Just last week, DJ and producer 12th Planet did something very clever. He released his LP The End on 12/12/1212. So many twelves!
The Smog Records-released LP featured new tracks and ones already out on his 2012 The End Is Near EP, as well as some impressive collaborations.
This year may be our last on this planet, but it was a helluva trek for 12th Planet who toured Asia and admitted to us that: "Life is awesome." He's been called a mentor by Skrillex, but the L.A. native seems to take it all in stride. We chatted with him about Holy Ship!!, trapstep, and Jim Morrison.
New Times: Can you tell me a little about The End Is Near?
12th Planet: The End is Near is an EP that I released for free in February. It had collaborations from myself, Skrillex, Kill The Noise, Antiserum, Flinch, and SPL. I re-released that EP with some remixes and some new tracks under a new title The End.
So, Skrillex calls you his mentor, but you can't be that much older than him.... Are you just that much better?
[laughs] Nah! I just taught him how to use CDj's and gave him some crazy playlists in his early days. I also brought him out to sing on a couple of my shows, like EDC and Avalon, before he had an agent, or a record label behind him. He's a really good friend, and even more, he is an amazing person, who inspires me to be the best I can be at all times.
Being from L.A., how much does that inspire your music? Or influence, rather?
I get asked this question all the time, and I think the only way to sum it up, is "pride," I guess. I am proud to come from a long line of great artists from Hollywood and Los Angeles, and I just want to pass on something for my legacy.
And would you ever leave L.A.?
I would never leave L.A.!
Great answer!
I think it's just 'cause my family and closest friends are... good reason right. However, I would live abroad somewhere for a stint
I gotcha. Are there like five things you're obsessed with in L.A. that you'd share with us? Venues, food spots, anything? Things you couldn't live without?
Yeah, I get nostalgiac on the downtown neghborhood food spots. L.A. Cafe, Flame Broiler, Mas Malo, Gorbals.
So, I think of dubstep as being sort of this masculine sort of electronic genre. Do you think there's room for ladies in dubstep?
Erm. Yes, there are soo many songs for the ladies. I mean, bros definitely buy more tickets to shows. but, there are so many producers and artists out there making sexy stuff, including myself [laughs]. This is one of the last remixes I just released. This is a song called "Youth Blood" that I did two years ago, and it was definitely intended for the ladies.
And did the ladies appreciate it? It is sexy! What can you tell us about "trapstep?"
[laughs] Trapstep is like, trap and dubstep mixed together. It's not so much straight forward trap, but its more like minimal dubstep with 808s 'n stuff.
I don't think most people in the world have figured out what trap is, and now to add dubstep to the mix! It offers a nice balance to both genres though.
Yeah, it's like people forgot that trap comes from rap. Pimp C is probably turning over in his grave right now.
And did you grow up listening to hip-hop too?
I come from the MTV generation, so I grew up listening to really whatever came on that channel and BET. Like G'N'R and Motley Crew, Ice Cube, Onyx, Pharcyde, shit like that.
And what do you listen to now, only what you produce or make?
I try and keep an open mind when it comes to music. Sometimes I'll hear stuff, and I will search for the artist who made it, but then I find myself stalking that artist like on Wiki, and trying to find out every album that person has done, and collaborations, and so on and so forth. So I guess I just listen to the music me and my friends make the most, because then I would just get sucked into some never ending vortex of learning about shit I really don't need to learn about.
Will this be your first Holy Ship!!?
Yes. First voyage for me. First cruise.
And are you worried about performing at sea?
Oh, I am built for it [laughs], I can DJ pretty much dead.
That's a great skill for a DJ to have!
[laughs] If only Jim Morrison had it!
Aw, I know... OK, one last question. What would you say was your worst gig or your best gig ever?
That's a good question. Best gig ever was probably Ultra with Skrillex this year. That was huge. Worst gig was probably my 21st birthday when someone gave me a shot of tequilla and I thought it was a different shot. I puked all over my self mid-mix. Tequila shots'll get ya!
Holy Ship!! pre-party on Jan. 3, Revolution Live, 100 SW Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Holy Ship!! Sets sail Jan 4 to 7 from Port Everglades, 1850 Eller Drive, Fort Lauderdale.
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