Lara went to the United Battle Drum & Bass event in Brooklyn last week and interviewed almost all the DJs. Kasper was on the decks first, then Raw Q, then Furney, then Technimatic and then Stunna & Place 42. There were some other DJs and MCs but we didn’t have a chance to talk with, unfortunately. Photo Credit: Charles Romano.
Minneapolis-based DJ Kasper is fairly new to the drum and bass scene, but you’d never know it from his impressive set selection. Even if Kasper wasn’t the tallest DJ in the room at 6’4, it would have been impossible to ignore his lofty sound. Like myself, hip hop is his first love, and he seamlessly weaves some of those hard sounds into his lush sets. I had the pleasure of speaking with him after he started off the battle, representing the US, last Saturday night. This is one you should not miss should he play in your city.
I saw you hit up Central Park yesterday. How are you enjoying New York?
I love New York. It’s crazy. I think the last time I was in a big city was London when I studied over there. It kind of has a similar vibe, and I like the American twist.
Had you been to New York before? And how long are you in town?
I have never been to New York. I actually leave tomorrow. I got in on Thursday night. Checked out the city on Friday. I got to see everything I wanted, which was real cool. I know you can’t check out a whole city, but I got to breathe the air and walk the streets, and that’s what I like to do.
How is the DNB scene in the Twin Cities?
It’s good. It’s healthy. It’s trying. It’s a smaller town, especially when you look at New York where there’s so many people. Minneapolis’s crew is really dedicated, and a tip of the hat to the Konkrete Jungle guys who have been doing it for I can’t even say how many years. Seven years, I think. Our anniversary is coming up. We’ve got Bailey coming in on Wednesday. So that will be good. I’m looking forward to that.
Do you have any new releases in the works?
I do. I’ve got one coming out in two weeks on Focus with Intelligent Manners from Russia. It’s going to be a vinyl release on Focus. “Of the Shadows” is my track and “Best Place Ever” is his, and then I have a four-track EP coming out on Celsius Records, hopefully in November, might be early December. We’ll see what happens. I have to email him and see.
Who in your opinion is going to win the UK vs US battle?
It’s way too early to tell. It’s only the first UK guy on right now – Furney. I know in America, all us drum and bass producers and DJs in the scene, we look up to the UK a lot. They’re really pushing it, but at the same time, we’re pushing it right back. There’s a lot of really strong producers from the U.S.
How long have you been in the scene for?
I’m a total newbie, and I got into it literally six years ago now. I was clicking through internet radio stations, and I came across BassDrive, and that’s how I found drum and bass. I just graduated from university this last year. I’ve been producing all throughout college, and it’s been a lot of fun.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I think I covered everything with the releases coming out. It’s great to be here. Shout out to Mike and Charlie for throwing the show. It’s been really cool. As a nobody who’s in it for the music, it’s sweet to come here and meet more of the crew.
