Dropkat is the professional name of Brooklyn-based songwriter, producer and DJ Jason Randall. Although he is making his international recording debut in 2021, he’s been rocking club kids and SoundCloud for years with his unique take on Tech House and Dance Pop grooves. In that time he has worked the decks at high profile festivals like Bonnaroo, Life is Beautiful, and Elements. In 2010 Dropkat set up shop at the renowned Brooklyn club ‘House of Yes’ where he is now the resident DJ.
“Chicken in the Kitchen” is the debut single from Dropkat, released worldwide to all major streaming services on April 9, 2021. The song, like the artist’s name, is a dedication to his beloved cats. Rolling on a driving Techno House beat, the fun and goofy tune mixes a quirky Alt-Pop flare with EDM production.
Among his inspirations, Jason lists avant-garde dance label Dirtybird Records and Art-Pop legends Talking Heads. We can hear their influence on the groovy song about cats demanding their dinner. He pairs funky, syncopated percussion and synth arpeggios with processed vocals riffing on the theme “Chicken’s in the kitchen and the chicken’s on fire.” Of course, the cats themselves make an appearance as well with economically placed “meow” samples.
Check out “Chicken in the Kitchen” below. You can also hear the track on the Deep Indie Dance playlist. We had a chance to chat with Dropkat about the song and the future. Check out his answers to our 8 questions. And follow the links at the end of this article to connect with Dropkat. Get on his socials and get in the loop on all of the current and future projects from this dynamic and talented DJ.
8 Questions with Dropkat
Where are you from?
I’ve Been living in Brooklyn for 14 years. I grew up in Stony Brook, New York.
How long have you been making music?
I started playing guitar when I was 10 and started scratching and mixing thrift store records and playing bass in a punk band around 16. I earned a Bachelors in Music at SUNY Purchase in Studio Composition. I fell in love with Dj-ing around 5 years ago while working as a sound engineer at House of Yes, a nightclub and circus/cabaret theatre in Brooklyn. Working at a club with a great sound system opened my ears to electronic and house music, and Dropkat was born.
Who are the musicians involved in your project?
This is a solo project. But I have had some help from Grammy award-winning friends Dan Romer and Brendan Berry, as well as help from production mastermind Jon Jetter. My ultra love Tamara Ochoa is always there to bounce sounds off with great criticism. My mentor Leo Leite, producer and A1 at House of Yes, has been great at teaching me how to achieve better sonics. The mastering of Chicken in the Kitchen is by Jon Tornblom of Transparent Mastering.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Currently, Dirtybird Records, Claude Vonstroke and Green Velvet. Going back in time LCD Soundsystem, Fela Kuti, Talking Heads-Speaking in Tongues, Deltron3030, Beck-Midnight Vultures, The Dust Brothers, Beastie Boys-Paul’s Boutique, Les Claypool/Primus, Rancid, Portishead, RATM-self titled, Nirvana-In Utero, and the Beatles.
What is your greatest non-musical influence?
Comedy has always had a big influence on me. If I’m not listening to new music, I’m watching comedy. Before I started playing music, I loved staying up late to watch Letterman and SNL. My love for comedy definitely influences my approach to making music, and that’s pretty obvious when you listen to this track.
What inspired you to create this project?
Sitting through hours of vogue balls at House of Yes. My sound mentor Leo Leite used to do this gig every other week until he couldn’t stand it anymore. Being Brazillian he could never understand what the MC’s were saying. He would say “What are they saying? chicken in the kitchen, chicken in the kitchen, over and over? ALL NIGHT LONG!?!” Eventually I took over the gig as sound engineer, he got some rest, and I learned to appreciate the non stop-cracks and claps of an NYC Vogue Ball. Shout out to MikeQ for opening my ears to a whole genre of music.
What are your plans for the future (musically)?
I plan to release more dance music as Dropkat, I’m also working on a more live approach to making beats. When nightlife comes back from Covid I’ll be back to work at the club DJ-ing and sound engineering. I can’t wait to make my way back to festivals like Bonnaroo and Life Is Beautiful with the House of Yes crew.
Is there anything else you would like to say?
I design my own merch, and I have stuff you wouldn’t expect from a musician like swimsuits, masks, dresses, mugs, phone cases, bags, and more. I like being a visual artist almost as much as I like making music. Check out my designs at Dropkat.com/merch
If my music puts a smile on someone’s face then it has achieved its goal. I’m all about playfulness and I feel there is too much serious out there. So take my track and put it on your Spotify dance playlist and have some fun kitties.
Connect:
DropKat.com
Spotify
Dropkat on the Deep Indie playlists
The post Dropkat Drops New Techno House Cat Groove appeared first on The Static Dive.
