Pinch Edition 53

Full Show: LISTEN or DOWNLOAD

     The Pinch collective would like to thank Starsign for taking the time to drop by and offer us one of the most dense live mixes to date. What’s more important, we’d like to thank him for bearing with us during these past 8 months hiatus. It took us almost 10 months to get his shit up and yet he waited for 7 before threatening our lives, which is quite thoughtful of him.

Alex's Set: Listen or Download

Another collection of random tunes.
Have you guessed that sometimes I just don't know what I'm liking best?

Starsign's Set: Listen or Download

The Pinch: Name, age, occupation and where you reside?
Starsign: Dave Starsign La Roc Huggy Smutt 2000 aka The Lord Imperial.

The Pinch: I see, and....
Starsign: I live in Austin and I am a full-time graphic designer, part-time dj, part-time bum.

The Pinch: How you came about doing what you do?
Starsign: Quite simply, I gravitated towards music from an early age. I was curious about more subversive types of music when I discovered The Cure, The Smiths and Depeche Mode at the age of 13. From then on, I was fanatical about underground music and it eventually led to my full-fledged appreciation for hip hop, especially the production aspect of it; back when producers were digging deep for samples and making marvellous shit out of it. I had a lot of friends that were involved in hip hop or djing in one way or another and I was already collecting dusty vinyl, so I decided to purchase turntables with a student loan. I just deejayed for myself for years until I got the courage to see if I could make money off of it, surprisingly, I did and I also got respect from my peers, which to me was far more satisfying.


The Pinch: What are your major artistic influences, your background?
Starsign: Major influences would have to be the following: David Bowie, Velvet Underground, The Beatles, The Clash, Prince Paul, Marley Marl, Dust Brothers, Bomb Squad, James Brown, George Clinton, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, New Order, Talking Heads, Louis Armstrong, Donald Byrd, Kenny Dope, Daft Punk, Andy Smith, Coldcut, Sex Pistols, The Smiths, Slowdive, The Orb, Brian Eno, Scott Walker, Django Reinhardt, Bob Dylan, Serge Gainsbourg, Air, Stereolab, DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, DJ Q-Bert, Jeff Mills, Herbie Hancock, Coleman Hawkins, Boogie Down Productions, Can, Main Source, Afrika Bambaataa, De La Soul, Stetsasonic, Public Enemy, Biz Markie, Tribe Called Quest, Gangstarr, Schooly D, Treacherous 3, Spoonie G, T-La Roc, Beastie Boys, Cash Money, Jazzy Jay, Jungle Brothers, The JBs, Jazzanova, Autechre, Boards of Canada.

The Pinch: What shows, magazines, or artists mark your evolution?
Starsign: I used to watch the hell out of 120 Minutes and Yo! MTV Raps. I loved Rap City when Chris The Mayor was the host. Everything else was ass. I also read NME and Melody Maker.

The Pinch: Any upcoming (personal) projects you might have in mind?
Starsign: Getting to the point where I want to produce my own original music that is rooted in non-dj stuff ranging from folk to soundtrack to new wave.


The Pinch: If all doors were open, what label would you like to be part of?
Starsign: DFA

The Pinch: The last outstanding set you heard? A show that blew your mind?
Starsign: Cut Chemist was great a few months ago. Love in 2004 was real nice. Mum live in 2003 was beautiful.

The Pinch: The most memorable gig you've played? Why?
Starsign: NickNack, Melodic and myself opened up for Pete Rock. He was in a weird mood b/c I think one of his friends had just died. It was weird hanging out with one of your mentors and watching him go through some real personal shit.

The Pinch: What store (physical or virtual) would you recommend for record shopping?
Starsign: Turntable Lab and Dustygroove because they cater to most of the shit I like. Friends of Sound, Waterloo and Backspin because I can find some good records there.

The Pinch: Why Dj'ing/prod?
Starsign: It's just what I'm into. I like creating things. DJing is a form of creating something from existing sounds and making it your own thing. Producing is self-expression for me.

The Pinch: Favorite spot to chill?
Starsign: Long Branch Inn.

The Pinch: The thing you despise the most about the scene?
Starsign: Trendy people with no interest in substance.

The Pinch: How do you feel about U.S foreign policy these days?
Starsign: I think it's shit.

The Pinch: What deodorant do you use?
Starsign: Degree

The Pinch: Best place for sex? And that is because?
Starsign: The Bedroom. Anywhere really.

The Pinch: Favorite cartoon show?
Starsign: Fat Albert

The Pinch: What keeps you up and going? Your motavation?
Starsign: I always hear music in my head.

The Pinch: Words of advice for an upcoming Dj? Producer? Artist?
Starsign: Come correct, don't be a biter and don't be wack.

The Pinch: Book recommendation?
Starsign: Chronicles Vol. 1 -- Bob Dylan

The Pinch: Someone that kicks ass that we should know of and don?t?
Starsign: Jesse Fuller.

The Pinch: Anyone you feel like thanking?
Starsign: Anyone who likes what I do.

The Pinch: Describe yourself in one word?
Starsign: Weirdo

Please enjoy the tunes selected by this kind and enjoyable man, cause he do what he does and does what he is. Exclusive for The Pinch, Starsign en vivo!

Please take the time to check out his slick skills as a designer and his status as a local figure.

We hope to have Starsign back on again soon and wish him the best in his upcoming projects, namely his band, his design company, and his production.