Enter The Ninja

At the 2002 DMC World DJ Championships – the competition to find the world's greatest DJ – the judges gave DJ Kentaro a standing ovation. In the 18 years the competition had been running, no one had ever achieved a perfect score. But that year, aged just 20, the Tokyo maestro blew the competition out of the water. You can watch the set on YouTube. Kentaro is simultaneously relaxed and totally concentrating. And as his fingers dance across the turntables he doesn't forget the crowd, turning his face up to grin and gesture at the sounds. “What the fuck?” yells DMC at the end of Kentaro's set. “Oh my goodness! That is how to end a set!”

With his light-speed dexterity and musicianship, he became the first Asian turntablist to win the competition, taking the golden Technics to his home country of Japan for the first time. The previous year he had come second, but between the two competitions he tirelessly honed his craft: watching, learning, practicing. He's been building on that legacy ever since.

Kentaro continued to expand his repertoire with his first mix CD, My Favourite Songs, which was followed by On The Wheels Of Solid Steel on Ninja Tune in 2005, which featured tracks exclusively drawn from that label's back catalogue. Kentaro says it's an honour to be signed to the widely-recognised label. “I respect everyone [at Ninja] and I am lucky to know almost everyone. Every artist is a friend in that label.” 2007 saw the release of Enter, his first studio album, which included collaborations with The Pharcyde and Spank Rock. A friendship with The Pharcyde was sparked after Kentaro became the band's touring support act. Ask him about that experience now and he says, “Oh, man that's over ten years ago, so not sure if I remember correctly, but I was still young and in the beginning of my career. Definitely great experiences. Each show was different, sudden jam sessions with Roots became a usual thing when [the] tour was almost ending. It was super mad fun.”

Kentaro tries to visit Australia every year, and this Thursday will appear alongside Flagrant at the Espy. His most recent album Contrast came out in August, from which he plans to play tracks at the show. “And my video crew will come along as well, so there will be a visual associated with my performance as well,” he informs. Scratch DJs often attract a trainspotting crowd and it can be hard to show off highly technical DJing skills while also putting on an entertaining show. Kentaro's known as one of the ones who strikes a balance. “I always prepare a set for the crowds, then I try to include my routines. If not, I just do not even try it, it just breaks the vibes.”

Kentaro spreads himself across DJing, production, remixing, as well as organising an annual festival, Basscamp, in Tokyo. He has been making beats since he was a teenager and says his preference these days is for computer-based work, where technology has definitely changed things. “Scratching is still the same in that I only use fader, needle, vinyl and turntables. Studio work has been taking more space now in my life. It's definitely easier now, because of internet, for both artists and fans to reach out. But as far as the meaning of receiving music, no more 12-inch size cover art work, or you don't actually visit record shops for music, not much story or things among the music collection anymore… Maybe less feelings on music culture almost. But I feel that more people visit the gigs nowadays, so events are more powerful and effective.”

DJ Kentaro will be playing the following dates:

Thursday 6 December - The Espy Hotel, Melbourne VIC
Sunday 9 December - Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst NSW