Dealing in Exotic Simians & Other Musical Exploits

The mixtape is a seminal aspect of modern music media. Ever since the capability to record from other media (like vinyl and CD) onto cassette tape came into being, the mixtape has been the staple of many a music lover's collection, a personally customizable compilation of tunes suited to a particular individual or purpose.
As expressed in Nick Hornby's book and subsequent film High Fidelity - in which the story of the main character, a personally confused and disaffected music geek named Rob Gordon, rotates partially around the making of mixtapes - the medium can be used as both a means to an end (picking up women) and as a genuine expression of feeling and understanding (a tape for yo' girl). And indeed, the mixtape is as much about the DJ behind it as it is about the person on the receiving end. For Dan The Automator Nakamura - the man responsible for the music behind Gorillaz, Lovage, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Dr. Octagon and a whole host of other projects - his Wanna Buy a Monkey? mixtape (which is actually a CD release) expresses the traditional versatility and general purpose of the mixtape.
"I think the reason for and the purpose behind this kind of thing is to incorporate what you're doing stylistically with what other people are doing to make it an interesting listening experience," explains Nakamura. He sees the mixtape as an opportunity for DJs to not only show off their mixing skills, but more importantly, to open people's ears to new music.
"What you're doing when do you something like this is that you're making something for both purposes. What I mean is, the record obviously highlights what the DJ is doing skill-wise, but I think more importantly it's highlighting the tape factor, you know what I mean? What the DJ finds interesting compared to what I as the listener find interesting," says Nakamura. "So with Wanna Buy a Monkey? I allow the listener to look inside my head and see what I'm thinking about musically…or like if I was just playing records, hanging out, what I would choose to listen to. And hopefully, I can hit the people with some good music. Bands like Tortoise don't get that much light, and that band Zero 7 is pretty new, but if I wasn't out doing stuff all the time, it's the music that I would be playing for my friends."
The Automator's mix is certainly eclectic, containing a variety of numbers laced together on a 16-track recorder. Songs from Nakamura's own stable of accomplishments (Gorillaz, Deltron 3030, Lovage) are blended with some of the previously unheard music and remixes he's done with other artists (Black Rob, Air) and some music that he just likes to listen to in his own time (Zero 7, Dilated Peoples, Tortoise). The blend is a good look at the tastes, influences and work of Nakamura, and on top of that, it's just cool to listen to.
"I'm glad you like it, but you know, I can't really take much credit for it because it's all other people's songs. It's just supposed to be enjoyable," says Nakamura with a bit of a self-effacing, lighthearted laugh, adding that Wanna Buy a Monkey? is actually not exactly what it was originally intended to be. "When I first made the record, I tried to include a lot of mixes I did that came out in Europe that didn't come out in America, and a couple of them made it on there, but you know, clearance issues being what they are, it kind of ended up being more of just a learning experience in a lot of ways. Ultimately, I only got a couple of those songs on there because it was hard to clear all of them. See, when you do a mix record, you're at the mercy of whoever owns the masters, so you gotta do what they say."
Not just a production gun-for-hire, artist and songwriter, Nakamura, better known by his moniker The Automator, also performs DJ sets at clubs and parties, and like all club and party DJs, he enjoys playing new music for people. For The Automator, Wanna Buy a Monkey? is mostly just a chance to play new music for a much wider audience than a live set might reach, and it's also an opportunity for Nakamura to shed some new light on unheard older music.
"Most important to me on that record is a song I did with Black Rob back in '92, before Bad Boy [Records], that no one's ever heard before," reveals Nakamura. "I made his first record, it was dope but it never came out, and for a long time I was the only one who had a copy of it, period. But me and Rob have a long history and I thought it'd be pretty damn cool to release the song…and also kind of because it's the completion of this issue for me. I've wanted that thing to come out for years. It's been ten years, and Rob is my man, and I finally got some way to get it out there. I mean, ten years later, we're both doing pretty well, we're both competing for the same Grammy. That's some shit, so I'm really happy about that, and it makes me happy that I finally got a chance to release that."
The Automator was recently signed to MCA Records and, given the breadth of styles and the combination of other artists with his own work on Wanna Buy a Monkey?, it seems like one of the music industry's hippest producers is examining his career, taking stock in his influences and tastes, and even in his own work. It begs the question, is this a long look back before moving forward, possibly a precursor to future work?
"I don't know…maybe," Nakamura says quizzically, then pauses momentarily. "What I mean is, there really is a certain tie between what I was doing then, what I listen to now and what I'm gonna be doing in the future that all kind of relates, you know?"

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