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Space Music: DJ Food and ‘The Search Engine’
by Robert Lamb | January 26, 2012
Few artists embody “space music” quite as well as DJ Food AKA Strictly Kev.
I spoke to the man back in 2010 about cosmic DJ mixes and he had quite a bit to share about sci-fi samples and his own psychedelic space music (you can read that here). But now it’s 2012 and Kev is back with his first full-length album in 11 years. So I checked in with him for the scoop on “The Search Engine.”
STBYM Interview: Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson
by Robert Lamb | September 22, 2011
What does the planet’s leading science communicator have to say about the future of space travel, mind-blowing cosmology and the state of science in America? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Julie and I interview astrophysicist and all-around science champion Neil deGrasse Tyson. He chats with us about the forces that motivate humans to invest in super projects, particle research, manned space exploration and he even weighs in on the wooly mammoth. Bring it back or leave it on ice?
Space Music: The Alien Sounds of Richard Devine
by Robert Lamb | July 22, 2011
I recently had the chance to interview electronic musician Richard Devine for the Discovery News article “Is Electronic Music ‘Real” music?” The man had loads to share about his own creative process and advice for aspiring artists, so I figured a Space Music post was the perfect place to share more.
What would an extraterrestrial make of music and mathematics? And how much of a connection exists between the beats that stir our brain and the number patterns that underline reality?
I decided to pick the brain of Britain’s DJ Irk on the matter. In addition to being one of the hottest DJs in the world today and the 2010 winner for Solid Steel Mix of the Year, Irk also boasts a mathematics Ph.D. in differential geometry and dynamical systems. So let’s get to know DJ Irk, first hitting the math and then getting into his personal approach to mixing.
If you’re game for a hip hop-fueled sci-fi excursion through a world of interstellar conflict and robotic super villainy, then the 2006 album “Sci-Fu” will get you definitely there. It’s the creation of one Pete Gleadall AKA Pete Sasqwax AKA Waxfactor and as it’s something of an under-appreciated sensation, I felt I needed to highlight it here. Even better, Pete took time away from his life of graphic design, music production and fiction writing to chat with me from his home in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. You’ll want some fitting background music for all this, so be sure to hit up PeteSasqWax.co.uk for free downloads of “Sci-Fu” as well as a few EPs. Now let’s get to the interview:
I like to think that anyone who follows this blog or listens to the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast probably listens to WNYC’s Radiolab as well. The show tackles an array of cranium-expanding topics, so I thought it fitting to interview one of the show’s hosts, Jad Abumrad.
Here’s how the interview went down:
Parasites compose some of the more fascinating and successful organisms on the planet, but it’s hard not to focus on the yuck factor when there’s a botfly larva squirming inside a dude’s head. So it’s pretty cool to see a short documentary with a different approach hitting festivals around the country: Sharon Shattuck‘s “Parasites: A User’s Guide.” Lets watch the extended trailer and interview the artist behind it all, shall we?
If anyone knows his way around some space music it’s NinjaTune artist Strictly Kev, aka DJ Food. As a resident DJ, he’s been dropping cosmic noise, robotic bleeps and alien hip-hop on Solid Steel Radio Show listeners for 17 years. The man weaves sonic tapestries and, if you haven’t heard Kev take to the decks, then I highly recommend you check out his SoundCloud page.
Kev recently took time away from his busy schedule to chat with me about his use of space and sci-fi sounds, his philosophy behind crafting a mix and the work of other star-gazing DJs. I have to admit, I was very excited to hear him thumbing through his legendary album collection on the other end of the line.
Last week I had the privilege to chat with Noel Sharkey, professor of artificial intelligence and robotics at the U.K.’s University of Sheffield. Noel is the co-founder of the International Committee for Robot Arms Control (ICRAC) and has presented his thoughts on the matter to everyone from British Parliament to “The Daily Show.” He’s exactly the guy you want to talk to for 35 minutes about killer robots.
I conducted the interview for the Discovery News article “Are Terminators Real?” and couldn’t squeeze in everything Noel had to say. So I thought I’d share some more of his thoughts here — specifically those related to the anthropomorphizing of machines and how science fiction alters our expectations of robotics.
Outer space features prominently in quite a few DJ mixes. To explore the connection between the cosmos and the turntables, I decided to reach out to two of the hottest DJs on the decks today. Up first, it’s the U.K.’s DJ Cheeba, a regular contributor to NinjaTune’s Solid Steel Radio and creator of its 2008 mix of the year, “DJ Cheeba Investigates.” Strap on your headphones and prepare for a mini-interview full of sci-fi geekery and killer beats.
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