DJ HANABI (Mosaico Records)

Today I’m talking with DJ Hanabi from Japan. He will play at Wonderland in Germany this year.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where were you born and where do you live?

I was born in Yokohama, Japan, and now I live in Tokyo.

Why and how did you start DJing?

I’ve been dancing in clubs and at outdoor parties since I was 25. At 30 I wanted to start something new, and I began DJing, which I had wanted to do for a long time.

What are your musical influences?

I listened to everything, regardless of genre, but I especially liked the music and culture of the 70s.

As artists we have a responsibility towards our audience. What is the key idea you want to pass on to your listeners, what is your message?

I hope my music can give someone energy. “Continuation is power”, in Japanese “Keizoku wa chikara nari”, is my favourite Japanese saying.

If you could start over again, what would you do differently?

I would want to start over from a young age, so that I could learn to communicate in many languages.

Please name one piece of your DJ equipment you like and tell us why you like it.

The Pioneer CDJ-100. It was very simple, and it’s my favourite piece of equipment.