Z-Trip is often referred to as a young Rick Rubin. His roots are based in Hip Hop, but he covers and loves all music styles. Considered by many as the godfather of mash-ups, his style of mixing and producing reaches way beyond that. Z-Trip received the award for America\u2019s Best DJ and still remains on the top 10 lists year after year. He has collaborated with some of the very best to ever do it: Nas, Bassnectar, Public Enemy, DJ Shadow, Rakim, Shepard Fairey, Talib Kweli and many others.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a performer, he is one of the very few able to play traditional festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, SXSW and Australia\u2019s Big Day Out, as well as the EDM circuit. His Electric Daisy Carnival and Electric Zoo sets were both festival highlights. Z-Trip\u2019s artist debut album \u201cShifting Gears\u201d received 4 stars in Rolling Stone and he has remixed the likes of Nirvana, The Beastie Boys, Dead Weather, Jay-Z and The Jackson 5 to name a few. <\/p>\n

As he prepares for his return to Australia, Grindin’ caught up with Z-Trip to discuss his history and influences along with where he sees DJing headed.<\/p>\n

Who is Z-Trip?<\/strong>
\nA DJ, world traveller and lover of Thai food.<\/p>\n

What are your earliest memories of music?<\/strong>
\nListening to my mother sing me to sleep in a rocking chair as a child.<\/p>\n

Who were your musical influences coming up?<\/strong>
\nLed Zeppelin, James Brown, Bob Marley, Public Enemy, The Clash, AC\/DC & Run DMC. <\/p>\n

What was it about DJing that first appealed to you?<\/strong>
\nThe ability to manipulate music and make it do what I was hearing it do in my head.<\/p>\n

How did you make a name for yourself as a DJ and what made you stand out from the rest?<\/strong>
\nBefore it was a \u201cstyle\u201d of mixing, I pushed the concept of mixing two extremely different types of music genres together, to the masses. I helped start the Mash Up sound before it was a \u201cterm\u201d.<\/p>\n

When did you realise you could be a DJ as a living?<\/strong>
\nAfter I played my high school\u2019s prom while I was still attending the same high school.<\/p>\n

How would you describe you DJ style?<\/strong>
\nAdventurous.<\/p>\n