A year on the Dubway

You'll want to crank up the reggae and ska to be in prime dubstepping condition for tomorrow night's show by Japan's DJ Goth Trad, the first-anniversary party for Homebass Communications' Dubway Sessions.

The only Asian ever invited to perform at Britain's famed DMZ event, Takeaki Maruyama has released loads of albums in Japan as DJ Goth Trad and, overseas, tracks for Soul Jazz, Planet Mu and Deep Medi.

He'll be sharing the decks tomorrow with Bangkok's favourite DJs, Jo Stitch, Oum, Dragon and MC Sinamon. How, we asked him, can he possible be prearing for that?

"I'm working on my new album," he says, trying to sound nonchalant.

"It's coming out on Deep Medi Musik early next year, and my Back to Chill party has its third anniversary next month and I'm starting Back to Chill Osaka at the same time.

Since your breakthrough in 1998, how have you evolved?

I've released six albums and toured for seven years, expanding my horizons. At first my music might have been about self-satisfaction, but now I'm into the dance floor, DJing, listening and meditation.

What did you grow up on?

I was listening to Kraftwerk when I was 11. In my teens I was crazy about techno music like LFO and Nightmares on Wax and listening to early-'90s rave music, jungle, abstract, hip-hop, electronica, dub and industrial.

After my first and second singles, I got more into experimental music. I made effects pedals and instruments to create original sounds.

I've written for the movies, the theatre and fashion shows.

Describe the scene in Japan now.

Techno, house and electro are big. Dubstep is still small but slowly getting bigger.

The good point about the Japanese underground-music scene is that different genres can cross over in a single night.

Dub it up, mon

Catch DJ Goth Trad at tomorrow's Dubway Sessions anniversary bash at Club Culture on Sri Ayutthaya Road near the Phya Thai Skytrain station.

It's free before 11pm, and after that Bt400 with a drink. Dress code and ID are in force.

Call (02) 642 5499 or see www.Club-Culture-Bkk.com.