Interview : Taco Zip - We find out what it's like being the most famous unofficial Beastie Boys remixer
When Taco Zip first started remixing who would have thought he would have started a revolution.
That's just what he has done. Since Taco Zip came onto the remixing scene he has inspired many other people to also start remixing.All this from a guy from Holland that is turning 30 next month. How does he do it?
Jim: How did you get into remixing?
Taco: Well I've always liked hip hop, since 87 or so and as a kid i was always playing with tape recorders and old turntables, that kind of stuff. One thing went into another and I started to play as a dj at our own small parties. After a couple of years i started working for a company that organized big raves (yes, house music) throughout the country, and i got some chances to play at a couple of them. That's where i started practicing more and got some real dj skills.
The remixing thing started when i had too much time on my hands and found a way to rip the acapella's off the beastie DVD.
Well that's about it
Jim: What was your first remix?
Taco: The first one was Pass the mic, mixed with a Portishead song. It wasn't really a remix, the Portishead sample was looped throughout the whole song.
Jim: I loved that remix.
Taco: Yeah it came out really nice, and the result is what counts you know. I wasn't the first beastie remixer, but i think not much remixes were posted on the Message Board in those days.
Jim: Do you only remix Beastie Boys?
Taco: yeah i do. I'm running out of acapella's so if the new ones will take too long maybe i'll do a eric b and Rakim remix, or a public enemy song. But I never remixed anything else than bb so far.
Jim: That'd be cool. Do you make any of your own music?
Taco: Well in my house era I made a record. it sold 1000 copies. But that's the only one. I consider remixing as making music too by the way. Samples can be instruments
Jim: True.
Taco: Yeah if you use them the right way and be creative, you can make completely new shit out of them. Like Paul's Boutique. That record is a big inspiration for the remixes i make.
Jim: What is the shortest and longest amount of time you have spent remixing a track?
Taco: Well a lot of my remixes were made in only one evening, I think half of them, and the most time i spent of course at the beastie boys A/V megamix, i think that one took me a few weeks.
Jim: Cool
Taco: I used to rush remixes, i wanted to release them the same evening i started them. But nowadays i take my time more and let the remixes rest a bit, chance some things, add some more samples, let them rest some more. Like the Beastie's say, hatching eggs. The result is much finer
Jim: Will you ever do something like the A/V Megamix again?
Taco: All i can say is yes. but i'm not revealing my plans yet
Jim: Ok.What about a 60minute Taco Zip Mix CD in the future, any plans?
Taco: Well when i went to the Amsterdam gig, I made a DVD containing my AV megamix, and all the remixes I did so far. I handed it over to Ad Rock, I hope he is watching it right now. A few other people have copies too. Maybe one day when I'm a famous remixer (ahem) they will release it as a collectors item.
Jim: I hope so.
Taco: I am currently working on a new website by the way. I'm experimenting with dynamic flash. I think it will be up in 1 or 2 weeks from now. It's dedicated to the remixes i made
Jim: Awesome! What are your thoughts on the new album, To The 5 Boroughs?
Taco: It's brilliant. I like the Beastie's best when they make hip hop. I think the new album will be my second favorite, right after PB.
I especially love the tracks Oh word! and That's it. The electronic sounds they use in those tracks are awesome. It's really a new inspiration again for my remixes, perhaps you'll hear similar sounds in my remixes in the future
Jim: What track would you like to remix first if you could?
Taco: I think my favorite one, Oh word. You could do lots of nice stuff because of the echoes in the vocals. So if the admins read this, please release that one.
Jim: How do you think the general public (i.e.. the music buying public) will view the Beastie Boys return?
Taco: well first of all maybe you should chance that in downloading public
Jim: Ah, true.
Taco: Lol. The album is really good, so i think they will like it. I wonder how the eminem-generation will like it. Some of those kids haven't even experienced the HN- era
Jim: If you could work with (produce, remix etc.) five people (living or dead) who would they be?
Taco: Well the Beastie's of course, Rakim Public Enemy, Portishead and Lee Perry.
Jim: Awesome.
Taco: They're all still live by the way. So nothing is impossible.
Jim: Yeah. What is your favorite Beastie Boys remix (not yours)?
Taco: Uru-nitro's IAWGM mix. Did he ever release that one?
Jim: Not yet.
Taco: Uru if you read this, release it. That one is hilarious. I also love that Mighty Ajax remix.
Jim: What is your favorite remix of all time?
Taco: Eric b and Rakim , I know you got soul, the one that became a hit with the jackson's sample.
Jim: Jackson's 5?
Taco: Yea.
Jim: Who's remixes have been catching your attention lately?
Taco: Well at the board there are some long term remixer's who are all very skilled but since the remixng forum started the new remixes come from everywhere. Landos_dad is one of them, his remixes are great.
Jim: Yeah, very fresh.
Taco: Still everyone who is remixing does a great job just by remixing. I always try to encourage to keep on doing that kind of stuff. I think i can say inspired some people to start remixing. I like that idea. My life hasn't been completely useless after all.Lol. The Just Blaze mix is awesome, also the vocals are better than on the original version. I hope they'll release the just blaze acapella.
Jim: Hopefully.
Taco: Yea.
Jim: Of your own remixes which did you have the most fun working on?
Taco: Well the A/V megamix i think. That was a great project
Jim: How does it feel having such a large following online and do you feel pressure living up to your own hype?
Taco: Do i?
Jim: Of course, just look at the amount of threads that were dedicated to asking you for a ch-check it out remix.
Taco: Yeah well it confirms what i was saying before, I like to inspire people and I think i succeeded so far, There are lots of fan remixer's out there just as good or even better than me, but I just happen to be the guy who started it on the boards.
The pressure thing is that my remixes have to get better and better each time. People are expecting that I guess. But i still just be doing my own thing, either if they like what i make or they don't
Jim: What can we expect from you in the future?
Taco: I'm not telling.
Jim: Well that about wraps it up. Any last comments, shout outs etc.?
Taco: Yeah i want to shout out to everyone who puts some extra effort into the board like remixer's, mag makers, admins. The board needs that.
Jim: That's it that's all.
Taco: Fresh.Links:
Taco Zip's Website
