[Exclusive] DJ Nu-Mark (Los Angeles) 獨家訪談 2019

DJ Nu-Mark即將來到台灣擔任Red Bull Music 3style的評審，這次WESTSIDE LOVE有幸又與他再次做了一個簡短email訪問。

DJ Nu-Mark，只要能發出聲音，他就能用來DJing 既是唱盤技術家，也是音樂製作人，發跡於加州洛杉磯，本名Mark Potsic的Nu-Mark，十三歲時就成為洛城的私人派對社群裡小有名氣的DJ，爾後於當地知名夜店Rat Race擔任駐店DJ時結識了Cut Chemist、Chali 2na 以及Marc 7，九零年代崛起於美國西岸的傳奇嘻哈團體Jurassic 5也因由而生。身兼其團體的DJ及製作人，他與Cut Chemist幾乎包辦了團體四張暢銷專輯的所有歌曲；首張同名專輯便一鳴驚人，被音樂媒體NME封為1998年的年度最佳十張專輯之一。其中膾炙人口的《Quality Control》與《Power In Numbers》攻進了當時排行榜前五十名，Nu-Mark所製作的〈What’s Golden〉更是許多嘻哈樂迷都朗朗上口的歌曲。

Nu-Mark的專輯製作功力在九零年代便已展顯得淋漓盡致令大家有目共睹，Jurassic 5的張張傑出之作只表現了他音樂宇宙的冰山一角。他曾與已逝的放克靈魂樂傳奇Charles Bradley、Aloe Blacc及武當幫的Method Man等藝人合作，為《週六狂熱夜》的美聲組合The Lonely Island製作專輯，並成立了音樂廠牌Hot Plate Roecords。2012年，他終於發行了個人首張專輯《Broken Sunlight》，其千變萬化的豐饒混音完全體現Nu-Mark對於音樂形狀的獨特想像。之後他也為好萊塢電影《關鍵指令》、《龍兄唬弟》（Ride Along）系列以及NBA「大帝」詹姆士（LeBron James）的紀錄片《王者之路》（More Than A Game）等數部電影製作歌曲。Nu-Mark不但被喻為美國DJ場景裡最具音樂創意的DJ代表，他最為人津津樂道的便是取用兒童音樂玩具的各種聲響結合唱盤技術玩得出神入化的混音組曲，這些玩具混音（Toy Set）也引起明星饒舌對戰節目《Drop The Mic》製作人暨演員詹姆斯柯登的關注，並邀他擔任節目常駐DJ。(以上介紹節錄自Red Bull)


1. For people who don't know yet, what is "zodiac Tracks" series all about? How did u come up with the idea? What can we expect in the future?

請解釋一下"Zodiac Tracks"這系列是什麼？你是怎麼想到這點子的？未來有什麼計畫？

• DJ Nu-Mark (以下簡稱NU)：Zodiac Tracks is a dj mix series I did where I mix all important or influential music artist together in their respective astrological sign. For example....all Gemini artist are mixed together in tempo, key and astrological sign using all vinyl on video through my Facebook. I did it for two years (24 mixes). The idea started out as a birthday tribute to Notorious B.I.G. but after I watched the mix I realized that I needed to play to my strengths....(my transitions). So I decided to blend multiple artists in their respective Zodiac sign. Not sure about the future....I might spring a special Zodiac Tracks mix after I do a few of these #TBT's lol. Not sure yet. 
• NU：Zodiac Tracks是我做的一系列DJ混音，我用了各種重要、具影響力的音樂家的作品，按照他們各自的星座編排混音。舉例而言，所有雙子座的歌手，我把他們音樂的速度、曲調、星座圖像一起混合而成，全部使用黑膠唱片，再發表到我的Facebook。我已經做兩年了(總共24個mixes)。這個點子的靈感...其實原本是要做一次紀念Notorious B.I.G.生日的混音，後來當我看完這段mix之後，我理解到我必須要強調我的優點是什麼(也就是我的過門技巧)。所以我決定融入許多不同的音樂人，按照他們的星座。我還不確定未來有什麼計畫，等我再做幾次 #TBT回顧之後，可能會再做一個特別的Zodiac Tracks mix 哈哈。目前還不確定。

2. You also released a new track "Zodiac Killah" with Method Man recently. We see that he was in the studio making the song. How's the experience of working with him? 
你最近也和Method Man一起合作了"Zodiac Killah"這首作品，也一起進到錄音室製作。與他共事的經驗如何?

