Animesou.com

Name: Dj Jinnai
Talents: Dj, Remixer, Producer
Music Genre: Drum & Bass, J-pop, Electronica, Hip Hop
Location: Originally from Sunnyvale, CA, now living in Las Vegas, NV
DJ Crew: Team AnimE’xcalibur
Label Affiliation: Nemesis Records

Let’s be honest. Most Anime music is embarrassing. No one would be caught dead blasting the theme to Sailor Moon out of their car with the windows down. Despite this, many of us love Anime music anyway. We close the door to our bedrooms, crank up the volume and rock out to the sound of singers whose voices are impossibly high pitched. Dj Jinnai is one of us. With one amazing exception: Jinnai has the ability to take an Anime song and transform it into a bangin’ dance track that you would roll down your car window and blast.

Djing for 5 years and producing music for over a decade, Dj Jinnai interprets J-pop from a western music perspective without losing the sugar that makes J-pop pop. His remixes are a heavy handed blend of J-pop, Hip Hop, Drum & Bass, video game music, Electronica and 80s synth. Djing for years at Anime conventions and spinning sets on popular internet radio stations like Keiichi.net and Japan-A-Radio, Jinnai has built a loyal fan following while making a name for himself as a pioneer remixer.

A chance meeting with Kristine Sa and Nemesis Records CEO Kingmin at 2003’s Fanime convention in Santa Clara dramatically changed the course of Jinnai’s career. The Dj was only interested in remixing Kristine Sa for fun, but when the label heard his CD, he was offered a full contract as an artist, remixer and producer. Jinnai has since remixed many Kristine Sa songs - 3 of which will appear on her new album ‘reBIRTH’. He will also be remixing a number of Japanese pop projects to debut in 2005.

As Dj Jinnai’s fame grows, more and more of us will be able to roll down our car windows and open our bedroom doors as our favorite high pitched singer blasts through our speakers.

(*info taken from DJ Jinnai.com)

 

Interview conducted by: Alpha

Animesou.com: So, Jinnai, how and when did you started DJing?

Jinnai: 2000, Mostly learning how to produce. I used CD mixers to learn the basics on mixing efficiently.

Animesou.com: What or who inspired you to become THE DJ Jinnai?

Jinnai: My predecessors were Otaku Tribe/S.N.M. Productions in Bay Area California, mainly learning from DJs like DJ, M.O.D., DJ Muteki, and DJ Socket. I got my name from the bad guy in the anime ‘El-Hazard.’ Katsuhiko Jinnai. He always called himself a pure evil genius.

Animesou.com: How did you got acquainted with Nemesis Records, was it Kristine, Kingmin or something else :)?

Jinnai: After Fanimecon 2003, I was able to briefly meet them and I gave them a mix CD. Several months later they found it in a pile of demos, and gave it a listen… and they emailed me shortly after.

Animesou.com: Your latest project with Kristine Sa, AnimeToonz3 was hot man; I’ve checked out a few pieces here and there when Bsyde sent me the email about it. What do you feel was the most challenging part or parts of the project? Were there any fun things that happened during the creation of AT3 that would give us a laugh?

Jinnai: Finishing my part in 3 months. 7 tracks in 3 months. And I had to please more than one boss. Learning new software and introducing MIDI was the challenge. I’ve always used WAV files for my tracks. After the learning curve, it became much more effective using MIDI.

Animesou.com: Now down to the anime business. I know you’re an anime fan at heart when we first chatted a couple of months ago (yes a couple :D). When and what was your first anime experience? Was it good or bad? Is it something you would still pop into the player?

Jinnai: My first was in 1992, reading about it in a gaming magazine… Ys for the
Turbografx-16. It was an anime being turned into a game. I was amazed at the art and I would stare at it for hours. I upgraded with my first VHS copy of Fatal Fury the Movie. I was hooked and I need to replace it with a DVD version!

Animesou.com: What are your favorite series and genres?

Jinnai: I like comedy, sci-fi, romance, adventure and reality anime. My favorite series/movies are Naruto, El-Hazard, Ranma  ½, Tenchi Muyo, Any Miyazaki Movie, [Hare +] Guu, Azumanga Daioh, Ah! My Goddess, Vampire Hunter D, Project A-KO, Genshiken, etc.

Animesou.com: Do you read manga? If so, what are you reading now? How is it coming along?

Jinnai: Genshiken, Gals!, Instant Teen, are what I’m currently reading. I wish I had more time to read manga!

Animesou.com: What kind or whose music do you like listening to on your free time?

Jinnai: I like Anime Music, JPop/Jrock/JRap, Latin Freestyle, 70’s 80’s and 90’s music, UK Hardcore, Classic Rap from the 80’s to Mid-90’s, New Jack Swing, House, Trance, Happy Hardcore, Jungle, Drum N’ Bass, Crunk, and some other stuff that I can’t think of right now…

Animesou.com: How’s that white PSP of yours? Cause I’m coming with Aiya to get it :). Anyways, what game(s) are you playing now overall?

Jinnai: PSP… I really haven’t been playing it… LOL. The DS has gained a lot of gaming time of mine… I’ve been getting into Mario Kart DS, and Metroid Prime Hunters.

Animesou.com: If you are not a DJ, what do you see yourself doing?

Jinnai: Computer geeking it for life. Or attempt at being a voice actor.

Animesou.com: What is one thing you cannot live without, other than Pocari Sweat (a Japanese energy drink)?

Jinnai: Pocky.

Animesou.com: Hey man, thanks for your time, would you like to drop a line or two for your fans out there?

Jinnai: I like Anime, and I don’t live in a Casino. LOL.

