As well as running his acclaimed electronic labels Work It Baby and Compuphonic, German electro-tech star Kris Menace remains prolific as a producer, collaborating with the likes of Rex The Dog (Pow!) and Tracid (buchla 200e) and working on his own multiple personas.
Currently finalising two new albums (as KrisMenace and Big Black Van) he’s also set to release a new single Starchild (with Adam Shawn) in between DJ gigs all over the world.
“As far as flying is concerned, I do prefer to fly with Lufthansa though,” he qualifies, “but that’s more because i don’t trust other airlines and I appreciate the German precision. My ex girlfriend is aLufthansa pilot and therefore I know how stringent their security standardsare.”
The Best
Skrufff: What's been the best hotel you’re stayed in?
Kris Menace: “I’ve seen a few really nice hotels but I can’t pick out one specifically. I don’t care if it’s a 5 or a zero star hotel as long as the carpet is clean and I can sleep quietly.”
Skrufff: What do you need to make a trip perfect?
Kris Menace: “A well planned time schedule and friendly and clean surroundings.”
Skrufff: What do you always travel with?
Kris Menace: “I always take my little TUMI bag which is packed with clothes for the weekend and also my beauty case (oh wow, that sounds gay..!) Other than that, I’m happy with my Iphone/ Ipad or laptop.”
Skrufff: What are your top three travel tips?
Kris Menace: “Japan, Brazil, South Africa . . . Japan is great. I love the nature and the food there and I had one of my best times in Japan. As for Brazil I love the people and the churrasco barbecue there is a killer. Especially picanah. What I loved the most about South Africa was once when I went to the Kruger National Park for a walking safari. That was quite an experience.”
The worst
Skrufff: What's been your worst travel nightmare?
Kris Menace: “An airline which doesn’t take seriously enough what they do, flying with an old machine as I discovered a few times in Russia. And dirty hotels. The worst example is when your toilet isn’t cleaned properly where you can still see what the previous guest had to eat. Or beds with spots on them: I’ve seen it all.”
Skrufff: What's the worst hotel you've stayed in?
Kris Menace: “It was a small hotel in France, Riems. I drove there with the car and picked up my friend Alan Braxe. After the gig we arrived at the hotel and after approximately five minutes, I decided to drive home, a five hour journey through the night. The hotel was supposed to be a 4 star hotel yet the elevator was not bigger than 1/2 square meter and you had to close its door by hand. Once you were in your room, the bed sheets and holes in and you could see sperm on them. The room was decorated in grim 60s colours and the bathroom was unbelievably dirty too. There was hair everywhere, the toilet was filthy and there was some shit in it from the guy before.”
Skrufff: What's the worst experience you've had at customs/ Immigration?
Kris Menace: “Oh dear, I don’t wanna’ start there. But I’m banned from America, which sometimes doesn’t help with other countries. Whenever I travel somewhere I’m 100% organised and have all visas etc sorted long before.
The worst experience was with the USA though. I had an appointment with the US embassy. They let me wait there for tewo hours from 7am only to tell me after that, that I was too late. I went nuts and finally made it through a crazy security scan in the hall after which I had to wait for another four hours. They took my fingerprints, wanted my bank account statements and lots more shit then said they will send me my visa details and passport ASAP.
Six weeks later I received my passport saying I can never go to America. The gig was supposed to be 2 weeks before that. I wasn’t able to travel within that time outside Europe because the US Embassy was holding on to my passport.”
Skrufff: How about when you've got through customs: have you had any bad encounters after not being picked up with random taxi drivers for example?
Kris Menace: “Just 3 weeks ago in the UK a guy grabbed my arm and started searching through my bag. He asked me what I do.After I told him that I’m a DJ playing Ministry of Sound that night he laughed at me, said ‘you’re a lucky guy’ and wished me all the best for the night.”
Skrufff: What do you avoid on DJ trips?
Kris Menace: “Any stress. I always try to travel with a lot of time for transfers and arriving at airports with plenty of time. I hate it when I get sweaty or things become too hectic.”
Skrufff: What's been the most frightening experience you've had on your DJ trips; ever been robbed/ followed/ threatened?
Kris Menace: “Some guys tried to robbed me once, but it didn’t happen in the end, that was in Brazil. Otherwise I’ve never had any majorly frightening experiences; apart from crazy flights or half a airplane crash in Lithuania.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgznoGoo184 (Kris Menace’s 2008 disco-tech smash Voyage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxCZHYGk_pg (Scaler)
Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff
