There are few, if any, labels that can match the roster of the immaculately curated Ninja Tune Records. One of the newer names in the label’s their stellar bullpen (which includes heavyweights like Cold Cut, DJ Food, Kid Koala, Amon Tobin, The Herbaliser, et al) is Philadelphia’s own Starkey (ak PJ Geissinger), who brings his own distinctive dreamy, transcendental style to the overflowing table of talent. Starkey’s new EP, Open The Pod Bay Doors, is , showcases both the producer’s grime & dubstep past while showing a more mature, challenging and melodic twist — the kind of music Ninja Tune is known worldwide for. Pick up Starkey’s Open The Pod Bay Doors at the Ninjashop or iTunes, see him play this weekend (Friday 12/9/11) in San Francisco at 1015 Folsom and Saturday (12/10/11) in Denver at Cervantes, and read our complete interview with the Philly bass technician below…
Allow me to introduce myself, I’m…
PJ Geissinger, Starkey, Starkbot, the Mayor of Starkville.
You can find me in Philadelphia usually posted up at …
… my studio. Pretty much don’t leave there when I’m at home.
You might’ve heard of me because…
I’ve got a new EP out on Ninja Tune called Open the Pod Bay Doors. I also recently released Space Traitor Vols. 1 & 2 on Civil Music.
My next order of business is…
Working on album number three, and producing a lot of music for other artists in the US and UK. Ramping up 2012 to be a productive year.
If it wasn’t for my parents’ home stereo system I wouldn’t be where I am today.
They had their record player and radio wired so that you could listen in any room of the house with speakers built into the walls. I thought this was really cool obviously, so I remember days when you could just walk from room to room and always hear the same music being played.
Hit the Jump to continue reading our Q&A with Ninja Tune artist Starkey…
“I created an android, the Starkbot, which inhabit Starkville, where I am mayor. That’s a pretty solid accomplishment for a full-time producer…”
The first piece of music I heard that I remember waking up my ears was…
Probably Thriller. That was one of the first “adult” albums that I liked as a kid.
The last piece of music I heard that woke up my ears is…
Modeselektor’s track “Blue Clouds”. They have a way of making this genre-less electronic music that brings me back to when I got into this music to begin with.
I hate to admit it, but I almost gave music up when…
You have to do 50 revisions of a track, but in all reality the initial idea was the best. But, I’ll never give up music.
But it all came together when…
Two producers I really respected, Vex’d, asked me to play on the Mary Anne Hobbs BBC Radio 1 Generation Bass special back in 2008. To be recognized by your peers is a great feeling.
If I was taking a train from Paris to Madrid, the one person I’d want to share the cabin with would be….
Paul McCartney. He’s my favorite songwriter of all time… so would be fun to have a chat.
If you want to put a smile on my face, you probably want to…
Put on South Park.
If you want to wipe that smile away, then you should…
Put ketchup on anything.
The last time I saw the sun come up I was…
Getting on the train to go downtown in Philly. Was this past week before daylight savings time.
The person I admire most is…
Firefighters and police officers
The last time I lied was because…
I was asked who I admire most…. Which is too difficult a question.
If you hit shuffle on my iPod you might be shocked to find…
Bill Cosby standup.
If you hit shuffle on my iPod I’d be embarrassed if it landed on…
…I don’t really get embarrassed about anything I listen to. But maybe you’ll think it’s weird that I’ll have an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical on there on occasion.
When I get my first really big check, I’m gonna go score a…
A better set of monitors with a sub.
But it’ll never replace…
My Nespresso machine.
My one magic power is…
I created an android, the Starkbot, which inhabit Starkville, where I am mayor. That might not be magical, but it’s a pretty solid accomplishment for a full-time producer.
I’d like to give a quick shout-out to…
The Seclusiasis and Slit Jockey Records crew!
And lastly, If I was Lost In a Supermarket, you’d find me in the…
Coffee and tea aisle.