 

Closing Statement(s) - Big thanks to Brian “Bsyde” Lee of Nemesis Records for allowing the interview to go through nice and smoothly. Another thank you to Jinnai who has been real cool. If you have yet to check out AnimeToonz3: Kristine Sa, then you really do not know what the hell you are missing. Hit up this website for some previews of it. Welp, hope you enjoyed the interview, time for me to watch some anime. See ya!

Background:
On November 8, 2004, your friends at ADV films established the ADVocate program, an exclusive official anime fan club on a national level. Sponsored high schools, colleges, or community library clubs within the United States having a minimum of 15 active members are able to sign up. Benefits include monthly preview DVDs of the latest anime titles, prizes, games, contests, promotional items like posters, and much much more. Best of all, it’s free!The purpose of the ADVocate program is for clubs all around the nation to promote the spirit of anime and to network fans with all that ADV has to offer. Anne Armogida, Director of Marketing at ADV Films said, ‘ADV feels very connected to our fan base, we seek to help them in any way we can by supporting them through Anime ADVocates.’ So what are you waiting for! Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. For more information please visit the ADVocates section of the ADV Films website. You can also contact them via e-mail at animeclubs@advfilms.com.

Interview Q&A’s Conducted By hinatasou:
As a special treat we at Animesou.com were honored to speak and get acquainted with the ‘Anime Club Girl’ in charge of the ADVocate Program, Kristen.

Animesou.com: How did you get involved with ADV Film’s new club program Anime ADVocates? What was your motivation?

Kristen: Anime ADVocates is my first major project for ADV. I’ve been with the program since the beginning. I know it’s hard for clubs to get together, find a place to meet and have new stuff to watch on a regular basis. So, I really like the idea of doing something to make it easier for clubs to get some of the best stuff out there to watch!

Animesou.com: To date, about how many clubs have registered to be ADVocates?

Kristen: I’ve had a great turnout with clubs joining Anime ADVocates! I’ve got over 600 in just 3 months! It rocks! I hope to get many more! (So tell your friends!)

Animesou.com: What is the future direction of the ADVocate program?

Kristen: I can’t tell you…it’s a secret! I’m sure you’ll like it though!

Animesou.com: What do you like most about your job as the ‘anime club girl’?

Kristen: The best part of being the anime club girl is getting to talk everyday with club members! I get so many emails thanking me, that feels really good…to know what I’m doing is impacting others positively.

Animesou.com: When ordinary people on the street think of anime their first instinct is that they are cartoons for children. Is there something we can do to bridge the generation gap, that shows can be enjoyed by both adults and kids?

Kristen: Since I’ve been a fan I’ve noticed the gap closing. Recently my mom has embraced the love of anime! It surprised me at first but now we watch it together. She thinks it’s the coolest thing that I get to work at ADV (of course I think it’s pretty great too). But what can fans do to bridge the gap? Anyone that wants character development and great story lines with twists should watch anime. Channels like Anime Network try to bridge the gap by providing a wide variety of titles 24-7 for all to see…encouraging things like this would bridge the gap in my opinion. Once people get to see what anime is all about, I can’t imagine them not wanting to see more.

Animesou.com: What is your favorite anime series and why is it your favorite anime character?

Kristen: Its REALLY hard for me to pick a favorite anime series…I have a ton that I love, and I find more everyday. My list would have to be (not in order)
Cromartie High- it is so freakin funny! One guy, Shinjirou, has this purple Mohawk that sways back and forth all the time. The 4th episode is probably my favorite (that I’ve seen so far) because its all about getting a song stuck in your head but not knowing where it came from or what it is!
Chrono Crusade- nuns with guns! What’s not to like?

Animesou.com: Is there any anime character that you have the hots over? Or, who is your favorite anime character?

Kristen: Its between two; Dark from DNAngel or Yuki from Fruits Basket.

Animesou.com: If magically you had the chance to be in any anime setting, where would you be and why?

Kristen: This ones hard! A lot of the anime I enjoy (like Gantz) I wouldn’t want any part of their world to be my reality. Cromartie High would be fun; a world with a guy that closely resembles Freddy Mercury and a gorilla that can play guitar would be pretty rockin. Being in the DNAngel world would be cool too because there are guys with wings (every girl has got to love a guy with wings!).

Animesou.com: Besides anime, what are your hobbies and interests?

Kristen: I love to paint and lately I’ve started coloring in coloring books again (the kind that are really detailed geometric shapes that you do with markers). I hadn’t done that in years, but I recently started again and it’s really relaxing. Also I love reading, collecting action figures and playing video games. And one of my favorite things to do is build with Legos! I really just enjoy playing! I don’t think I’ll ever grow up.

Animesou.com: What kind of music do you listen to? Are you in to JPOP?

Kristen: I’m not good at classifying music so I can’t exactly label the type of music but these are some of my favorite bands: Sigur Ros, Mars Volta, Super Furry Animals, Cooper Temple Clause and David Bowie. I haven’t ventured into J-pop just yet. The music from Aquarian Age is awesome…I rock out to that a lot.

Animesou.com: What is your favorite food?

Kristen: My favorite food…there’s something really superb about a deli turkey sandwich. Yummy!

Animesou.com: And finally the age old question, boxers or briefs?

Kristen: No question: boxers! All the way!

Main Idea of this Rant?! - hina and Kristen are doing all the ranting. I am just kicking back and enjoying this interview :P (alpha)

Closing Statement(s) - Kristen, thank you for participating in this interview with Animesou. We the staff, appreciate your kindness and willingness to sit and reply to us with such interesting stuff! Again, thank you and I hope ADVocates have even more success! I hope you fans liked this little tidbit from Kristen. Ja ne.