DJ Killa-Jewel Interview

  TrendPimp recently sat down for a talk with the multi-talented DJ Killa-Jewel. Having been a fixture of the Montreal hip-hop scene for years and branching out into everything from children's television programs to classical music productions, Killa-Jewel is a woman who's got some stories to tell!

TrendPimp: You were originally educated in classical piano before turning to DJing in the late 1990s. What prompted the switch?

DJ Killa-Jewel: I began piano lessons when I was seven years old. When I was seventeen, I met a very talented musician by the name of DJ Mana who introduced me to electronic music and from that point on I was hooked on finding out more. My tastes in music were changing and there was something about the experimental stuff that I really tuned into. When I first learned how to mix, I was using classic house and techno. I think I've come a long way since then!

TP: Where was your first public performance with a turntable, and how did it go?

K-J: The first time was only slightly nerve-racking, but no-holds barred. It was at a local bar on the St. Laurent strip at an event called Tableturns, an open turntable night where everybody gets their 3 minutes to scratch in front of an audience. It's funny but my attitude towards getting up there and going for it was either "you do it or you don't, there's no in-between". When you have nothing to lose, it seems like a pretty easy decision.

TP: Are you more inclined towards house and electronic music, or more conventional hip-hop? Or do you try to avoid making distinctions like that to begin with?

K-J: Hip-Hop is definitely my first love (after classical) but if it wasn't for the house and electronic I probably never would have discovered hip-hop in the first place. I'm definitely guilty of having been an underground junky for my first 6 years as a turntablist/hip-hop DJ. I would play nothing but! And I didn't care what people thought. I still don't care, but of course there's the whole issue of changing times and people not appreciating the classics anymore. I've learned not to take that personally as a DJ, because it's just the natural progression of things. I also think the music industry is in a very different place right now than it was when I started out, and young people's tastes are a reflection of that change. I play everything, if I like it.

TP: Which other DJs have inspired you the most?

K-J: In the beginning I looked up to quite a few turntablists like Q-Bert, Kuttin Kandi, Kid Koala and many local Montreal DJs as well. As a DJ and now producer, my main influences in no particular order are DJ Shadow, Koala, Amon Tobin, RJD2 and DJ Numark (I just saw him perform here in Montreal and I was so inspired)! Those are some big shoes to fill, but I'm ready to take on the challenge.

TP: Do you feel that being a female in a typically male-dominated genre has made it harder for you to get the props you deserve, or has it helped you get noticed?

K-J: Being female has no doubt made it easier to stand out but I have always felt uncomfortable ever using it to my advantage. I've always truly believed my skills speak for themselves no matter what I do. However, I'm happy I've been given the opportunity to prove that as a girl, I can get somewhere without sexually exploiting myself. I've had to earn my respect just like any other underground artist, but with the added job of breaking down people's preconceptions.

TP: You’ve performed all over the world, from New York to Tokyo and everywhere between. What, so far, has been the highlight of your live career?

K-J: I think the highlight of my career was the couple of years I spent touring the world with the theatrical production "The Busker's Opera" by Robert Lepage. I acted, sang, played piano, scratched, and even played the drums at one point! We performed in red-velvet-seated theaters all over Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, and were invited to cocktail parties at Canadian embassies with governor generals, performers and theater connoisseurs. The sights, sounds, smells and heartbreak are what definitely makes those experiences stand out. My upcoming album, Saudade, is a direct influence of my experiences on tour.

TP: Right, let's discuss Saudade. What kind of music will it be, and when do you expect it to be released?

K-J: I'm so excited about my record because it's been three years in the making and I'm really satisfied with how it's turning out. The music is an instrumental culmination of years of classical piano, underground hip-hop, dark, atmospheric sounds and early electronic soundtracks, mixed with many tumultuous months of personal tragedy and a really bad relationship (the latter being the most obvious of influences). Amongst the list of tracks, there will be a few emcees and an appearance from Mr. Dibbs. The record is called Saudade, and for anyone who knows the definition of that word, you will fully understand the concept behind the record. "Sorrow" is the first single, and I've recently finished filming the video for it. I'm hoping to release the record before spring, but first I've got to find distribution and possibly a record label to pick it up. Now that's a whole other job in itself!

You can keep up-to-date on the latest news from DJ Killa-Jewel by visiting her official website or her official MySpace profile. But first, check out the brand-new music video for "Sorrow," the first single off of her upcoming album Saudade:

About the author:

  Curtis is a writer specializing in politics, popular media and the entertainment industry. Based out of Vancouver, Canada, he graduated from Kwantlen University College with an Arts degree in 2006 and is now a contributing editor at TrendPimp magazine. His online portfolio can be found at CurtisSpring.com.