Satoshi Tomiie: A Japanese Man in New York

"Life still goes on, even though the Twin Towers are not there anymore, but the Americans are still seeking revenge and that has made me think more seriously about many current political issues, such as a possible imminent war."

Ever since house legend Frankie Knuckles recruited him to his New York Def Mix crew in 1989, Satoshi Tomiie has maintained his status as Japan's best known international DJ, regularly spinning alongside Knuckles and his Def Mix cohort David Morales. While their co-produced track Tears established Tomiie as an East Coast superstar remixer/ producer in his own right, he remained somewhat eclipsed by his American compadres, only emerging properly last year, with his Sony backed artist album Full Lick.

And though as a DJ he's also increasingly close to the veteran status of his mentor Frankie Knuckles, he's just become the latest DJ to compile a CD for Global Underground's Nu Breed series, following in the foot steps of Anthony Pappa, Sander Kleinenberg and Lee Burridge. A long term resident of New York city, he was in London last week to promote the upcoming CD, and spoke to Skrufff's Benedetta Ferraro about the album, his music and life for an alien in New York City, 9 months after 9/11.


Skrufff (Benedetta Ferraro): Your website starts with the phrase "Satoshi Tomiie: Finally": how long has the CD for Global Underground been under discussion-

Satoshi Tomiie: "Actually they asked me back in January (2002) and I started mixing it last March. I think they meant it more as a 'finally on Global Underground' type of thing…"

Skrufff: The biography refers to this Nu Breed label, though you've been playing since 1989; why was Nu Breed appropriate-

Satoshi Tomiie: "I actually started DJing in '87 playing hip hop. I don't think all the DJs under the Nu Breed label have been necessarily upcoming names. Even if I have been around a long time, I have seen other DJs rising to fame more quickly than I have. Maybe that's why I can still pass for a Nu Breed type of DJ."

Skrufff: Your website, referring to your label SAW recordings, talks about "changes in the dance music scene"; what do you think is happening right now in house music terms-

Satoshi Tomiie: "House has been going through a dark phase for the last 4 or 5 years, and now I think it has entered a new light."

Skrufff: What do you mean by dark-

Satoshi Tomiie: "I mean moodier. It has nothing to do with the tempo, but simply with the mood it creates on the dance floor. For example some of John Creamer tracks are dark, and a lot of my stuff from the past was dark."

Skrufff: What's your stance on all this media criticism suggesting "progressive is dead"-

Satoshi Tomiie: "Whatever the media say it's up to them. There have been many average tracks released under this 'progressive house' label, that is true, but I don't consider myself a progressive house DJ. I am a house DJ and I have been for a long time. I'm not bothered about what the media says, because we all know, they build up the trend and soon enough, knock it down."

Skrufff: You're a Japanese man living in New York: have the events of 9/11 changed the way you feel about the city-

Satoshi Tomiie: "It was shocking, and I was certainly in shock for a while especially because as a DJ I need to travel a lot and I felt really anxious every time I had to go to an airport. Many things have changed. Airports are not the same and security is still very tight. Tourism has dropped dramatically. Sure, life still goes on even though the Twin Towers are not there anymore, but the Americans are still seeking revenge and that has made me think more seriously about many current political issues, such as a possible imminent war."

Skrufff: US authorities seem intent on destroying club culture with these crack-house laws; how much has this demonisation of dance music impacted on you in the States-

Satoshi Tomiie: "Well, the NYC club scene has actually gone from being hip and hap Tags

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