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Motomasa
started spinning as a new musical outlet. "When I could no longer
dedicate the hours necessary to effectively practice an instrument, I
wanted a new outlet." As an afficianado of the club/party scene in his
hometown Ottawa, Canada, he was fascinated with all the forms of dance
music being woven together. "Especially Club Zinc - you could hear
Hip-Hop, Reggae, House, Techno, Soul/Funk, all in one night, on the
same dance floor!" he reminisces.
So in 1989, he bought his first 12"
singles, and started on a journey that would take him through all of
those forms of music, and more. In 1991, he started DJing on CKCU-FM
with co-host Andres, playing only "conscious" Hip-Hop and Reggae during
the graveyard shift on Tuesday nights. Both being architecture
students, they had a captive audience of late-night listeners through
school, which soon spread throughout the Ottawa area. The show was one
of the most listened to graveyard shifts in the city, as was proven by
the volume of pledges made during CKCU's annual Funding Drive.
Later that year, Motomasa would also
start to co-host "Planet Rave" on CKCU, Saturday nights from 2:00 to
7:00 a.m. with DJ Teknobrat. The show featured everything from House,
Breakbeat, Hardcore, Trance, and Techno. Motomasa soon became known for
playing sets that started at 120 bpm house, and evolved into 150 bpm
hardcore/breakbeat within 90 minutes.
Through the power of radio, and CKCU's
presence, he and some friends started throwing the first "raves" in
Ottawa, often only attracting 50-100 people. "It was all local talent
only, and there were kids into it, but not enough." They kept pushing,
however, and after teaming up with some promoters from Toronto, put
together a party called "Pure Sensory Experience" with 2 rooms in a
central downtown space. "We didn't know what hit us!" Motomasa recalls.
"There was a line half-way down the block! All of a sudden, all the
kids came out, and the scene blew up from there!"
In 1993, Motomasa moved to the birthplace
of Techno - Detroit, Michigan - pursuing a job in the music industry.
While there, he worked at CJAM-FM in Windsor on a weekly show, and
played a few smaller events. Before having the time to fully establish
himself, the company he worked for - Undercurrent Records - decided to
move.
Moving to Atlanta in 1995, Motomasa has
since established himself as "one of the city's most under-rated DJ's"
according to many. Hooking up with Faust and Shortee in 1996, he was
quickly inducted into SKC. He also met DJ Eve during the Olympics. "She
did so much to help me - hooking me up to play on her show 'Planet 8' a
few times - we even had a Space Kadets night with Faust, Shortee, and
Usul came down from NYC!"
In his now-hometown, Vancouver, Motomasa
continues to weave exquisite musical journeys through many styles. "My
favorite style is still house, after all these years. To me, it most
represents what the 'Scene' is supposed to be about. House is joyous,
uplifting, feel-good music, and that's what I started spinning for - to
give you that feeling."
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