We have less than three days to Bestival, one of the acts you’ll be able to see perform is the awesome DJ Yoda. Q Magazine declared him “one of the ten DJ’s to see before you die,” while Hip Hop Connection voted him “one of the top three DJ’s in the world.” We were fortunate to grab some time with the man himself to chat all things music, Bestival and Portsmouth’s Rex Domino.

Could you tell me about how you initially got involved with music and your biggest influences?
Both my parents worked in the music industry, and my dad kept his record collection in my bedroom, so I grew up literally surrounded by records. I was into pop music as a kid, but as soon as I heard music with scratching and samples it appealed to me. I got into hip-hop heavily, and that’s how it all began.

For those who are new to your music which three tracks would you encourage them to check out first and why?
That’s really hard! Off the top of my head: Big Trouble In Little China and Quid Control are two of my personal favourites.

DJ Yoda (front centre) and the Breakfast of Champions, including Rex Domino (front left).

You have so many talented artists involved with the Breakfast of Champions, did that make it easier or harder to write and record the album?
Easier! We all got together and gave ourselves the task of making an album and a show, never having met each other before. Having people around you with a shared goal and a time limit is a great way to work.

During the Breakfast of Champions project you collaborated with my friend, the hugely talented, Huw Olesker. Could you tell me about how you met Huw and how he caught your attention?
That whole project came together by me cycling through a whole bunch of people’s YouTubes and Soundclouds and seeing who jumped out at me – Rex Domino was wicked! He seemed on my page as an artist – he has a sense of humour about what he does but also tries to prioritise skills and intelligence.

The last time I saw you live was at Bestival with the Breakfast of Champions, how did you find performing live with group as opposed to being a solo DJ?
It’s so much fun, but it’s scarier for me! When I’m alone I only have to worry about my own responsibilities. With 12 people on stage I kind of panicked for everyone!

Are there any other acts on your radar that you’d like to work with in the future or that our readers should check out?
Absolutely. Some of these I’d keep close to my chest because they’ll be appearing on my next album. But recent acts that I’ve been into include Chance The Rapper, Mr Jukes, Chronixx and Jay Worthy.

What can those fortunate enough to have tickets to Bestival expect from your live show?
I’m still thinking about it myself! The best thing is always to expect the unexpected – I pride myself on not knowing what I’m going to play before I start, and then seeing which direction the crowd leads me in.

Do you get a chance to explore festivals when you are playing them?
Sometimes. For something like Bestival, I definitely will. I want to see Tribe Called Quest and Pet Shop Boys.

What does the rest of 2017 have in store for you? Can we expect another studio album in the near future?
Yep, that’s exactly what I’m doing today – working on my new artist album. Hopefully ready soon…

If you would like to join the fun then a limited number of tickets to Bestival are available over on www.bestival.net/tickets.

Website: www.djyoda.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DJYodaUK
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DJYodaUK
Instagram: www.instagram.com/djyodauk

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