We had the chance to meet up with mashup artist and DJ Yoni a couple weeks ago in Austin, Texas, and I’m excited to finally share the official Kollection interview here on the site! Yoni has been a Kollection regular for quite some time now, with most of his mashups taking over the front page. His first mashup we posted, One More Yeah, remains one of the most popular mashups we’ve ever posted on the site.
Besides being a mashup artist, however, Yoni is a very talented DJ. His live set was incredible, and really showcased his different talents and abilities in a real world setting. As the night went on, his show got crazier and crazier, but the man kept his cool and kept a consistent mix of incredible music flowing. Below is our interview with Yoni – take a read and grab his mashups above!
Tell us about your background – where did you get started, and what got you involved with music?
Yoni – Where I got started was at my house, I heard one of the White Panda songs, heard Girl Talk, and I was really interested in doing it. So one night I went home, and I was like ‘I’m gonna sit my ass down, I’m gonna study it, I’m gonna figure out how to do it.’ Took me a couple hours, you know, to figure out logistics. From then on, you know, it grew.
What’s your inspiration for mashups?
Yoni – I feel like the electronic music industry is really growing, and I feel like the way to target the college population is to fuse electronic music with hip hop and pop, and you know, all these other genres that appeal to everybody. I feel like when I hear em, and they mash well, you know, it just clicks.
So what was the point when people started getting in touch with you to do shows, to travel around the country doing this?
Yoni – So I was at school back in February, talking to FSU, Ol’ Miss, and UT where I DJ’ed for Roundup. Ol’ Miss specifically was like ‘really love your shit, wanna get you out here for a show,’ so I just made it happen. Next thing you know I’m here performing.
This all happened pretty fast then, you know? You haven’t been making music for too long.
Yoni – I’d say it first hit the blogs around January of this year. December was when I started actually pumping out mashups that I liked.
There are tons of mashup artists out there trying to get a start. What are you doing to separate yourself and do your own thing?
Yoni – Tough question…you know, I feel like I basically mash live. So, you’ll hear music in there tonight that you won’t hear on my album, and it’ll be like a pleasant surprise. I feel like my unique taste for electronic, and my knowledge of electronic music, really helps my case. Fusing them well, the ear…you know.
So you listen to the Electro Kollection?
Yoni – Of course! All about it, all about it – the future!
Then what’s your advice for mashup artists just starting out, looking to do what you’re doing – playing shows, getting out there?
Yoni – You just gotta hang out on The Kollection! *laughs* That’s about it!
Marketing-wise, how do you do it?
Yoni – Well I got a wakeup call, about two months ago – still in the hundreds of Facebook likes – and I was like, you know, what am I doing wrong? I feel like I have the mashups to be in the thousands. But Facebook, Twitter – I’m on there all the time. You gotta always be promoting yourself. It’s literally a job. You have school, you have promoting yourself, and you have making music – and it’s a full time job you know?
What’s the next project from Yoni? Next album title?
Yoni – I’m working a new track, I might have to alter the name. You guys can throw this up there if you want – it’s called Driftin’ Goblins. It sounds really gay, but uh…*laughs*. It’s a mash between a song called Drift and…I feel like I shouldn’t be revealing this…but We Be Steady Mobbin’ by Lil Wayne. Throw in some Britney, you know, it’s gonna be a party. It sounds really sick right now, I’m really excited about it.
Where are you going with the music? Where are you gonna be two years from now?
Yoni – The next step is definitely producing. I’ve been working a little Ableton, you know, figuring out how to make my own songs. Avicii is the goal *laughs* so that’s my style – maybe a little bit of dutch, throw some dutch in there.
What’s your dream venue to play?
Yoni – Ibiza, I mean it’s a bit overrated. I’m gonna say anywhere I can that I have a huge base – maybe Ultra? That would be amazing. I went there this year and it was nuts.
Give us a quick rundown on production tools you use.
Yoni – As pathetic as it is, I use Sony Acid. A little Sony Vaio, my fingers are like breaking every time I click it *laughs* but yeah, I gotta upgrade soon.
And mixing equipment?
Yoni – Mixing, I use two Numark V7′s, great decks. And I use Serato Itch, and a Pioneer DJM-800.
Highlight of all of this so far – touring, music, production?
Yoni – The girls? *laughs*The support, you know. The going out, hanging out with [people] and then hearing them play my music to pregame to. Amazing feeling. So euphoric.
Any last words to Kollectors out there?
Yoni – KOOOLLLEECCTOOORSSS!!! Uh, give me five hearts! I want all five hearts! *laughs* None of this 3.7 bullshit *laughs* – you know, Kollect on, the site is the shit, the gear is the shit, do it big!
