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The year is 2014, and a mysterious new artist named DJ Cummerbund has just spawned onto the scene! With a flurry of epic mashups and remixes, DJ Cummerbund quickly establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with. After amassing millions of views across various social media platforms, earning the praise of music industry icons such as Dave Grohl, Shania Twain, and Gene Simmons, and even touring with the B-52s, DJ Cummerbund has taken the art of the mashup to new heights! I DJ NOW was able to chat with DJ Cummerbund about the mashup process, touring with the B-52s, and even taekwondo!
I DJ NOW: Your mashups are known for their creative combinations of vastly different genres and artists. How do you approach choosing songs to combine? What's your process like for making a mashup?
DJ Cummerbund: A lot of that process is pretty random and improvisational in nature. As I've touched on in the past, I have a mysterious neurological condition that causes me to hear different melodies and sounds when prompted by aural stimuli (which often manifests as hearing one song over another). Doctors have told me that they suspect I can do permanent damage to my brain if I don't flesh out some of these urges and impulses in the form of creating content - as long as I don't overdo it. It's a delicate balance.
The process itself is always different for each song, and I'm often working on several simultaneously. I often hit creative walls and have to back away from one mix for a few days to gain a fresh perspective on it or I fear I risk literally going insane.
IDJ: Many of your mashups have comedic elements to them, whether it's through the combination of lyrics or the use of sound effects. How do you balance humor with the musical quality of the mashup?
DJ C: The juxtaposition of mashups themselves (particularly the ones that, on the surface, seem like they shouldn't ever go together) certainly lays a comedic foundation for any of my work. Adding in things like sound effects, silly footage, and other surprise elements generally serves as the icing on the cake while also keeping the mixes from getting too monotonous. I think the funniest element in all of my work is the fact that someone spent SO much time to get all of the little details right for something that probably doesn't warrant that.
IDJ: Your mashups have garnered an enthusiastic following how has this direct connection to your audience altered the way you approach your music?
DJ C: It hasn't a ton - I try my best to keep outside influences out of the process. Regardless, I do occasionally find myself thinking about what my loyal following may think of a certain mix or section within a mix and whether they will enjoy it - particularly those that support my endeavors through platforms like Patreon.
IDJ: Tell us about your creative process when creating mashups. How do you approach mixing different songs and genres to make them harmoniously work together?
DJ C: It's a combination of instinct (utilizing the condition I mentioned above) and some basic music theory. Songs obviously need to be in the same key to blend nicely, as well as close in BPM and rhythm/time signature. Breaking these rules on occasion to create some unexpected or obnoxious dissonance can be fun as well!
IDJ: Your videos and live performances often feature visually engaging elements and costumes. How do these visual aspects enhance your music and performances?
DJ C: I like to create music that is fun and loud, and thought it made sense for all other aspects of the presentation to match the energy and absurdity of it all. Being a silly, fancy man really brings me joy, and I'm glad to have an excuse to wear fun hats and what not.
IDJ: Many of your mashups have gained significant popularity and have been widely shared online. How does it feel to have your work recognized and appreciated by such a large audience?
DJ C: It's honestly the coolest thing in the world. I started doing this just to stay healthy mentally and have fun, but once I saw it was bringing joy to others, it took on a whole new life. The fact that people would spend time checking out something I created will honestly never get old, and I really appreciate the kind words of encouragement I receive from fans - especially since I generally can't monetize any of my work! Knowing I'm making someone smile that may have had a tough day is the best form of payment as far as I'm concerned.
IDJ: Collaboration is an important aspect of music production, what was it like to server as the opener for the B-52s’ Farewell Tour in 2022 and their Las Vegas Residency dates in 2023?
DJ C: Wildest ride of my entire life. I've been a huge B-52s fan since I was a kid (they were one of the first concerts I ever attended when they played Jones Beach in the early 90s), and actually getting to share the stage with icons like them is just mind-blowing. Getting to know them and develop a friendship with them has been such a blessing, and they really are the kindest, most giving individuals I think I've ever met. Their team, the crew, and their amazing fans have made that whole journey so much fun, and I just feel so lucky to get to do this. Back out to Vegas with them in April - I can't wait!
IDJ: Are there any particular artists or genres that you find especially challenging or enjoyable to incorporate into your mashups? Why?
DJ C: Each genre and artist presents a unique set of challenges, but in general, the greatest challenges I face usually involve songs that use odd time signatures, unconventional song structure, and/or multiple key changes. Sometimes those types of songs present fun challenges that produce some mind-bending results, and allow me to use their peculiar characteristics as a strength and really up the absurdity level.
IDJ: Have you faced any copyright or legal issues regarding your mashups, and how do you navigate potential challenges in that area?
DJ C: Oh yes. Aside from legitimate death threats from fans of artists I sample (yes...I actually get those), I have definitely had to deal with legal issues that often just result in me agreeing to remove content from platforms. At this point in time, most forward-thinking rights-holders recognize that satirical uses of their IP is actually beneficial to them (e.g. increasing streams of original works when one of my parodies gets a lot of attention) and they wisely tolerate what I'm doing. Others either lack the sense of humor or just don't understand how content is consumed these days, and we have to have some back-and-forth about how I'm using their content. I'd have to say I get more offers from labels and rights-holders to make content to help them promote vs. legal threats, and hopefully that will continue to trend in that direction over the next few years.
IDJ: What advice do you have for aspiring mashup artists who want to explore this style of music production?
DJ C: I do a lot of behind-the-scenes "consulting" for other popular mashup artists and creators, and I love to share my knowledge and experience with others to help promote the mashup community as a whole. Most often I encourage others to not settle for "good enough", and really put the work and time into making something as perfect as possible. Conversely, anyone in audio production does have to learn how to find a stopping point in the editing process, as achieving perfection is unattainable. The key is finding that right balance (no pun intended).
Using the right tools is really key as well. I've used Pro Tools primarily throughout my decades-long audio production career, and recently started working with a new browser-based DAW called Sounds.Studio. This new program offers aspiring mashup artists and remixers an easy and very affordable way to dive right in, and I'm most often encouraging foiks to check that out before anything else these days.
IDJ: Can you tell us a bit about your background in taekwondo? When did you first become interested in martial arts?
DJ C: Happy to! Many years ago, I found myself getting into a lot of physical altercations at gigs as my mixes can sometimes be controversial and offensive (to those who lack a sense of humor). I decided to take up Taekwondo merely to hone some of my fighting skills and just happened to fall in love with it. I'm currently studying with Master François Thénardier around 4-5 hours per day in his garage studio at his house. We focus on a lot of ground fighting and wrestling, and I spend a lot of time doing various chores and cooking. I'm hoping to bring some of my Taekwondo skills into the wrestling ring the next time I have the opportunity to do so.
IDJ: How has your taekwondo training influenced your approach to music production or performance?
DJ C: One thing Master Thénardier has stressed - especially during chores - is that repetition is the key to mastery. The discipline it takes to work on the same kick, or vacuuming the same floor, over and over can be brought over into the world of audio production where you often find yourself performing rather tedious and repetitive tasks to get the result you desire.
IDJ: Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and in what ways have they shaped your approach to mashup production?
DJ C: Oh, there are so, so many it'd be impossible to name them all. I was lucky to have varied exposure to all kinds of music and artists growing up from The Beatles to Baroque artists like Vivaldi and Bach, to Andrew Lloyd Webber, to Mastodon, to 2pac, to Sinatra - all over the place. Being an avid wrestling fan I'm a huge fan of Randy Savage's 2003 album "Be A Man" and certainly draw a tremendous amount of inspiration from that album alone. I'd like to think that having been exposed to such a wide variety of music allows me to more easily discover unique approaches and solutions as it pertains to mashup production and playing music/performing in general.
IDJ: How do you prep for an upcoming gig?
DJ C: As someone that suffers from a bit of stage fright, I do have to both mentally and physically prep for shows. On days I'm feeling particularly anxious, I find that taking a long walkabout through the woods and connecting with nature a bit helps me ground myself. Meditating in spaces like that is also very helpful and helps me to regain focus and composure. Other times I'll find myself either studying old wrestling matches from the 80s - particularly of Randy Savage.
IDJ: Coolest event you have ever worked?
DJ C: One of the coolest moments I've ever experienced was playing the Honda Center in Anaheim during the B-52s' national tour last year. Doing what I do, getting to play a literal arena and taking in the space from the stage was just mind-boggling to me. I got to spend some time with one of my heros after the show - Tré Cool from Green Day - and chat with him and his amazing wife about music, life, etc. Everything about that event was just surreal.
Conversely, I recently did a really fun gig - a small event in Brooklyn in front of about 100 people. While playing a massive arena is such an incredible experience, being able to get back to my roots and connect intimately with fans in a smaller space brings a unique joy that I'll always love and appreciate.
IDJ: Have you gone to any cool concerts/events lately?
DJ C: I wish I could say I have, but I've been so wrapped up in creating content and focusing on my career that I haven't really gotten to get out much and just enjoy some great live music. I'm hoping to change that in 2024 and prioritize those types of experiences.
IDJ: Current favorite song/artist you are loving?
DJ C: I've found myself really digging some of Dua Lipa's new music. I hadn't really been a fan over the years, but she's really grown on me recently. I've also been really into Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (bamboo flautist from India) and would like to explore the bansuri a bit more in the coming year.
IDJ: Finally, what can your fans anticipate from you in the future? What directions do you see your music evolving towards in the coming years?
DJ C: I think 2024 is going to be a pivotal year for DJ Cummerbund. I'm hoping to finish up a semi-original album that I've been working on for years and release some EPs. Currently, I'm working on setting a Guinness World Record for Longest Mashup Song which will involve other popular mashup artists as well as fans - a really fun collaborative effort that I'm hoping to see come to fruition. 2024 will also see the launch of my new YouTube series - "On The Beat with DJ Cummerbund" where I will be visiting some local businesses in my community and learning how they operate as I think fans will enjoy that. I've really been itching to get back in the squared circle as well - it's been a few years since I've wrestled!
For more information on DJ Cummerbund check out the links below:
https://djcummerbund.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@djcummerbund/
https://www.instagram.com/djcummerbund/
https://www.youtube.com/@DJCummerbund
