music
April 16, 2026
DJ Shadow: ‘Kraftwerk are a touchstone for every phase of my career’
The hip-hop producer, remixer and crate-digger on staying fresh creatively, the influence of David Lynch and giving away his most valuable record
TL;DR
- DJ Shadow initially declined to work on Deftones' 'White Pony' due to his hip-hop image but now views it as a missed opportunity.
- He has always sought to make music in diverse ways, balancing sampling with new production methods.
- Influences include the UK group Hijack, Melody Maker and NME magazines, and artists like Kraftwerk.
- He draws inspiration from film, books (like 'Choose Your Own Adventure'), and TV shows ('Twin Peaks').
- DJ Shadow views his collecting as curatorial, focused on discovering and sharing neglected music.
- He believes in the importance of an artist's continuous evolution and pushing creative boundaries.
- He is concerned about the potential impact of AI on human survival and the tangible world.
- Monetary value is not the primary driver in his collecting; the thrill of discovery and personal value are paramount.
- He approaches remix and collaboration requests by first experimenting to see if he can create something distinctive.
- A remix during the Covid-19 pandemic was a fun project to engage different audiences.