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This is a Bopper Nation exclusive interview with Alexander Technique, DJ/Producer/Remixer & Founder of the label ‘DJ’s Are Not Rockstars.’ From the strip club to the turntables this interview goes behind the scenes of Alexander Technique, the man, behind the scenes of ‘DJs Are Not Rockstars,’ his label and behind the scenes of his collaborative projects, ‘Blogula’ with Larry Tee and ‘Tropikill’ with Kassiano! And as if the interview isn’t entertaining enough on its own, Technique has once again blessed our site with fresh music!
[Background: Alexander Technique]
Bopper Nation:
How long have you been a DJ/Producer and why did you get involved in this scene as opposed to other music careers or other professions?
Alexander Technique:
I started DJing when I was 15, soooooo that’s about 18 years, I know I’m kinda old!! Lol, but at least [I] keep shit fresh!!! Once I started there was no stopping, it was a true addiction.
I started off playing house then really got into hip hop & the turntablist thing. I really loved to cut shit up, [and] I was heavily influenced by Roc Raida (RIP), Sinista, Q-Bert & Stretch Armstrong….. I remember staying up mad late to listen to the Stretch & Bobbito Show on WKCR 89.9 & telling myself that I will DJ for the rest of life!! I really love those days……..
Bn: Name a specific person or persons [other than the ones previously mentioned] that have been a big influence and help along the way for you!
Al: My Parents no doubt, they got me my first set of tables & always told me to never give up & also my sister she used to play the illest Disco, Funk & Soul Classics ever as I was growing up!
Then I always gotta give props to my boy Juan C. from my hometown, I basically started DJing by watching him kill shit, dude was & still is noooo joke!!
Then I gotta give it up to Junior Sanchez (I used to just sit there & watch Junior, day & night make the sickest music….. that’s true raw talent right there & always ahead of his time, dude is a true master at his craft), & currently Larry Tee has to be the biggest influence I’ve had……. hands down!! Larry always has the best ideas when making music & it is such a pleasure to work with him!
Bn: How did you choose the name ‘Alexander Technique’ and does it have meaning to you or is it simply a ‘cool’ name?
Al: Actually I got that name cuz my girl at the time used to say I had the best technique when I used to do certain things to her!! lol I won’t really get into it… its a bit dirty & I’m sure nobody wants to hear!!
Bn: I’m almost afraid to ask the next question..But for fun and purely out of my own curiosity, what other jobs have you done along the way?
Al: I used to have a stripper car service job…lol I used to pick up strippers at their crib & take em to strip bars & then have to pick em up & take them home at [the] end of [the] night….. kinda stupid but I made an easy $800 to $1200 a week….. not bad for a 19 year old I guess…lol
[Label: DJs Are Not Rockstars]
Bopper Nation:
As we understand you founded the Label: “DJs Are Not Rockstars” Tell us about the label- where did you get the idea and how did it start?
Alexander Technique:
Well after I stopped touring under the name “DJs Are Not Rockstars” with Princess Superstar, I decided that I wanted to use the name for a label especially since everything was going the digital route.
I basically thought it would be cool to be able to put out my own stuff along with my friends stuff & not have to wait for someone else to do it. My first release in Feb. of 2009 was “Nightlovers” feat. Van Scott it was a blog smash [and] it had some really cool remixes by Chewy Chocolate Cookies, Nick Catchdubs (Fools Gold), Acid Jacks & a re-edit of the CCC remix by MSTRKRFT, which is insane.
Then that was followed up with a release by Junior Sanchez & Felix Da Housecat (had to keep FE’s name on the low.. lol) called “ZAXXON” which was a definite BANGER, it also had a remix by Junior & I….. My release Rock U Feat. Princess Superstar followed right after & so on.
Bn: Who else helped DJs Are Not Rockstars grow- name some key players involved in its success?
Al: My first real release was going to be Lauren Flax Feat. Sia “You’ve Changed” (which was pushed into March) but I was totally stopped by my managers (Mark Davenport & Marci Weber) in March at WMC about 2 days before it dropped, they were like “HELL NOOOO” that track needs heavy promotion & its gonna have to wait!! They totally schooled me…lol then I understood why record labels took a while before they released stuff & I instantly asked them to be my label partners along with Larry Tee who hooked me up with them in the first place. Then I just kept finding some really great music to put out & here we are 9 months later with 10 releases & a shit load of heavy hitters coming your way!!!
