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'Tech Dance Euphoria' with Yoji Reported by Tara / Submitted 05-11-08 15:59 One of my favourite DJs and producers, the artist formerly known as Yoji Biomehanika helped define hard dance as we know it today. Almost six years to the day since I reviewed his set at Fevah's fifth birthday @Heaven, he released 'Tech Dance Euphoria', a triple CD pack showcasing his new sound. Given that his awesome Ultra Pumpin parties in Japan helped get me into dance music, it seemed only fitting to investigate why this legend is now simply known as Yoji... You’ve recently taken on a new persona, dropping the ‘Biomehanika’ to become straight ‘Yoji’. As one of my favourite hard DJs I was actually very sad to read this at first, but after seeing you play at Gatecrasher Summer Sound System earlier this year my faith was reconfirmed. What prompted this change and how has it changed what you do and how you do it? The main reason for the change in the name is that I have changed not only my style, but the kind of music I play and produce over the years. So we figured that because musically I had changed, that we should also say goodbye to ‘Biomehanika’. It is also a difficult name for people to say and spell, so it makes life easier that way too. I am still the same person; but now I am lighter without such a heavy name. The first time I saw you play was at Bayside Jenny, Osaka, more years ago then I care to remember. How would you compare the music you played then with what you play now? Please describe the new Yoji sound. I call my new sound ‘tech dance’. It’s a fusion of techno, tech trance and hard dance, with very techy, driving beats, and cool, modern style melodies. A lot of people are using the term ‘tech dance’ now, and some labels even have categories called the same thing. As Yoji Biomehanika you rose to #32 on the DJmag Top 100, #14 in the Dutch DJ Awards and Best DJ at the UK Hard Dance Awards. Is it scary turning your back on such a long career as a hard DJ, or exciting now you have new challenges? I think we need a change to stay fresh and new. The music is always changing all the time, and I needed to change with that. I also don’t like to be classified as a particular kind of artist in a certain genre; I like to change with the times. It is exciting when the music changes, so I get excited about the future of music and my direction. Speaking of which, what is your view on popularity contests like the DJmag Top 100? Do you think they actually help a DJ’s career or is it all just hype? I don’t really have much in the way of comments on this, the only thing I can say is that if people like what I do, then they come to the shows, and have a good time, that’s what I care about. A popularity contest does not dictate the quality of the artist. You’ve always been described as more of a rock star than a DJ, taking good care of your style and image. Now that you’ve dropped the ‘Biomehanika’ can we still expect the crazy hair cuts, make-up and contacts? What will you hanika fans do now?! Hahaha, even though my style has changed, I still like to wear the cutting edge fashions and makeup, contacts and so on. Yes the music has changed and so has my style, but I am still the same person on the stage, and will continue to be that person, on and off the stage. Who had the smelliest dreads back in the day: you, Scott Project or Adam? Do you ever go back to Pepi’s in Camden these days? Hahahaha, no answer to that one. The first time I wrote about you on this website was in a review of Fevah’s 5th birthday, almost six years ago to the day. What have been the highlights of the last 6 years in Yoji-time? And what are your goals for the next 6 years? Fevah! Ha Ha Ha, wow, a long time has passed since then, I have a good memory of it, I hope Eammon is doing fine. You will never know your true highlights till your life comes to an end. I don’t like to talk about it at this stage of my life, because I keep developing my music and will continue to until I retire. When I saw you play at the Gatecrasher Summer Sound System a couple of months ago you mentioned that most of your sets these days are now made up of bootleg tracks. Is this still the case and if so, why? I like to have either my own edits, or music that most people would not know, or slight variations of it. That way my sets and music are always new, and cutting edge, but have a familiar sound to them. This way, the fans can always expect something new from me. In the hours leading up to Gatecrasher SSS you made your own very special bootleg for the event’s 20 Years of Acid House theme. Do you often make tracks specifically for an event? I have done it a few times, and I have had some really amazing crowd reactions from it. I like to do something special sometimes, but I have to feel it, and it has to be at the right moment. A few years ago you used to like to bring your own decks to gigs so you could crank them up. Nowadays do you play vinyl at all? What’s your preferred way to play music at the moment? I don’t use vinyl anymore, it is so much easier to travel with CDs, and I can make all my own edits and burn them right to CD. I can even create special tracks like I mentioned before, burn them to disc at the hotel and take them to the gig the same night, so much easier. The parties you played and promoted in Japan such as Ultra Pumpin helped get me into dance music. How is the dance scene in Japan looking these days? The Japanese club scene only seems to be interested in organizers who can collect many customers and sponsors who can make money. I do not feel that they want to nurture new talent, which I am very sorry to say. I support Remo-con as much as I can as he is very talented and when I find new artists, I always try do what I can to support them. So many labels have stopped producing vinyl altogether now, but Hellhouse keeps going strong. Are you committed to producing vinyl for the foreseeable future? It is not labels who have stopped producing 12 inch, it is the distributors who have stopped selling 12 inch. That is, even if we labels produce 