!
A couple months later, Inaya asked me if I wanted to cut/edit a video for the release of her upcoming single, 'Say You Will' - of course, I said, 'Yes.' Shortly after, she followed up with an email saying, '...since you're editing the video anyway, do you want to direct it?' Of course, I said, 'YES!!!'
One of my favorite songs of all time has been the '80s classic 'Break Away' by Big Pig. Inaya's done a kick-ass vocal track for that song, and it's long been on my 'bucket list' of songs I want to remix. The tribal chanting during the chorus always gave me chills! My goal is to create a floor stomper using some new Binaural psychoacoustic techniques to create a 3 dimensional sound out of two speakers.... omina, doke, ominea, yeah, YEAH!!**
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Muzo: You guys have become buds, too - how cool is that!? You just pick up your phone and say 'Hey Inaya, what it do?'
lol What's something about her most people may not know?Eddie: Oh, VERY cool! We seem to synch up and feed each others excitement when we come up with ideas for a project. As a producer/musician you need people in your life who inspire you to work to become better at your craft. In my life's ledger under 'Inspirational People' she joins Keith Emerson (who inspired me to learn modular synthesizer programming) and Geddy Lee (who inspired me to learn to 'juggle' multi-instruments -live, on stage) as the individual who inspired me to keep learning, keep up with the new technology, keep practicing, and 'Keep Pushing On!'
Inaya performs live in NYC almost weekly (when she's not touring some other part of the World) with an incredible band of musicians who 'cover' genres of music including Motown. I think that's one of the hardest types of music to pull-off live, because it's all raw talent and no technology. Her impression of Stephanie Mills singing 'I Never Knew Love Like This Before' is right-ON! As a youngster, she got the job of Stephanie Mills' Understudy for Dorothy in the revival of 'The Wiz' on Broadway. She has sung backup for Michael Jackson...she's one of the sweetest, most humble people I know.
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Eddie: Relatively recently. I would say it was more of an 'evolution' than a 'calling.' I played synthesizer and bass in cover bands and wedding bands for many years. I was always into technology. Synthesizers made some wonderful sounds and they had really pretty blinking lights, and lots of cool knobs and sliders to play with; I always dug the whole 'Star Trek' aspect of it. Over time, fewer and fewer venues were hiring bands and began hiring DJs instead. CD mixers came out and I was, like, 'OOOh! NEW TOYS!!! Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!.' I'm now sportin' a new Mac Book Pro, and a Hercules DJ Console RMX for my gigs. I've gone from requiring a small truck to move my equipment to requiring a large gym bag.
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Muzo: Favorite artists?
Eddie: RUSH, System of a Down, Evanescense - if I'm not dancin'.
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Muzo: DJs/remixers you admire?
Eddie: I like Fedde Le Grand's bass work, the work Dave Audé does with vocals, Junior Vasquez's quirky beats/sound effects, Timbaland, and the (Almighty Angels) Almighty remixes.
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Eddie: No ring yet...maybe one day.
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Muzo: First thing you notice on a guy?
Eddie: The company he keeps.
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Muzo: What's Muzo..I mean, what's a guy gotta do to get naked with you?
Eddie: **laughs* It wouldn't take much...
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Muzo: Favorite part of your body?
Eddie: I think my toes are pretty cool. I'm not 'big' on mirrors, so I see my toes more often than anything else.
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Muzo: Favorite part of his body?
Eddie: That area of the lower back just above the butt.
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Muzo: Complete the sentence: 'In bed, the guy should...'
Eddie: Like to cuddle.
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Eddie: Be themselves.
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Top or bottom?
Eddie: TOP.
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Muzo: Advice to new guys who want to become DJs?
Eddie: If you're really serious about it: Learn Basic Music Theory. Put a small studio together. Learn to Produce. Plan on spending 90% of the time you dedicate alone, learning your gear, software, skills, songs and how to promote yourself. Recognize there's a LOT of preparation to do before you can jump into a DJ booth - be patient! With today's technology, anyone can press 'play' and beat match. Your ability to create a unique, performance is the only thing separating you from the million-plus people out there who call themselves a 'DJ'. Last, but certainly not least, unless you're fortunate enough to have a Trust Fund, ALWAYS have a back-up plan!
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Muzo: Where can your fans catch you spinning next?
Eddie: I post information about my new projects and schedule at my MySpace page.
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Muzo: What's next for Eddie?
Eddie: Short term: A nice Belvedere Martini will do right about now...straight up, shaken, not stirred!
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Posted by MUZOPHILE at 9/12/2009 11:44 AM 
Categories: Inaya Day,0News,0ALL LISTINGS,0Q and As,DJ Eddie Kay,Q and As
Tags: Big Pig Tameka RUSH System of a Down Geddy Lee Tina Turner Ryan Kwanten Carol Jiani DJ Eddie Kay Stephanie Mills Dave Aude Fedde Le Grand Junior Vasquez Evanescense Keith Emerson Inaya Day
Categories: Inaya Day,0News,0ALL LISTINGS,0Q and As,DJ Eddie Kay,Q and As
Tags: Big Pig Tameka RUSH System of a Down Geddy Lee Tina Turner Ryan Kwanten Carol Jiani DJ Eddie Kay Stephanie Mills Dave Aude Fedde Le Grand Junior Vasquez Evanescense Keith Emerson Inaya Day
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