I thought it was gonna be easy but its really not, it involves a lot of time & help, don’t think just because its mostly digital now it is easy! You’re gonna be in for a big surprise!!! I would like to give a big thanks to my managers Mark & Marci, Larry Tee, Junior Sanchez, Van Scott & Jad Cooper (Drlkt Freddie), Seed Music Dist., my brother Pete Lips, Darious & Ivo (Probus) without there help & guidance this would not be possible!
Bn: Besides getting this awesome label off the ground, what are some other big achievements/accomplishments that have already been achieved with the label thus far?
Al: I think I will be able to tell you more about that towards the end of our first year! But so far its been GREAT, our tracks have been getting play all over the world by Crookers, Mstrkrft, Steve Aoki, Felix Da Housecat & many many more & we also have been getting lots of love from the UK on Radio 1 by Pete Tong & Annie Mac!!… I’m really happy with all of our artists, DJs & remixers, they are all mega talented, it has been nothing but a pleasure to work with them!!
[Collaborative Projects: Blogula and Tropikill]
Bopper Nation:
I’ve always known people who work in independent fields to be a different animal than the more commonly ‘team player.’ How does someone who works successfully as an independent artist get involved in collaborative projects such as Blogula and Tropikill?
Alexander Technique:
I love collaborating, its so much fun, especially when you’re working with someone who is NOT a grumpy fucker! This is why I chose to work with Larry Tee on “BLOGULA” & Kassiano on “TROPIKILL”. They’re both so easy going & fun to work with & that’s why we get stuff done really fast!
Bn: How does one work together on piecing a song or mix? Is the work split right down the middle, does one person do the bassline, is the song divided in sections?
Al: With Larry [Blogula] it’s a piece of cake that dude always has all of his ideas in his head & they’re always GENIUS! With his great mind always thinking of sounds & samples & me always blasting away with effects & trickery madness on the computer we’re unstoppable! With Kassiano [Tropikill] its about the same except we usually get beers & mad girls to come over & chill while we work…. so of course it takes a little longer to get stuff done!! Lol.
Bn: I know there has to be some obstacles in working with another creative individual, how do you overcome those obstacles? What if one person loves the song and the other person hates it, does it get tossed on the back burner or do you work out a compromise?
Al: I always compromise, Larry always compromises & Kassiano always compromises that’s just another reason why I picked them for these projects (Blogula & Tropikill)
[Extra Questions and Bonus Q by Kngtrdr]
Bopper Nation:
I understand in today’s DJ world we have the technological alternatives to lugging around a vinyl collection. Assuming you are Serato based, do you still lug around any vinyls (maybe tunes that can’t be found digitally)?
Alexander Technique:
Nah, I haven’t touched vinyl in like 5 years now, its kinda sad never thought that would be possible, but I really believe that we have to move with the times & Serato Scratch is the best thing that ever happened to a DJ since the Technic 1200′s……… so far I have been able to find most tracks I have on vinyl on mp3…… so its all good!!!
Bn: When you DJ do you have a set that you play off of or do you spin from your whole library collection or both?
Al: I play off my library…… I never been a fan of setting up a set list, a lot of new cats do that & I think its whack!! They end up sounding the same at every gig!!!
Junior Sanchez Ft. FDHC - Zaxxon Take 2 (Junior Sanchez and Alexander Technique Remix)
Peaches - I Feel Cream (Larry Tee & Alexander Tehcnique Blogula Remix(
via Stoney Roads)
Lauren Flax, Sia & Kill The Rocket - You've Changed (Ft. Sia) (Kill The Rocket Slam Dance Remix)
*Bonus
MGMT - Time to Pretend (Blogula Remix)
*Special thanks to Hero_In for the Lauren Flax track. Stoney Roads for the recent Peaches remix and a HUGE thanks to Alexander Technique for agreeing to do this interview!
Alexander Technique| Annie Mac | Blogula |Chewy Chocolate Cookies| Felix Da Housecat | Junior Sanchez | Kassiano | Larry Tee | MSTRKRFT | Peaches | Pete Tong | Tropikill|
