Simon Bohnsack, better known as DJ Kaito, started living out his creative musical side right from his childhood in Hanover, Germany. His love of music prompted him to use the YouTube platform in 2011. There, he took over the channel “superconan4ever” (today “Vier Sterne Deluxe Records”). Countless cover songs and mixes appeared on the channel. The mix tape “DJ Kaito Nr.1” (2012) saw the release of “6. October“, an independent and solo-produced single. In 2013 Simon released the concept mixtape “Das Vermächniss der RST” which consists of syllables without meaning. Due to the interest of the fans in this kind of music, which from now on is known as RST, songs of this kind by Simon have been released until today. In 2015 the RST music video “Don’t wanna be a Quader” from the Best of Album “Best of DJK” became a viral hit. After the success of the single and album, Simon set out on realising a lifelong dream: An own tour. Hamburg, Braunschweig, Düsseldorf and Hanover were the stops on the “Mahnwachen Tour 2016”. One year later, the “STOPP RAMSTEIN Tour”, which was also advertised on TV, continued the success of the tour. 1 In Music e-met the musician for a quick talk about the musical foundation of the artist following his latest release.
1 In Music: First, just to help define and introduce your music to new listeners, what makes your music unique?
DJ Kaito [DJ K]: The overall style of it. I do Rap Lyrics with sense on the one hand. Thats one thing not many musicians do here in Germany right now in the Rap genre. It’s all about autotune, who can take the biggest amount of drugs and so on. I, sorry no, WE – me and other musicians are trying to get the listener back to a rap time where its normal to see people rapping about problems they have or there are in the world. When my new album “Signal kommt” was released a few days ago, someone messaged me with the words “WTF are you N* please stop this C*”. On the other hand, I use a style I call RST. This is music without sense. Its a bit like K-Pop, you know? The music sounds good but you don’t know exactly what it is about, and when you try to translate it, it doesn’t make sense.
1 In Music: What type of music do you listen to?
DJ K: Personally I listen to Rap and Rock artists. At the moment, there are 2 EPs from Qult that are every day in rotation due to the fact that they combined Rap and Rock perfectly.
1 In Music: What/who shaped your music?
DJ K: My music in general was shaped by so many artists I can’t list them all here. Some are Eamon, MaximNoise, RAZE, Kilez More, Owe Schattauer, Qult, the one and only Advanced Chemestry that started the German Rap movement Fünf Sterne Deluxe (which I only knew thanks to the fact that we called our Label Vier Sterne Deluxe Records), and so many more.
1 In Music: Who supports you in all your musical endeavours?
DJ K: The big question is who supports me now. The answer is my fans, my friends and everyone who found me in the last weeks. The next question would be maybe “and your family?” Let’s answer this too before you ask: Not so much at first. For a long time, they were against it. Now they accept it.
1 In Music: When did you realise you were going to make music professionally?
Music was my life in school. I didn’t have many friends but I had the Internet and my music. I started in 2011 without knowing anything. I stood up to a camera and sang. At first it was a hobby but in late 2011 YouTube contacted me and asked if I would come into their partner program – yes, YouTube had to invite you back then. That was the point where I realised that I could make money with music. Later, I wrote my own songs and my equipment got better. In 2015, after my second local viral hit, I thought about getting my music to iTunes and co. At that time I searched sites that promised to do that but many of them were to expensive (some sites were up to 50€ per month and release) after a year my label and I found two partners with whom we could release my music. From that point I did music professionally.
1 In Music: Who, to you, is the most undervalued music artist?
DJ K: At the moment, I think the Rap Duo “Vereinigte Arroganz” from the 90s, just beacuse they had one of the undervalued albums I know of from one of the big record labels. By the way, a region banned their first single because they thought that love song violates women.
1 In Music: How do you prepare for your performances?
DJ K: Before a concert/gig, I calm down, talk to people and get a list of songs I play down.
1 In Music: What do you do when you don’t do music (creative or otherwise) and that you are passionate about?
DJ K: I love to cycle. I got myself a Brompton after my last tour. Best thing I have ever done. I don’t have a car and I don’t need one. I can do everything with the bike. 10-15 miles are no big deal.
1 In Music: Success to you is…
DJ K: … to be lucky with yourself.
1 In Music: What do you wish you were told when you started out and that you think would help anyone who starts out?
DJ K: I wish someone told me that I must got through bullying in school just because I make music. The first 3 years were the hardest of my life. When you read “Kill yourself” on Social Media every day, it’s a thing you can’t stand for long. I was at a point where I wanted to die but I got myself out of that. For all the people who read this and have similar problems: Please get help! I have enough friends that have depressions or want to take their own lives. That’s not worth it. Bullying has become a crime for a few years now, least in my country. Please go to the police when you get bullied!
1 In Music: Any upcoming projects?
DJ K: In 2021, I’m going on a tour and I am starting to plan it. The 10 Years DJ KAITO Tour – stations are planned in the Netherlands, Germany and Austria. If the UK stays in the EU, I will also play there.
1 In Music: Thank you for this interview. Where do we find you and your music?
DJ K: The newest album called “Signal kommt” is on every platform you know of. A full List is on http://djkaito.de/signal
The CD is limited to 150 copies and availeble at CDBaby, Discogs and Bandcamp. You can buy all the other albums in one of 10.000 partner stores. You will dine a full list on the Label site http://vsdeluxe.com