• NU：Yeah, I needed an exclusive track to commemorate the two years of Zodiac Tracks mixes and Meth was a perfect fit. I played him the beat on the set of Drop The Mic (a television show we're on together) and he immediately said "Oh, I'm fuckin with this". He came to my lab didn't waste anytime in the studio, put on the headphones and knocked out his verse in one take. It was one of the most impressive studio sessions I've been a part of. He must have been in a zone before he pulled up to my studio. He worked so quick that the camera man covering the session almost didn't capture Meth's verse. After that, he played me his upcoming record and I played him beats. The picture of us in the studio is him listening to my beats.
• NU：沒錯，我做了兩年多的Zodiac Tracks混音系列，現在需一個特別的曲子來紀念，而Meth就是最好的選擇。我給他播了一段Drop The Mic (一個我和他都有上的電視節目)當中所使用的一段beat，他馬上就說"Oh, I'm fuckin with this"。他來到我的錄音室，毫不拖泥帶水，戴上耳機、馬上就噴出一段verse，一口氣完成所有工作。 這大概是我參與過最令人印象深刻的錄音室session。在來到我的錄音室之前，他絕對是先讓自己進入到狀況、有備而來，他工作起來迅速敏捷，讓攝影師幾乎沒什麼捕捉到他在饒舌的畫面。結束之後，他播放了他即將發行的作品，我也回放了一些我的beats給他，在畫面中我們的合影，就是他正在聆聽我的beats。

3. The album you did with Slimkid3 is still one of my favorite. Will you do another new album with him? 

你之前與Slimkid3合作的專輯仍然是我最愛之一。你們還會合作嗎？

• NU：Yes, I really enjoy working with Tre. We're releasing an EP called TRDMRK in February through my label Hot Plate distributed by Fat Beats. It's 7 songs long and it's a very special project. We've shot 2 videos that will be released in Feb and March and we'll have everything released on vinyl accompanied by two 7" vinyl singles.
• NU：當然，我很喜歡與Tre一起合作。我們將會發行一張EP，叫做TRDMRK，二月份將會由我的廠牌Hot Plate、透過Fat Beats發行。這是張非常特別的作品，收錄七首歌曲。我們已經拍好兩支音樂錄影帶了，會在二月及三月發表。我們也會把專輯發行成黑膠、兩支單曲發行成7"

4. Nas's "Adam and Eve" uses the same sample as "Bom Bom Fiya". Do you have any comments on that? 

Nas的"Adam and Eve"使用了"Bom Bom Fiya"相同的原曲，你有什麼感想嗎？

• NU：I didn't really have much to say but the fans did! They hit me up on my inbox left and right. A lot of them enjoyed the way I flipped the Kourosh Yaghmaei sample better....that's because me and Koroush are both Persian lol. 
• NU：我自己沒啥感想，反而是很多粉絲都有話想說！他們敲我私訊講些有的沒的，不過很多人都很喜歡，覺得我把Kourosh Yaghmaei的原曲取樣的更好....這是因為Koroush和我兩人都是波斯人 lol

5. "I Know, Didn't I" is still on my heavy rotation. But we know that Darondo passed away few years ago. Can you also talk about his legacy and influence to you?
"I Know, Didn't I"我到現在還是常常播放。但是我們知道Darondo幾年前過世了，你可以談談他對你的影響嗎？

• NU：Yeah, well we actually traveled to Oakland to work with Darondo on "I Know, Didn't I". He was a very sweet soul. It's subtle but he did a lot of background vocals on the song that really made it stand out from the other producers who sampled him recently. Was fun to work with him in the same space and seeing how flexible he was with our ideas! He'll be missed....a true legend and wonderful human. His music is a direct bullseye to the soul.
• NU：我們當時是真的造訪Oakland去和Darondo一起合作"I Know, Didn't I"。他的靈魂是如此甜美。雖然不是很明顯，但他做過許多歌曲的background vocals，而被製作人取樣之後都能讓作品增色不少。能和他一同合作是很開心的，對於我們的點子也都很能配合。他會被後人懷念的...一個真正的傳奇人物、也是個完美的人。他的音樂就好比直指著靈魂的靶心。

6. What are you listening to recently? What are some of your favorite albums of 2018?

你最近在聽什麼音樂？有什麼2018年最喜愛的專輯嗎？

• NU：I listen to a lot of one off singles. I dig the new Marco Polo / Masta Ace album. I like Amine' a lot too. That Katori Walker "Ignorance" record is crazy! There's been a good amount of DJ edits coming across my path that have motivated me to make a few of my own! 
• NU：我聽了很多單曲。我很喜歡Marco Polo與Masta Ace的新專輯，以及Amine。Kataori Walker的"Ignorance"這首歌也是棒呆了！我一路一來聽過很多很棒的DJ edits單曲，這也激勵我去做些自己剪輯的單曲！

7. You will visit Taiwan for Red Bull 3style. What are your advice or suggestions to all the contestants and DJs?
你將會造訪台灣的Red Bull 3style活動。你有什麼建議給所有參賽者及DJ們嗎？

• NU：Have fun and learn from all of the talent around you! It's a wonderful place to network and open your mind to new techniques and approaches to art. Personally, I judge and perform just so I can learn from the contestants! Learning is one of the most valuable gifts life can bring you and each year the contestants teach me something new! Last year they taught me how to move through tempos at break light speed!
• NU：玩得開心，然後多和身邊的人才學習。這是個很棒的場合、社交空間，打開你的心胸去認識新的技術以及追求藝術的方法。對我自己而言，我擔任評審、也上台表演，這也是能讓我向所有參賽者學習。學習就是在人生中最有價值的一個禮物，每一年這些參賽者總是能教我一些新的東西！去年他們教我如何在超快速的節奏之間轉換(非專業DJ，翻譯有誤請指正)。