May 22, 2008

Cut Chemist: We are listening, alright!

By Cheryl Leong

Going by the moniker of Cut Chemist, Lucas MacFadden is an established DJ and record producer in the progressive music scene. His first full-length solo album, The Audience Is Listening was released in 2006, bringing forth a whole host of styles, vocals, instrumentals and rap. Often working with his long-time collaborator DJ Shadow, the pair has also done countless remixes together for the club scene. As of May 13, Cut Chemist's latest video for "What's The Altitude" featuring Hymnal, is currently the most viewed video of all time on YouTube, garnering an astounding 85 million views and counting. Impressive…

MTV Asia gets up close and personal with Cut Chemist over a cup of tea, and a banana (for him).

MTV Asia: Is this your first time here in Singapore?
CC (Cut Chemist): Second time actually, but I've never played here. I just flew in last night, and we headed straight for Zouk. [Laughs].

MTV Asia: Wow. Fresh off the plane, and you hit the clubs huh.
CC: I try not to pass up the opportunity for any experience!

MTV Asia: I'm sure you've been asked this to death, but why "Cut Chemist"?
CC: [Laughs] I think the question is, "Why not?" How come no one else named themselves "Cut Chemist"? But in any case, a friend's father came up with it. It has no relevance to anything though. I just wanted a name that was cool, and he came up with a list. That was one of them, and I just thought it had a nice ring to it.

MTV Asia: So was chemistry your best subject in school then?
CC: I never took one class of it! I know, I know. But as the years went by, I did kind of morph my style into that name, you know? Like apply chemistry to my music.

MTV Asia: Meaning?
CC: Like a little touch of this, and that; a mixing of styles to see what I'd get.

MTV Asia: Incidentally, you also played a chemistry teacher in Juno. Was that your first foray into the big screen?
CC: [Laughs] Well, it was a first speaking role, but I did do a brief part in a movie years ago with my band Ozomantli.

MTV Asia: Would you ever consider a change in career?
CC: Sure why not? It's fun!

MTV Asia: And what kind of role would you like to play?
CC: Myself! I'd play a DJ. Or rather, somebody who has obstacles to overcome. A sort of coming-of-age movie.

MTV Asia: Something like an autobiography?
CC: Yeah. I think I have an interesting life, so it'd be cool to put that in a movie. I get to travel, experience lots of things, overcome challenges and push myself. I'm like… Rocky! [Laughs]

MTV Asia: Did you always know that you wanted to be a DJ?
CC: No. I wanted to be a visual artist. I went to art school, even.

MTV Asia: So why not?
CC: Because I made more money as a DJ.
MTV Asia: Gee, you're practical!
CC: Exactly. [Laughs]

MTV Asia: Do you still draw in your free time though?
CC: Not at all. But I do graphic design a little bit. I help make all my cover art. I do apply visual art to what I do.

MTV Asia: "The Audience is Listening Theme Song" was used in the iPod commercial. Are you an Apple fan?
CC: Well, I don't own an iPod. They gave me one, but I think I lost it. [Laughs]

MTV Asia: What?!
CC: [Laughs] I just have music on my computer on iTunes. But the problem is, I don't listen to music in my free time. I play it so much, that when I'm not doing music, I don't want to listen to it at all.

MTV Asia: So what do you do in your free time then?
CC: I… buy music. [Laughs]

MTV Asia: Gosh, there's just no escaping from music after all huh.
CC: Nope. I try. And that's why I don't have an iPod. [Laughs]

MTV Asia: Being a celeb must be tough. Rigorous schedule, tours, interviews and jetlag. Would you like to trade places with me for a day?
CC: Okay why don't you explain your day, then I'll let you know.

MTV Asia: Basically I work with MTV, and interview artistes that would otherwise never know of my existence until I'm sitting opposite them in an interview.
CC: Oh you kidding me? I've heard all about you! You're famous!

MTV Asia: I wish.
CC: [Laughs] Maybe for a day. Just to check it out. I might even like your life better!

MTV Asia: Well, if you do, who would you want to interview?
CC: Jack White. He seems to know a lot about music, and I want to pick his brain a little bit. Besides, people say he doesn't like hip-hop. But I don't believe that because his music has really heavy beats in it. I want to ask him if it's true, why or why not, and why does he then make music that hip-hop DJs would play. It's ironic. [Laughs]

MTV Asia: You have an album out, even a range of clothing. So what's next?
CC: I need to make another album. I've been touring so much that I haven't had time. But I do have an album with DJ Shadow out now. But my own album… Probably not till '09.

MTV Asia: Can we expect anything different?
CC: I do want to try playing more instruments myself, more vocals and rap.

MTV Asia: Who do you want to work with next?
CC: Jack White! [Laughs] We could make a hip hop record together!

MTV Asia: Take us through an idiot's guide to Cut Chemistry's musical creation.
CC: First, I go out and look for records all over the world; anything that catches my ear. Little snippets I take note of. I don't know yet what will fit with what, so I just sample a whole bunch and take time to find more samples to fit. I decide if anything would sound good with a rap and who would I pick if it does, or instrumentals; which are interludes, intros and outros, insert some funny or ironic dialogues. Arrange them, and sometimes things happen that I didn't intend, like happy aCCidents. It's all a jigsaw puzzle. I just move the pieces around until it feels good.

MTV Asia: Last question. Describe yourself in five words.
CC: No. I cannot. Sorry.

MTV Asia: That's four words.
CC: [Laughs] Ahhh. Okay… Cynical, Witty, Funny, Charming… You know, it sucks to use adjectives. I can't say those things even If I am those things. It's for somebody else to say! But I'll still say it anyway. And Stubborn. Wait. Let's take out Witty, and replace it with Lazy. Yes, that should do it!