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"You got to know that it's fun to be had!" Fitting words accompanying the visceral music in Nitzer Ebb's classic that duly came to life in the recent annual edition of Takkyu Ishino's WIRE festival in Yokohama. Far from being had, 16 years later, world famous techno deejay and comedian Kenny Larkin is keeping fit on both stages of his career as he divulged upon his life journey thus far, including a dabbling in the armed forces as well as involvement in the landmark documentary 'High Tech Soul' by filmmaker/ fellow Detroit native Gary Bredow. Shooting from the hip, as always, Kenny had plenty to say before a screening of 'High Tech Soul' in Shibuya and a spin later at Club Unit: -- So, military all the way huh? Eglin (a massive U.S. Air Force base) right? KL : Yeah. Well I, you know, I barely stayed in 2 years. Just like this ain't for me (eyes alive and smiling). -- But I'm sure it made a big impact on you man. KL : No, not really and you know, I'll tell you why: Because I was in there repairing computers and it took 8 months of school to learn to fix the things right and then when I went to Eglin, I stayed in barely a year and then got out. So I wasn't in long enough to be influenced. 
-- So what made you get out?
KL : Because I wanted to pursue comedy. 'Cuz you know what, I realized this isn't what I want to do. So I got out to pursue stand-up comedy. I called my mom one day and said, "Ma, I don't want to do this. I want to be a comic. I want to be a comedian." And she said, "Come on home and get on stage." And then I said, "Alright! I'm coming!!!" So, click, I quit and got out. -- So why is it that most people can't do that. Why? KL :Get out of the Air Force like that? The Service? -- Well sure, but out of their mundane job. I mean you see a lot of unhappy faces on that morning train. KL : Right, right, right...I don't know bro. It's got stuff to do with being content and scared to push them self. People who maybe had dreams from a creative side and then said, "Nah, I'll never make it." And I'll go to the office and at least I'll have some kind of security. -- So fear? KL : Yeah, you know. It's funny cuz' I asked Derrick (May) and those guys why they are still in Detroit? 'Cuz I took a chance. Moved to LA. Gave up everything. My expenses are 3 times are what they used to be and I'm making nowhere near as much money I used to in Detroit as it was so inexpensive to live there. I had a Porsche, the BMW, the nice house and gave that all that shit up just to go to LA to pursue those other dreams. There's no way I could stay in Detroit. -- What was the catalyst? KL : We hit a glass ceiling in Detroit a long time ago. I mean, there's nothing else we can do here in Detroit. Nothing and I am talking about everybody. Carl, Derrick, Kevin, anybody... What else can you do with techno? There's nothing. So you have to challenge yourself in some other way. You either got to go to that next level, whatever that may be. But whatever that level may be, you can't do that in Detroit because there's nothing that supports the arts there. Nothing. That city is a car town. And that's all they do and that's all they give a shit about and sports. They're doing a lot of rebuilding in Detroit right now, especially downtown, but it's all around sports. They're building new coliseums. Nothing creative. They don't want nothing to do with it and I'm saying to those guys, Derrick, "Why are you chillin'? Why are you accepting that? I thought you all were trying to fucking push the envelope? Be at the forefront of doing something different or whatever." But the flipside of that coin is that they have families. They have kids and so I understand. |
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--> Part 2 Interview and photos by michael |
 mag files : High Tech Soul, Kenny Larkin interview : High Tech Soul Warrior Au Natural (06/08/25) : interview and photos by michaelinterview : talking about "High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno Music" (06/05/06) : interview and photos by michael and J.V.C. |
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The official site High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno Music www.hightechsoul.com The local label site www.jvcmusic.co.jp/hightechsoul myspace.com of Kenny Larkin www.myspace.com/kennylarkin DVD  "High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno Music" |
check the albums?
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 2006CD review : the book about my idle plot on a vague : toe (27th Sept.)CD review : Yes, Virginia (Japanese edition) : The Dresden Dolls (23rd Sept.)CD review : Yell Fire! : Michael Franti & Spearhead (18th Sept.)interview : Discoursing aplenty on futures for themselves and you : Dirk Tourette of Towers Of London (14th Sept.)CD review : Broadcast to the World : Zebrahead (29th Aug.)CD review : Eight Rare Cases : henrytennis (25th Aug.)CD review : You've got cousins : Meryll (25th Aug.)Seville's Deep Nocturnal Vibrancy Illuminated in Global Premiere : Maria Pages Company (15th May @ Shibuya Orchard Hall)Brokenspace Wholly Undo All In A Crisp, Crystallizing Coalescence : Brokenspace (13th May @ Shin-Koenji Club Liner)CD review : Static Trampoline (Japan deluxe) : Chris Pierce (6th May.)Happy When It Rains As Havana Comes To Tokyo : Ska Cubano (2nd May @ Roppongi Hills Arena)CD review : 4 : Gerling (28th Apr.)No Monkey Business In The Riding Giants Of This Tripartite : Jack Johnson with Coasta and ALO (15th Apr. @ Makuhari Messe)Making It All Worthwhile All Natural : Go Jimmy Go (6th Apr. @ Shibuya Lush)CD review : Island Sounds : Go Jimmy Go (21st Mar.)CD review : United Paper People : Kisschasy (12th Mar.)CD review : Eyes Open : Snow Patrol (12th Mar.)CD review : Clap Your Hands Say Yeah : Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (6th Mar.)Reprise Affirms An Eternal Sonic Youth Within And Without : Dinosaur Jr. (26th Feb. @ Shibuya AX)Happy And You'd Know It With Their Eyes Wide Open : Snow Patrol (21st Feb. @ Daikanyama Unit)No Denying They Help Us Have It Much Better : Franz Ferdinand (10th Feb. @ Nippon Budokan)Continuing To Give Their Nordic Good Frequencies : Royksopp (1st Feb. @ Shibuya AX)Making Heads Turn, Ears Perk And Feet Happy With Ease : Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (24th Jan. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)2005Cross-Generational Yuletide Confections For Birthday Cheer : Shonen Knife & Beat Crusaders (18th Dec. @ Harajuku Astro Hall)A Sort Of Homecoming For These Pilgrims : Feeder (8th Nov. @ Shibuya AX)CD review : Abuzeek : Farida's Cafe (16th Oct.)Bright Northern Lights In This Big City : The Marble Index (13th Oct. @ Harajuku Astro Hall)Leaders Of Men...The Park's Urban Flight Gives An Inoculation To Fear : Maximo Park (6th Oct. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)Tales Of Codependence Score A T.K.O. In Tokyo : Aimee Mann (3rd Oct. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)All The Way Mad, All The Way Hyped And Rightfully So : Armand Van Helden / Santos (30th Sept. @ Shin-Kiba aGeha)CD review : The Warrior's Code : Dropkick Murphys (22nd Sept.)Carefree Curiosity Fuels This Feline Far From Home : Anna Nalick (22nd Sept. @ Shibuya Quattro)Mellow Post-Juno Transmissions In The East From The Great White North : Feist (21st Sept. @ Shibuya Quattro)-->and more |