One of his latest projects, Nufonia Must Fall, is a perfect example. A story about a robot trying to impress a girl, it’s a comic book with a CD soundtrack and a mini chess set all in one. “When I was a kid, all my 7-inchers had books and pictures to go with them. So I thought it’d be fun to keep that tradition going,” ponders Eric. “If you can understand the humour in the drawing part you’ll probably get the humour in the audio part.”
His approach takes vivid imagination and geek-like dedication, not to mention a talent with the cross-fader. “Making Basin Street Blues was like doing an animated film,” he explains, referring to his turntable cut-up of Louis Armstrong’s classic number from his Some of my Best Friends are DJs album. “Every note on each instrument was found on different bits of records that had to be scratched in and bent. In the end you get music which sounds like the original but moves differently. Like when you see an animated character walking and there’s something slightly distorted about it. I like that.”
For source material Eric goes “digging in dime stores”, picking out bizarre educational and self-help monologues or “treasures” as he calls them. “I dig for those records that people are embarrassed to have, then make records documenting that they exist,” he grins. “Anthropologically speaking, it’s kind of interesting, like audio-voyeurism.”
His charms haven’t gone unnoticed either. Both Radiohead and Björk have asked him to prime their crowds. “It’s funny how making odd noises can get you into strange situations sometimes,” he says, remembering his slot at Madison Square Garden in front of 20,000 Radiohead fans.
Still, it’s obvious from his manner that success isn’t dulling his senses, and his imagination is as potent as ever. “Eventually we want to do a puppet musical with turntables in the orchestra pit.” As I said, he’s no ordinary DJ.
A Night at The Nufonia
Kid Koala Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tonight I'm going to a DJ party! You know, a disc jockey party. I feel quite honored, as they asked me to do a little of my material at the party!
It will be a great opportunity for me. This is what I'm going to do for them!
Ah, come on!... Boo! Booo!
- What the hell?
- You know something, Scratchy? ... You got a problem.
####
Ah, come on!
...come on!
Ah, come on!
Let 'em have it!
- Ah, my arm!
And that, of course, is what he deserved for pretending to be a musician, when he was only a butcher.
The lyrics of Kid Koala's A Night at The Nufonia can be interpreted in different ways, depending on the listener's perspective and familiarity with the art of DJing. However, one way to look at it is through the lens of the music industry and the expectations and perceptions that come with it. The singer highlights how some people outside the industry might not understand what a DJ party entails and might mistake the scratching sounds for lack of instruments. On the other hand, the singer appears to be excited about the opportunity to showcase their talents, even if it's just a little bit.
As the scene unfolds, it becomes apparent that the singer faces opposition and skepticism from some quarters. The sound of boos and disapproving comments suggests a lack of appreciation for the artist's work, which could be challenging for any creative person. The reference to Scratchy having a problem may point to the idea that some people don't take DJing seriously, dismissing it as a hobby or a lesser form of music.
Ultimately, the lyrics seem to be a commentary on the importance of art and creativity and the challenges that creative people face when trying to make a mark in their respective fields. It's a reminder that sometimes, it's not easy to be recognized and appreciated for the work one does, but that doesn't mean it's not worth pursuing.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, come on!
Encouragement to start the music
...come on!
Continuation of encouragement to start the music
Ah, come on!
Final encouragement to start the music
Let 'em have it!
Further encouragement to start the music
Ah, my arm!
Expression of pain
And that, of course, is what he deserved for pretending to be a musician, when he was only a butcher.
Comment on someone who pretended to be a musician and the consequences they faced
Contributed by Miles V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.