DJ Packo Midweek Interview with Melissa Moniz
Midweek – The Lowdown
By: Melissa Moniz
November 21, 2008
Kalani Pokipala
Aka:
DJ Packo
Age:
24
High School graduated from:
Kealakehe, class of 2002
Where Living Now:
Oahu
How long have you been DJing?
Got my first pair of turntables in September of 1999, so just about nine years. But, of course, I’ve been fascinated by the art for a bit longer.
What is your favorite genre of music to listen to?
I’m attracted toward the jazzy sides of just about any genre. I mean, if it sounds good and my head can nod to it, then I can dig it. As for any specifics, urban/underground hip-hop, jazz, downtempo, reggae, and drum ‘n’ bass. I think they all go hand-in-hand.
What do you feel you have to offer to the music scene?
To push the art of the turntable and to shed more light on it as an actual instrument. I personally like the scratch aspect of the DJ most, and I feel I should be a part of the movement here in Hawaii. I’ve studied it for years and was privileged to learn from the most influential DJs of my time, but the majority of people in Hawaii don’t look at it the way I do. It’s just a silly thing some would call a passion. The average person cannot listen to scratch music hours on end like myself, so I use the idea of mixtapes as my outlet. It gives me a chance to slice and unite recordings and make it unique to myself while achieving a subtle, exclusive composition. I feel others should be given more options to the immense pool of music out there, without having to sift and sort through all the crud. At the same time, I get to add a more pleasing and amiable sound to the scratch itself, that I initially set out to do. My job is to give my audience what I believe is necessary.
What projects are you currently working on?
I have a few projects in the work as we speak. Firstly, I will be dropping a new Hip Hop mixtape that will be out in early-mid December titled Mosquito Diesel. It has a basic mosquito theme behind it — They transfer to the victim blood and diseases, which then infects them. Same concept applies in an optimistic way, of course. I am attempting to infect the blind world with a pinch of musical malaria, while fueling the media with good vibes.
Another promotional mixtape I also released to the public a few months ago entitled “Metrognome in the Meadow.” Distribution still going strong.
Furthermore, I am the DJ for a live Hip Hop band called “The Spacifics.” We are currently working on a studio album, and also opening up the Atmosphere show at Pipeline Café this Saturday, November 22. We do have an EP out now, featuring 3 MCs from Hawaii’s SIQ Record label.
Where are your mixtapes available?
Prototype, Stylus Honolulu, Urbanz Toys, Exclusive HI and through myself directly.
What are your goals musically?
To immortalize myself with more product and achievements. To travel because the music said so. To share knowledge and presence with the greatest of musical minds on this Earth. And to always be half way there.
Website/contact info?
http://www.myspace.com/djpacko
http://skratchmore.com
Another Mosquito Blogbite…
I am human, unlike yourself, you unappealing demon, you. I bleed red, but I often regurgitate the bullshit I’m fed. Music is as music does, as a metaphor, of course. Come hither to my tomb, discover the puzzling similarities of Hiphop and Insects, or rather get high in HI. Realize why the six-legged seraphim and the turntable technician fly together on this mix mission. Let this be the cure for the itch. I exist, to remedy the world by fueling the foul-sounding noise that most call “Hip Hop.” Do yourself a favor and medicate the media alongside of me on our continuous journey to rehabilitate the uninformed, the innocent, the insensible, and the inexperienced. Let’s fix the itch with a quick glitch mix, kids!
What’s all the buzz, you wonder…? It‘s exactly that. This is not about the mass knowledge of music out there already, or what’s popular and prominent, or promoted and preferred, or what’s pacifying you on your iPod. It’s about the privileged and the pleasing; the polyphony of perfected paragraphs through rhythm and rhyme; the undiscovered music in existence. These unimagined classics are in need of an outlet.
OK, OK. Enough bullcornin‘…
Be on the lookout for a new hip hop mix for the masses. Some of the most favored and hard labored artists from Aesop Rock to Zion I, just to to be an alphabeta-grammatical socialite.
My personal favorite is the exclusive “Memory Lane Freestyle” by Hawaii’s own Seph1. The heads will nod, and the macro verse will be applaud. I like to label this as an interpretation of vinyl vanity, for the sheer swagger that my whimsical ego has to offer I’m finally relieved to make something worth my time, and yours, of course. December 12th is the departure mark. Deploy and enjoy the noise.
-121208-
Dr. Packo, M.D.
a.k.a. “The Dengue Fever-flavored Level Meter Lemur”
Mosquito Diesel : the glitchtape
The rise of the skratchtape in Hip Hop form. Stay tuned for the long overdue vibes of goodness.
Tracklisting to be announced…
Bamp Project presents…
Atmosphere returns to Honolulu, Oahu. Much anticipated and long overdue, they will paint our state…
Oh man, these guys are great. Hawaii is so silly…
and by the way, Creed Chameleon and The Spacifics will be the opening act. Hollaforth.
-Pacmosphere-
Wario is back.
After careful and meaningless…browsing on the internet, I came across one of my favorite characters of all time, Wario, comin forth, full-fledged with the cake-taking marketing product I’ve seen in quite a minute.
Peep destruction here –> Wario Land
Hold on to your tubesocks, you sicamore-sap-sippin youtube-loving individual.
