Name: Remy Gates; Year: Sophomore
First things first, Remy you’re known on campus for your locks. There have been many times where I’ve spotted the gold-tipped dreads across campus and knew it was you. What made you decide to get them?
The dreads? Well I got them back in like 6th grade. I had mostly long hair from like 3rd grade onward, braids and stuff. I’m too tender for that though, so like I wouldn’t pick it sometimes and then my mom made me cut my afro. (I cried ) So then, I grew my hair out again and got some dreads. I’ve cut them twice since then and will probably cut them again because they’re getting pretty long…
Well they are your signature look so cut wisely! You’re also known for your DJ skills, having mixed for multiple campus events both private and public. How’d you get your start in DJing?
That really started maybe 2 or 3 years ago. I started like producing or whatever before that and tried using Fruity Loops, back when it was Fruity Loops and not FL studio. But anyway, I’m still learning the whole producing thing while trying to learn the DJ thing. So the DJing came about when my brother bought this like $100 turntable and was trying to use it. He stopped messing with it so I picked it up. Later, I found out (long story short) I had a whole other set of siblings on my dad’s side of the family and one of my brothers was a professional DJ. Like consistently voted best in STL [St. Louis]. It’s pretty dope. Then another one of my brothers is a professional dancer and he was on SYTYCD [So You Think You Can Dance] and owns studios and stuff. And then my dad was one of the first DJ’s to play hip hop on the radio, so that’s pretty big. Sooo with that being said, I guess it just came naturally. I’ve actually just been really into hip hop and realizing how much I like it.
I bought a bigger DJ set earlier this year and have been working with that and I might buy some add ons. Its really fun, like I said I’m still learning, but when you hit that perfect transition, it’s uh orgasmic? Probably not that, but really nice. I might get into it too much and forget I’m supposed to be mixing sometimes.
It helps with the production though, which I haven’t had too much time to do. I can hear what’s really cool or what melodies and chords blend together well. I use maschine currently and might sync that up to Logic. It’s more of a time-consuming process because I try to find what just sounds natural and search through lots of things. It’s becoming easier, but I also switch moods and thoughts, so what I made a day before I might disagree with the next night. It’s a very cumulative process because I’m constantly inspired by new songs, like new, old songs and recently released ones.
Are there any artists/songs we should check out?
I recently just went on this Feist and Beach House binge and started listening to Churches. Donnie Kost showed me their video for this song “The Mother We Share” and if I could ever have a sound like that I would love it!!! Go listen to that. I love Ravel too, but am equally in love with trap music. Real trap music. Not the trapstep, which is also cool, but like Gucci Mane and Young Scooter, Young Dolph…Young Thug, lots of the young ones ha. It’s probably the bass or something, I can’t really relate to the lyrics.
Music seems pretty integral to your life at this point. What role does music play in your academic career here at Williams?
I’m hoping to take some music classes. Maybe next semester; I might have to audit one. I’m planning on majoring in Japanese, which has led to me wanting to go to Japan during Winter Study. (Not sure how this relates to me wanting to be a doctor yet but we’ll see if it helps any)
What do you plan to do while you’re in Japan?
I want to study, guess what, Hip Hop there. Like it’s crazy, you see how easily they adapt the culture, through the music, dancing, clothing, all of that. It’s been pretty hard getting funds though. I’m not sure if the school has changed its policy about giving money to Winter Studies or if they just hate me (hatas gon hate), but most of this is coming from what I’ve saved. If you don’t know, Tokyo is kind of expensive. I might say I’m a b-ball player or something though. But yea, if anyone wants to donate, I’m here for it. But anyway…
My obsession with Japan came before that, due to imported cars, video games, and some of the more mainstream anime. The music, all of it, has been a more recent acquisition. I was in Prof. Braggs jazz class last year and did a short presentation about jazz’s presence in anime and how bebop found a home in Japan. The same has happened with hip hop, so it seems like they really attach to these art forms that were originally rejected by America. There’s even a swapping that I’ve noticed. Like, where I’m from, St. Louis, MO, my brother and plenty of his friends won’t drive anything but Hondas, Nissans, Toyotas, etc.
Tell us something a lot of people don’t know about you. Don’t you have a clothing collab with a friend of yours?
I’m surprised at how much you know! You’re like Nardwuar. Are you gonna break out some vinyls for me? That’d be so sweet. Haha but yea, me and my friend Arik have been working on starting a clothing line. I put something out last year alone, which wasn’t too great. I’m going to continue with that line though because I have a better grasp on it now and idea of where I want to go with it. I should probably buy a sketchbook. Anyway, Arik and I have been swapping stuff and are hoping to drop next summer because we want to buy our own press before we start. When I go to Japan I’m planning on snapping pictures of different stuff so we can work through those. He’s equally in love. I recently checked out this “Bape” book from the library. Bape, if you don’t know, is this Japanese streetwear clothing company that was designed by DJ Nigo and some close friends in the middle of Tokyo. It was hotter in the early part of the millennium but it still has its hold on fashion. It especially played a large part in hip hop. I think it really showed that rappers have always wanted to have some high fashion attachment, while still staying grounded. Bape did that with the printed t-shirts, the baggy jeans and the Bapesta shoes that were basically stylized Air Force Ones. Shoes, I could go on for days, but let me not. It became an empire basically and is continually loved and seen as this ideal branding. They worked with Pepsi for God’s sake! Crazy.
Last question, where are you from and what led you to come out here to the Berkshires (where it’s currently 30 degrees )?
St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis’ weather is pretty sporadic by the way, and it’s kind of a city, so I figured I wanted to come to somewhere with less pollution and crime. I’ve grown to love it since I’ve been gone though and see how awesome it is, but also how it’s been ruined over the decades and is still trying to bounce back.