TALE OF THE TAKE Vol 1: DJ A TRAK

Brooklyn, NY

As one of Montreal’s finest exports to the music industry, introduced to the scene more than a decade ago, it’s hard to believe that A-Trak was only 15 years old when he won his first World DMC championship.

As a man of many accolades, he has graced the cover of just about every popular DJ magazine, appeared in countless other music publications, has toured the entire world over, and has even developed his own scratch notation system which has been used by many battle DJ’s on the scene today.

Not only has he rocked more capitals then you can name, but A-Trak has worked with a wide variety of highly renowned artists ranging from Jay-z and Kanye West, to Chromeo, Mstrkrft and Justice.

Now in 2008, A-Trak is bringing a new sound to the clubs and is an influential driving force in spreading the new electro trend to the masses. Essentially, there isn’t much he cannot achieve, including the thick beard he is currently rocking.

I got the opportunity to talk with the man himself and here’s what he had to say:

IMP: What’s up man? Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. Let’s go back to the start. How did the name “A-Trak” come about?

ATRAK: Hah, the name A-Trak was supposed to be a tag! I was 12, my brother was writing a bit of graf in Montreal and I wanted to write too. Except I only doodled on paper in my bedroom. A-Trak was one of the names I came up with (the A is for my name Alain) and around that same time I started scratching, so that became my DJ name.

IMP: When did you start producing, and what was the first project you released?

ATRAK: I messed around with production over the years but it’s only about 3 years ago that I started taking it seriously. My first track was on a compilation for Strength magazine (a skate mag) that Peanut Butter Wolf A&R’ed in 1998. It was all made out of scratching and I recorded it on a rented Alesis multitrack. My first record came out a year later, it was a 45 on Stones Throw (Wolf’s label) called “Enter Ralph Wiggum”.

IMP:  Many people aren’t aware of this, but you are the one who scratched on “Gold Digger” and suggested “Faster and Stronger” to Kanye West. What was it like working with one of Hip Hop’s greatest producers on those massive hits? Is there another one cooking right now?

ATRAK: Actually I played Daft Punk to Kanye but at first I really didn’t think he should sample them. It was almost sacred to me. I worked on a few tracks on the new album, mostly “Robocop”.

IMP: You also got to working with Jiggaman on his heart of the city tour. What was that like?

ATRAK: That was amazing. At the beginning of the year I told Kanye I was going to stop touring with him. Meanwhile Jay had just seen the last tour I did with Ye in Europe and shortly after he reached out because he was looking for a DJ for his upcoming tour. I told him I couldn’t do it but I still wanted to help, so he flew me out to his rehearsals and I helped put the show together for his new DJ.

IMP: You’ve met tons of celebrities throughout your career. Has there been a particular meeting which is most memorable to you?

ATRAK:I think the meetings that I still hold closest to my heart have been early in my career, with my DJ idols. Meeting guys like Q-Bert, Roc Raida, Babu, Mixmaster Mike in the 90’s, those guys were so cool with me, they brought me in as the kid from the new generation basically. To me it’s not about celebrities, but coming in contact with really creative people whom I look up to. So in that sense meeting Kanye was amazing too. I remember talking to Daft Punk for the first time when their tour came to New York last year and Thomas telling me that he saw me perform in 1998. That was unreal to me.

IMP: Is there anyone you’d like to collaborate with which you haven’t had the opportunity to work with yet?

A: The whole experience of collaborating with producers is new to me but I really like it. The track I did with Laidback Luke this year turned into a huge record for DJs. I started making a record with Boys Noize this fall and I’m super excited about that too. I have a few friends that I’ve talked about collaborating with too and we just haven’t gotten to it yet - guys like Diplo, Trevor Jackson

IMP: You’re now the head honcho at Fool’s Gold Records and recently celebrated its first anniversary. Can you tell us a little bit about the label and the artists who are signed to it?

A: I started Fool’s Gold at the top of ‘07 with my friend Nick Catchdubs. The label has grown a ton and I’m really proud of where we’ve gotten. We have kind of an extended family but our main artists are Treasure Fingers, Kid Sister (though her album is on Downtown), Kid Cudi, Jokers of the Scene, LA Riots, Nacho Lovers, Trackademicks and Sammy Bananas.

IMP: Kid sister is doing big things these days. I heard you produced her new album. When is it going to be available and what’s the direction you chose to take for the project

A: The album is coming out in the Spring and it’s been a really big project for both her and me. It’s the first time I oversee an entire album. The direction is basically her sound, because I think there really is a Kid Sister sound. It’s futuristic, electronic-influenced rap that’s always got a fun, poppy feel to it. We’re finishing up the album now and it’s turning into a whole conceptual project.

IMP: Anybody who has followed your career knows that you have strayed from the hip hop scene and become way more active in the electro department. Were you sick of hip hop or is this just a natural progression for you?

A: I’m never going to turn away from hip hop completely, I actually have the itch to make some hip hop records now, but part of this growth has been from a DJing standpoint. There aren’t that many new rap records that I find exciting and when you get into playing clubby, house and electro records there’s a whole different energy there. Those sounds have been influencing rap beats anyways so I guess I went straight to the source.

IMP: What’s the best advice you could offer to producers trying to make noise in the industry?

A: Nothing speaks as much as the music itself. Sure you have to make a few connects to get heard but not as much as before. When you have that one track that makes people’s heads turn, everyone will come knocking on your door.

IMP: What kind of equipment do you use?

A: As a DJ I use Serato with 2 Technics 1200 turntables and either the Pioneer DJM-800 mixer or Rane’s TTM-57. For production I mostly use Logic but I also have a Moog Voyager and I’ve started buying a few drum machines too.

IMP: In your opinion, who is the best hip hop producer of all time?

A: Premier

IMP: Thanks your time and good luck with your beard and other projects!

For more information on A Trak, please visit his brand new website/ blog at :

http://www.djatrak.com

http://www.foolsgoldrecs.com/blog/

http://www.myspace.com/djatrak

You can also purchase a copy of Dj A Trak’s “The Running Man”  for Nike’s “Original run” series directly on his myspace!

Until next time,

Jimmy Sweatpants