Our boy in California

DJ and musician Illugi Magnússon, better known by his working name DJ Platurn, will arrive in Reykjavík on October 4th to play a series of gigs. One of them is Iceland Airwaves. Hes a 30-year-old Icelander who moved with his family to Oakland, California when he was seven. He started messing around with DJing in high school with a friend who had a DJ rig and got his first set of turntables in 1994 and hasnt stopped since. Since the age of 15, hes DJed consistently, even travelling between cities to play. Hes part of a DJ duo who call themselves the Oakland Faders.

How was growing up in California?

Fantastic. Were like our own little country over here, except for all the actors-turned-governors that somehow make their way into politics from time to time.

Do you feel Icelandic or American?

A little bit of both. Im still an Icelandic citizen but Ive been here for so long Im very much a California boy. I speak Icelandish.

Hows life there different from Iceland?

Warmer. Much, much warmer. You guys have way better food though. Word.

Do you visit Iceland often?

Not as much as Id like to. But now that I know my DJing capabilities are appreciated over there Im hoping to come back at least once a year if not once every two years. It would be more if it wasnt so expensive to make it out during the summertime.

What do you miss the most?

My family and the crazy ass nature.

Has DJing taken over your life?

Absolutely, yes and hell yeah!

Whats your favourite thing to do?

DJ, listen to DJs and buying records.

Did you go to school?

I got a bachelors degree in Broadcasting from San Francisco State University. I work at a record store.

Who are the Oakland Faders?

We are four DJs/producers (plus a collective of many artists/photographers/music collaborators) who hail from the Bay Area in northern California. We have all been DJing for a long time and have very deep roots in hip-hop & hip-hop culture. Our motto is: The vibe is old-school, but the skills are true-school! Which basically means that we come from the old-school of true party-rocking but with the up-to-date skills intact.

What are your biggest achievements?

Myself and the Oakland Faders have been awarded the best DJs in a northern California by the East Bay Express newspaper four years in a row. Myself and partner DJ Spair won Scions Free Up Your Mix competition in 2004. We beat out 600 contestants nationally and created a CD distributed all over the U.S. that went promo gold.

Where does the name Platurn come from?

Plötusnúður = plate turner = Platurn

Tell us about your music.

I come from the perspective of a hip-hop DJ but I will play almost any genre of good dance and soulful music that there is out there, from funk and soul to rock and pop to disco to house to reggae to hip-hop. Basically, if its funky, Im down! The trick is to mix it all together and make it sound cohesive and have it make sense. Good music is good music, no matter what genre it comes from. The music I produce is a little different, a little more introspective and detailed. My mixes contain a lot of pre-thought and insight. I gotta keep myself interested.

What can Icelanders expect to hear?

Damn. Id have to say everything they have and think theyve heard but theyve never heard it played quite like this. That and some scratching.

Whats the craziest party you have played at?

Too many to mention. A couple of months ago I played in front of 4,000 people at an old airplane hangar on the water in San Francisco. That was kinda wild.

Who or what has influenced you the most?

Being from Iceland while living in Oakland is an interesting juxtaposition and it has a lot to do with my outlook on things in terms of music, just being from such a different culture specifically. The Bay Area DJ scene has been a huge influence on me in terms of style. Music in general, I think it just hits me in ways that spark a sense of creativity simply because music in itself is such an amazing thing that human beings have created. Music is a seriously bugged out invention (all aspects of it) when you sit there and really think about it.

Favourite musician/deejays?

Too many to mention. Way, way, way too many to mention.

As a tourist in Reykjavík, what would be your favourite thing to do?

Pools, bars, Bæjarins Bestu and Kolaportið.

www.djplaturn.com

www.myspace.com/djplaturn

www.oaklandfaders.com

www.myspace.com/oaklandfaders

hannabjork@reykjavik.com