In a recent interview with The Canadian Press, deadmau5 expressed himself about wanting the scene to “push some boundaries” and dropped this gem of a quote:
“I don’t think enough EDM artists are taking risks right now and that’s the big problem,” said the 32-year-old this week in Toronto. “Everyone wants to be safe, and do that thing you know is going to work.
“Someone, please take the wheel and turn it. Not to say I’m going to be that guy and I’m going to crusade on that journey of making turbo dub neo pro step but I would just like to encourage a bit of diversity and the way that I do that is the only way I know how, which is to make some downtempo thing … and just like flex engineering muscle on a piece or two.“
That’s a fairly diplomatic statement from the notoriously outspoken dance composer, whose tendency for blustery declarations and poison-tinged put-downs have inspired high-profile feuds with everyone from Madonna to DJ Pauly D while supercharging the news feeds of grateful blogs across the Internet.
Well, even while being diplomatic he slips in what could be charitably described as a backhanded compliment to one of his favoured targets, Avicii, the Swedish DJ behind “Levels.” Dotting his speech with profanity and letting the words pour out at dancefloor speed, Zimmerman first says that “we can all make these one-note-wonder Avicii-sounding (songs),” then tries to bring his runaway train to an emergency stop. He’s not bashing anyone, he says. Avicii is “doing his thing” and just “beat the crap out of Alan Thicke’s kid” on the U.K. singles chart. (In case that reference is blurry — he’s talking about Robin Thicke).
The seeming candour that he applies to his online interactions does come at a price, but he says it’s integral to building his audience.
“It’s a double-edged sword. But it’s easiest for me — it’s not for everyone, especially dudes who pay other dudes to ghostwrite their (stuff),” he says. “It feels more natural to me to kind of invoke a sense of community around what it is and what I’m doing, as opposed to walking everything else out and me going off on some program and making appearances once a year.
“Other people can do that. I just can’t do that.”
He typically releases music directly to fans as soon as it’s ready, keeping his devotees nourished with a steady flow of material.