DJ Spooky, That Subliminal Kid (born Paul Miller, 1970), is a Washington DC… Read Full Bio ↴DJ Spooky, That Subliminal Kid (born Paul Miller, 1970), is a Washington DC-born illbient and trip-hop musician, turntablist and producer. He borrowed his stage name from a character in a William S. Burroughs novel.

Growing up in DC, Spooky became interested in punk and go-go music, and attended Bowdoin College in Maine, earning degrees in French literature and philosophy. He began writing science fiction and formed a collective called Soundlab with several other artists.

In the mid-1990s, Spooky began recording a series of singles and EPs. His debut LP, "Songs of a Dead Dreamer", is now widely regarded as a formative influence on illbient. "Riddim Warfare" was an underground hit that include collaborations with Dr. Octagon and other cult figures in indie rock.

He then worked with several other artists on various collaborations and mix CDs, returning in 2002 with "Modern Mantra". That same year saw the release of "Optometry", a widely acclaimed collaboration with avant-jazz players Matthew Shipp, William Parker, Guillermo E. Brown and Joe McPhee. This album also features portions of a breaks record by Billy Martin of Medeski Martin & Wood.

DJ Spooky also composed the score for the 1998 film SLAM, featuring poet/actor Saul Williams in the lead role. The film went on to win both the Cannes Camera D'Or and the Sundance Festival Film Festival Grand Jury Prize.

In 2004 DJ Spooky released a book, Rhythm Science published by MIT Press. The same year saw the launch of his film/music/multimedia performance piece "DJ Spooky's Rebirth of a Nation". A live audio/video re-mix of D. W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation which includes footage from choreographer Bill T. Jones and a score newly composed by DJ Spooky, "Rebirth of a Nation" was commissioned by the Lincoln Center Festival, The Festival d'Automne a Paris, The Spoleto Festival USA, and the Vienna Festival. DJ Spooky continues to tour the world performing this work.

2005 sees the release of "Drums of Death", DJ Spooky's CD based on sessions he recorded with Dave Lombardo of Slayer. Other guest artists include Chuck D. of Public Enemy and Vernon Reid of Living Color. The record was co-produced by Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto.

DJ Spooky is also a professor of music mediated art at the European Graduate School where he co-teaches (with Michael Schmidt) an Intensive Summer Seminar in Saas-Fee, Switzerland.

Not to be confused with the similarly named, UK electronica duo, Spooky.

No No No
DJ Spooky Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
It's not warm when she's away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she always gone too long
Anytime she goes away

Wondering this time where she's gone
Wondering if she's gone to stay

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
I know, I know, I know, I know. I know
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
Hey, I'm gonna leave young thing alone

But ain't no sunshine when she's gone
Only darkness everyday
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away

Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away

Anytime she goes away
Anytime she goes away

Overall Meaning

DJ Spooky's "No No No" is a cover of Bill Withers' classic "Ain't No Sunshine." The lyrics explore the feeling of emptiness and darkness that envelops the singer when his lover is not around. The opening lines, "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone, it's not warm when she's away," highlight the absence of light and warmth that is felt when this person is not present in the singer's life. The repetition of the phrase "Anytime she goes away" emphasizes the ongoing struggle and pain of that absence.

The singer wonders where their lover has gone and whether she will ever return, questioning whether she has gone to stay this time. The absence has transformed the singer's house from being a home to being a bleak and empty space. These lyrics convey a sense of need and dependence on this person, as their presence is what brings light and warmth into the singer's life.

The repetition of "I know" builds on this need, as the singer acknowledges that he must try to move on and leave the young thing alone. However, the final lines emphasize the ongoing struggle, stating that "anytime she goes away" the darkness and emptiness will continue to consume the singer's life.

Line by Line Meaning

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
This place isn't lively without her

It's not warm when she's away
It's cold and lonely without her presence

And she always gone too long
She's always gone for a longer period of time than anticipated

Anytime she goes away
Everything becomes dull and colorless whenever she's not around

Wondering this time where she's gone
Trying to figure out where she could have gone this time

Wondering if she's gone to stay
Wondering if she's gone for good this time

And this house just ain't no home
This place just doesn't feel like home without her

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
I'm aware and fully understand

Hey, I'm gonna leave young thing alone
I'll stay away from her

Only darkness everyday
It's all bleak and hopeless without her

Anytime she goes away
Every time she leaves, it's unbearable