DJ Billy Bunter Profile

Name: Dj Kutski
Music Style: Hard Trance, Hard House, Hardstyle
Outlar-Listed Events: 6
Outlar Cross-references: Tidy Boys, Grandmaster Flash, Godskitchen, Garlands

Dj Kutski Intro: What do you call a DJ who gets booked purely on the back of promoters listening to a mix cd? What do you call a DJ who has the skills of a DMC champion but plays hard-edged house? What do you call a DJ whose debut recording gets featured on the biggest mix CDs? Dj Kutski, that’s what you call him, one of the hottest DJ / producers around right now.

Born in Chester in 1982, Dj Kutski sold his soul to raise enough money to buy his first Technics 1210’s fifteen years later. He caught the DJ bug. Not in the normal way that you or I enjoy spinning a few tunes, but in the obsessive way that means “real life” goes out of the window. After a few years locked away in his bedroom, only coming out to buy records, new cross faders and new needles (supposedly his mum accused him once of “getting through more needles than a smack addict!”), he emerged, pale and skinny, but ready to take on the world.

Take on the world he has… He is a Nu Skool DJ with Old Skool Values. Dj Kutski approaches a DJ set in the same way as Grandmaster Flash did in the late seventies, Its all about rocking the block by using some serious DJ techniques, having stage presence and playing records you’ve never heard before…

Dj Kutski has DJ skills to scream from the rooftops about. His scratching is up there with a DMC champion, his beat mixing outshines any ordinary DJ and his cutting puts Toni and Guy in the shade. He is a true battle DJ, a turntablist who brings his talents to hard-edged house music. It is not, however, all about the scratching…. Where tricks can lift and inspire a crowd, DJ’ing is essentially all about the vinyl… If you cut Dj Kutski he does not bleed blood – he bleeds vinyl. An obsessive collector of the latest and oldest vinyl Dj Kutski has a pretty basic philosophy on the music he plays…if it rocks, play it. He is not constrained by hypothetical labels, although always playing on the harder edges of underground dance; he pulls in tracks from all over the spectrum – hard trance, hard house, hardstyle… Tracks from all over the world – He has even been known to drop some fat breaks / hip-hop tracks half way through his set.

“No CDJ’s, No Final Scratch, No Laptops – Flair, talent and dedication makes them irrelevant”

Something a lot of DJ’s forget about is the stage presence, the whole performance. Dj Kutski is no shrinking violet behind the turntables. He cuts a startling silhouette, busily back and forward between turntables, constantly slamming the cross fader from side to side…one minute working one turntable, the next spinning it back and slamming on the next, whilst still manically jumping around to the music. He is a true performer, whose presence alone can lift the crowd.

Tipped for the top by hard house hero Anne Savage and legendary promoter Madders, Dj Kutski rise has few parallels… Starting out as a hardcore DJ - Dj Kutski’s first appearances in public were at DJ competitions. Possibly hindered by playing music that was frowned upon, his talent shone through and he was still always placed first or second. His first notable break came through winning a DJ competition at one of Wales’s most prestigious venues – Time in Bangor, where he impressed the organisers so much, they instantly offered him a residency at their night – Elevate. Shortly after at yet another DJ Comp, he secured another residency at one of the UK’s biggest mid week hard dance events – Base in Leeds. Since then, UK gigs have included Godskitchen, Tasty, Frantic, Polysexual, Ripsnorter, Garlands, Full Tilt and Anarchy. Worldwide, he has tours lined up in Canada and S. Africa.

Production wise he is has not done that much, but what he has done has gone ballistic – his first release “makin' me itch” (Sept ’03) by SPX vs. Dj Kutski has appeared on Ian M’s Insomnia 4 mix cd for Tidy Trax + Extreme Euphoria volume 3 mixed by the Tidy Boys. “Makin’ me itch” released on the Knuckleheadz label who said about the release…”Little is known about SPX, but when this little beauty landed on our doorstep we just had to snap it up!! Chunky beats, a funky bass line and a mean lead synth sound... Serious music for serious dancefloors.” Expect much, much more in the future production wise.

So what is next for Dj Kutski? His DJ diary is filling up for the rest of the year, studio time is booked, some big name collaborations are organised and…..Well, that would be telling. Look out for him at a venue near you soon.

“Undoubtedly the freshest and most exciting up and coming scratch/Mixmaster walking on the Planet right now. Take our word for it when we say Dj Kutski is simply outstanding” – Billy Bunter (Honey Pot Recordings & Tasty promoter).

