Festivalsforlife chatted with the musical host Atish about his project brewing in the San Francisco Bay. His parties carry a theme of getting closer to the artist and their motivations, by asking them questions during the event itself. We were present to watch the magic happen.
Starting the night with music and breaking for the ‘Late Night Tonite’ interview, and returning to the music – bouncing back and forth with laughter, the smiles and the beats synchronized.
Images of the earth projected onto the ceiling and the back wall of Public Works while the b2b set of Atish and Jozif carried the crowd to 4 a.m. just like SF likes it, late and fresh til’ the end.
Atish began his DJ career in San Francisco, but hails from the Chicago area carrying on his melodic house roots, unknowingly, having left before the ripe age of club going.
Atish gave us some information about his concept, which has been on the move throughout he US before the set at the Good Room in New York City.
F4L: Tell me a bit about the concept of ‘Late Night Tonite’, and how it got started.
Atish: For one, I wanted to have my own party in San Francisco where I could choose the artists that I wanted to book. But beyond that, I wanted to do something different at a club night with my own artistic voice.
My partner Simar and I started brainstorming party ideas, and we started talking about when DJ’s play together, they are having a musical conversation with each other – not unlike a conversation on a late night talk show.
As a joke, Simar found an old photo from the Johnny Carson show and photo-shopped my head on top of Johnny’s and photo-shopped Yokoo’s (our first guest)’s head over Johnny’s guest.
He sent the flyer to me and we started laughing at this joke graphic. But then we realized, maybe there was actually something to this.
Maybe, the the idea of the party could actually be a talk show themed party.
We didn’t do a live interview for the first party, but we designed the stage like a talk show and I interviewed Yokoo over e-mail and posted it on a blog.
Then, I thought, ‘For the next one, why don’t we just do a live interview at the actual party itself?’ It actually really makes sense; at first I was a little hesitant, because who wants to hear two people rattling off at a club?
Then I thought a little more about it, it actually speaks to my voice as an artist and something I highly value.
Outside of ‘Late Night Tonite,’ how I communicate with my audience, the way I communicate with my e-mail list, social media, or talking to people in person – the connection between the artist and the audience is something I value very highly.
The artists who I respect the most or feel most connected to tend to be artists for whom I have understanding of their context.
Who are they as a person? What was their motivation for this music they made? What mood were they in when they made this music?
So, ‘Late Night Tonite,’ is kind of an extension of what I value so much, which is letting me interview these guests and give the audience a chance to understand these same questions.
I want to give the audience, and myself, the opportunity to connect with the artist at the level they’re going to appreciate, which I believe will make for an overall better musical experience.
F4L: I think that is fantastic, I may be a little biased because I really enjoy interviewing people, it’s fascinating what comes out when you get them talking.
Atish: It’s really exciting. I’ve always had an interest in interviewing as an art form. I read the Barbra Walters autobiography before I was even interested in this party idea at all. I think interviewing and DJing have a lot in common. As a DJ, you need to know how to read a dance floor and be able to respond in the moment based on what’s happening and the way people feel.
I am just getting into interviewing now, but I am seeing that it’s also similar. You have to kind of loosen up the interviewee. You have your questions, but you have to ask them in the right order, and lead them in a direction.
There are a lot of similarities between the two art forms.
F4L: Well I haven’t tried DJing but maybe I should start thinking about it.
Atish: You’ll probably be a natural. You’re already half-way there.
We chatted about bringing the concept to Burning Man, and he left the idea as open without the “Late Night Tonite’ brand, but interviewing the artists to share a deeper connection.
Speaking of connecting information to relate to when you listen to his music, I asked a few personal questions.
F4L: Well thank you, I got some great things from you, the only other questions are ones to get you talking if you weren’t, so they are off topic.
Atish: Well let’s do it, out into right field.
F4L: Ok, do you feel making music is your soul art?
Atish: S-o-u-l or S-o-l-e?
F4l: With a “u”.
Atish: No, I don’t think making music is- I have been making music in bands and electronic music since I was in high school and after having done that for years, I don’t think that it’s my core.
I think I am more of a DJ, I think the art of curation is something that maybe I’m better at, or that’s more at my soul.
I appreciate that, I am starting a record label and that will scratch my interest on another level of curation. I still do have interest in producing music – it’s fun, but not my main thing.
There’s also the aspect of performance which I love, and DJing is a mix of both curation and performance. At this point in my life, that’s where my core is, but every five years I get into something else, so I might change my answer.
F4L: It’s a concise explanation of pathway. Now one last question, and it’s way out there, but if you could build a hut anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Atish: (after a little thought and thinking through the options) There’s a small town three hours outside Tokyo, and there is only about 2,000- 3,000 people. There are some Japanese onsen; it has natural baths, a gorgeous view and not too many people. If I had a few close friends there, that’s where I’d set up.
Well, isn’t Atish lovely?
Check out Atish’s interview with BEHROUZ.
Atish is playing shows all over this upcoming spring, listed on Resident Advisor.