12 inch, there are almost no distributors anymore who will sell it and distribute it anymore. Unfortunately, due to this fact, along with the other labels, Hellhouse will no longer be releasing vinyl. The hard dance scene has changed a lot in the last few years. Are you still following it, or totally committed to tech dance now? I never suddenly changed from one genre to another — hard dance to tech dance — it has been a continual evolution. Tech dance is the genre that developed from dard dance, and from inside of me. My music has always been evolving, and will continue to. The music in your sets has often been that of extremes, ranging from banging hardstyle to lush breakdowns. How will playing tech house as Yoji change your DJ style as a performer — if at all? I still am the same person on stage as I was before. I always give my all into my performance, as it is much more fun for the crowds. The more energy I get from them, the more energy I give back; it is entertaining for both of us. You’ve played at most of the world’s top dance festivals and events. I think my favourite sets have been Creamfields and Riot in 2003, Laboratory in 2005, last year’s Planet Love Festival in Ireland and more recently, this year’s Gatecrasher Summer Sound System. What’s been your favourite to date and is there anywhere in the world left where you would like to play? I have played at so many great places, festivals, countries and gigs over the years, it is very hard to say what is the best, or my most favourite event. The fans are so different everywhere I go, and the events along with the organizers are all so different as well. I am very fortunate to have had all the experiences I have had, and to see the world this way. You’re now the father of two energy-filled kids. How do you manage to get any work done in the studio with two such hyperactive distractions around? Has being a Dad altered your perspective on life at all? Just like an ordinary father, I wake up in the morning, have breakfast with my wife and children, then go to my studio, work all day in the studio concentrating on my work. That’s my lifestyle so far. I am a father of two children now, but being a father does not affect my work itself. You were the first producer I met who explained to me how you made tracks using Logic on your laptop during long flights. Is this still the case? What software and hardware do you prefer to use these days? That is a secret, unfortunately I cannot say in public, but next time we meet I’ll tell you in person. When I first saw you at the airport in May before the Gatecrasher gig I barely recognised you as you had lost so much weight. Omede-to! What’s your secret and what advice would you give to readers who would like to lose weight? Ha Ha Ha. Taking some dietary supplements for breakfast and lunch, and eating salads for supper everyday. Ha Ha Ha. There is no special way to loose your weight easily, all you have to do is to be patient, and exercise. You’ve just released your awesome ‘Tech-dance Euphoria’ compilation, which contains three CDs: ‘Essential Tech Dance Selection’, ‘Trancy Selection’ and ‘Classic Selection’. How did you decide on the three different CDs? Did it take you long to put together this 45-track masterpiece? The first CD is a classic, I mean, I wanted to go back to the past, so I selected tracks that have a similar taste to my current style. In that way, you can easily trace the stream of Tech Dance, can’t you? For the other two CDs, I made a different theme and according to the theme, I selected tracks and made remixes to fit within that style. The triple CD pack contains tracks and remixes from top producers like Scot Project, Remo-con, Vinylgroover, Ali Wilson and Judge Jules as well as up and comings such as Charlie G, Dr Willis and Oliver Klitzing. Surely it must have been very difficult to balance the classics with the more well-known names? Not difficult at all. Simply, I selected tracks that I thought were good, and because my track selection sounds excellent. You’ll know that when you listen to the CDs, Ha Ha Ha, just kidding. Out of the 45 tracks, there’s five and a half of your own productions. What’s happening in the Yoji production camp at the moment? I am very busy at the moment. I released ‘Techy Techy’ at the beginning of the year, and I have 4 or 5 more tracks already to be released. I’m very excited about the next couple of months and look forward to releasing these new tracks on Hellhouse. For ‘Techy Techy’ you even created your own dance. How can your fans learn to do this? When will you be back in the UK next for a lesson? They can watch the ‘Techy Techy’ video on You Tube or on my MySpace page, as there is a lot of people doing it on there. You can learn by watching everyone on the video, and me of course, hahah.” You’ve just played Planet Love in Ireland on October 18. What else is on the horizon for the rest of 2008? I will be playing in the Czech Republic with Scot Project later this month [October], heading back over to Canada and then the US in November. I also always have my Yoji solo sets in Japan in December. Check out Yoji’s MySpace and learn to do the ‘Techy Techy’ here: www.myspace.com/officialyojibiomehanika For more information about Yoji and Hellhouse Recordings click here: www.yojibiomehanika.com Main photo courtesy of Matt @Alchemy PR, the rest are the author's own taken at Gatecrasher Summer Sound System. Not to be reproduced without permission. Share this :: : : : Follow HarderFaster :: Other Features By Tara: Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden Telling Cosmic Tales with DJ Strophoria Tom Psylicious aka EarthAlien takes 50 Spins Around the Sun: Raising Awareness Through the Power of Music The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable. Comments: From: K8-e on 10th Nov 2008 11:04.52 Legend. Hope I get to catch Yoji soon. Great interview! From: Neats on 10th Nov 2008 17:09.03 Good to see a great dj like this evolving From: CLK on 13th Nov 2008 18:32.19 Sounds good, can't wait to hear the new style

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