Interviewing FFFFest: RJD2

RJD2 (real name: Ramble John Krohn) is a hard guy to pin down. Upon first listen in 2002, the classic album Deadringer had a sonic landscape that placed RJ alongside another electronic legend, DJ Shadow, as an artist using foreboding music and innovative samples to create something with a hip-hop feel but a unique sense of style and rhythm. Deadringer was so good that it wasn't surprising to see RJD2 use a similar trick bag on follow-up Since We Last Spoke, though he took his songs into an even darker place. AllMusic called it "very nearly a rap singer/songwriter record," and that's a spot-on assessment. When we next heard from RJD2, he arrived as a chameleon - 2007's The Third Hand had us (and lots of others) questioning whether we'd downloaded the right record. The album was straight-up indie-pop written, arranged, and performed by RJ - with the Def Jux side of his personality nowhere to be found. The record polarized fans and critics, with some applauding his range and others pining for the feel of the earlier records. To that end, his latest, The Colossus, seems to play to both crowds - there's soul influences, pop songcraft, and plenty of sampling - all fused in a manner that feels like a culmination of everything he's done to date. And one last note about RJD2: he's also the artist behind the short, brooding, and unforgettable "Mad Men" theme.

After playing phone tag for weeks, we finally talked to RJD2 on email yesterday, and asked a few questions about this weekend's show and his creative process.

As a composer who has worked in the electronic/DJ genre, it seems to us that your ideas for songs must have more variables than a musician in a traditional band - you can use samples, bring in guest vocals, use live or programmed instruments, etc. Given all of this, where do you begin your music writing process?

That's exactly right, and it is also exactly one of the things that keeps me interested and intrigued by music. To answer your question, it's all dictated by what medium I decide to use. Sometimes, it is sitting down at the sampler with an armful of records. Others, it is playing some drums. or, it could be programming a synth which leads to a cool sound which leads to a cool harmonic idea. Having different avenues keeps it fresh and interesting.

We've heard a lot of positive things about Philadelphia's current music scene - when you work with others, are some of them your Philly neighbors?

I don't really know anyone here! Haha. I've reached out to a few people, like Dr. Dog and Freeway, but nothing has happened yet. Musicians are often insular, or off in their own little world, so what are you gonna do?

You recently released an RJD2 compendium/best-of - please tell us about it.

It was a box set of my first three records, plus a bonus EP of unreleased songs, so it was pretty straightforward. There's a poster and download cards included as well, so I tried to make it as value-packed as possible.

We've never seen an RJD2 live show - is it just you, or do you bring others along?

It'll be just me. I've got four turntables, two mixers, two samplers, and visuals that get projected, so it is about as involving as I can possibly make the presentation of an "electronic" show, if you will!

During a live show, do you feel a need to balance the set from all of your records, or do you just play what seems right for the occasion?

I come prepared to pull from all of my records, but sometimes you need to make executive decisions and cut songs, or go straight to [the] more popular songs. Hopefully I can just go at my own pace, but you've gotta follow the crowd sometimes - and not be hardheaded about it.

Thanks for talking to Austinist.

RJD2: [official] [MySpace]