Kutski Fantazia Interview 2008

How did you get into dj'ing and how did the radio one show come about ?
I’ve always been actively into music, so if I like a Nirvana track i want to know how to play it on the guitar to play along. When I got into dance/rave it made sense to get a set of decks and play the records myself! The radio show came as I was heavily pushing hard dance and hardcore along side each other and Radio One where looking for someone that could represent both scenes unbiased. I recorded a pilot show for them, they liked it and I got the show

What was the first record you bought ?
Sharkey & Druid - “Bonkers Anthem” was my first “DJ” record, but I think my first actual records was Turtle Power! Timeless classic

How would you describe your music?
Eclectic Underground Dance Music

When your not spinning the tunes what would you listen to in your free time ?
Everything from 60’s soul and funk, to jump up ragga drum & bass! My iPod has an unreal selection of genres!
What other artists do you rate?
In hard dance, Kamui, Showtek, Vandall etc... are all really exciting. Hardcore, Alistair Storm and Vagabong are both making some amazing stuff!! Some up ‘n’ coming artists to look out for are, Louk, Joe-E, SMS, Jamie Ritman...

How does the scene compare in other parts of the world you have played to the united kingdom ?
Every country is different to play, and you do have to adapt your style to work in them at times. The UK is very constant though and as i play here most of my time, its like my bread and butter so feel i can take more risks with the music i play which is a freedom i enjoy

Do you have a particular favourite party you've played at on your travels ?and any funny stories you can share ?
I did Australia earlier this year which was rocking!! I was out with the Organ Donors, so you can imagine there where some stories to tell on that little trip, including Matt Donor finding porn on my new laptop and ‘christening’ it when i was asleep, and Scott Donor signing Dr Willis cock after one gig... I won’t say anymore ‘else we won’t be aloud back in the country haha...

Whats the maddest thing you have ever done after a gig? or want to forget you have done after one?
After Nukear Puppy once me and Phil York drank a bottle of black sambuka between us in about 15 minutes! apparently I tried to bum Jason Cortez with a mop and then serenaded everyone with 80’s power ballads in the car park before retiring to my room to be sick... happier days...

How does the Scottish crowd compare to other crowds you play to in the uk and abroad ?
I love playing in Scotland and openly say its the best place in the world for gigs, cause the crowd are alway going mental, guaranteed at every gig, big or small!!! There is no snobbery, or trying to look cool, just people out for the party which is what it is all about!!!

Whats your studio set up ?
I’ve actually rebuilt my studio this year so its pretty impressive at the mo. The key parts are:

Production
Quadcore Mac Pro (Running Logic Studio & Ableton)
Novation Remote 25
Motu Soundcard
Yamaha MP5 Studio Monitors

DJ
Pioneer DJM 800 Mixer
x2 Pioneer CD1000 mkIII
x2 Technics 1210 mkII
Pioneer EFX1000

When your not behind the decks ,travelling from gig to gig what do you do to chill out ?
I don’t have a lot of time these days with everything, but when i do get a bit of time to myself, I'm partial to a game on the Playstation, and catch the odd Leeds game at Ellan Road!!

In four words describe yourself?
Polite, Eccentric, Dedicated, and Geeky

What would you say you fav tune would be from the past, what's your present fav and do you have any in your record box that you see as being big in the future?
Past: DJ Outblast - “Ear Drumz”
Present: Jon Doe - “Electro”
Future: Charley Lownoise & Mentla Theo - “Wonderful Days” (Showtek Remix)

The scene is UK has grown from strength to strength over the last few years do you think the scene is now bigger than a few years ago ?and how do you see the scene moving forward in 2008?
Definitely!! Hard Dance has dipped in popularity since its boom in 2000, but is on the rise in a big way! Hardcore peaked in the mid 90’s and as at another peak at the moment, and as long as the producers keep putting out creative music, we can keep this peak running upwards throughout 2008!

What can we expect from kutski in 2008 your plans, gigs, production wise ?
Firstly, a website!! long over due but its costing be an arm and a leg so fear not it will be worth the wait!!!! Gigs are already looking busy with some new interesting relationship forming with major brands, and I'm definitely going to spend more time in the studio and get some serious production done, the first of which being a ltd edition ep to keep your eyes peeled for in Jan!!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time ?
I'll probably have a few gray hairs and receding hairline, but if I'm still out rocking clubs on the weekends, I'll be happy!!!

If you were putting on a major event along the lines of Fantazia all stars what would be you dream line-up and who would you like to play alongside?
Bass D & King Matthew
Bunter & Doe
Alex Kidd
Brisk
Organ Donors
Marc Smith
Ratpack
Slipmatt

That's a nice mix of different styles, legends and current big names!!

If you were stuck on a desert islands what would be the three things you would miss ?
Music
TV
Internet Porn

Do you prefer vinyl or cd's?
I still prefer vinyl and was fighting the cause till the end, but how technology and clubs have moved on, i pretty much play all CDs these days! Vinyl has such vintage appeal, but once you get into CD players, you realise they ain’t evil and there is a hell of a lot of cool stuff you can do on them!! But as i always say, its the music you play that counts, not the media you play it off!

If you were in heroes what would be your superpower of choice ?
Being able to turn invisible would be cool. Christina Aguilera would have the shock of her life in the shower i tell thee!!

Interview Conducted exclusively for Fantazia by forum member Sweets 2008