Mirror: We’re here with Diplo after the Fall Concert. So how was the show?
Diplo: It was good, man. It was fun.
Mirror: Aside from getting your stuff unplugged?
Diplo: Ah yeah. Somehow I kept making it work, you know, because everything got unplugged, but the computer still played so I just made it go internally, played without my CD effect. You gotta be pretty, pretty like amicable to things like that. So, it was cool. And then I stage dived. They caught for like the first 20 seconds and then they dropped me, so I won’t do that again. You guys need to like work on your stage diving catching techniques.
Mirror: In your other concerts, have people done that dance better?
Diplo: “Express Yourself?” I mean, if it’s like my own solo show, it’s like everybody knows it, you know? If it’s like a bigger show like this, like four or five of the girls might know it. But they learned it pretty quick. They learned it pretty quick. It’s funny. If their parents knew what they were doing at the University sponsored concert.
Mirror: At a Catholic university no less. So you’re producing Snoop Dogg, or Snoop Lion’s new album Reincarnated.
Diplo: Right.
Mirror: So how’s working with the reinvented Calvin Broadus?
Diplo: Man, it’s been crazy. Like, working with him was an amazing time. We recorded the whole album in Jamaica and did like 18 tracks. And we’re going to hopefully finish mixing it down. It’s got some crazy features. Bunny Whaler, Chris Brown, more I can’t talk about. There’s like a whole bunch of people on the album. It’s a proper reggae record, so if you like reggae, if you like what Major Lazer is, it’s kind of that vibe.
Mirror: Sure. Major Lazer, actually, Jillionare and Walshy Fire since replaced Switch. Is this going to change the sound for the upcoming album?
Diplo: I mean, the whole…I think the first record I produced, the majority of it anyway–I think he just, Switch was kind of like my mentor and when it comes to like the band, he never was really into like the band, like the traveling and building projects. So Walshy and Chris were always guys who helped us out from the beginning, but I think when we started doing the massive tour we’re about to embark on, it makes the most sense to work with them because they’re really related to our music and they’re really close to what we do, so yeah. We have a new team that just, I think it’s stronger. The sound of the record is still wild. You know, some people I produce, I worked with a couple other people on this record. I produced with Flux Pavillion. I produced, I had done some stuff with this kid Jewels. Who else did I produce with on the record? Switch did “Runway,” Switch did “Get Free” with me. What did you say? Yeah, Flexican. Some other producer. Yeah, it’s–the sound of Major Lazer is always really unique and always is forward looking. So we’re going to keep doing that for sure.
Mirror: So if you could collaborate with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
Diplo: I don’t know. I don’t really have like aspirations to collaborate with dead people. Yet.
Mirror: Dust Brothers wrote the soundtrack to “Fight Club,” Daft did “Tron.” Any thoughts of ever writing a soundtrack for a movie?
Diplo: Yeah, I’d love to do that. I worked a film before I was a DJ and I’ve actually been offered to do some soundtrack stuff, you know. I never embarked on it yet, but I think it’s the logical progression. ‘Cause I think a lot of guys that make films want to put the sound design in the scope of like something a little bit younger, because it’s kind of like the old guys that make the soundtracks for films, but it would be great to find the right film that works. But I don’t want to be an aging DJ like Dust Brothers or Basement Jaxx or Chemical Brothers, it’s just like that’s all they can do now is soundtracks, it’s not what I’m thinking yet. Yeah but it’s the logical step. When you get old DJ you just make soundtracks, so I guess it’s my next, next step.
Mirror: So you’ve continually surprised the public by taking on an increasing multitude of various projects. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Diplo: Uh, probably dead. But if I’m alive I’ll be uh, a farmer or something.
Mirror: Sweet, sweet.
Diplo: Yeah. Maybe like work at a honey bee farm.
Mirror: We actually have one on campus.
Diplo: Yeah. That’s cool. You guys have some of that here? Some of that honey?
Mirror: Some of that honey? I don’t know man.
Cameraman: You got some honeys outside all over your stage.
Diplo: There’s honey… oh, honeys. This camera guy! What up, camera guy? Gimme some. [Bumps fists.] You guys got one more question?
Mirror: One more question. What’s your beef with Nic Cage?
Diplo: Oh. I don’t know. I don’t even know why, I don’t know how his name ended up on that… I just didn’t want a dartboard with somebody. It was somebody before that, couldn’t put it on there anymore. And I like Nicholas Cage. I don’t have any beef with him, actually. I want to say like a big shout out to Nicholas Cage. I love your film. I was actually a PA for him on “National Treasure, Part 2.” Sucked. He was actually an a**hole back then. But I don’t care. You know, when you’re a film maker or a actor [sic] you have to kind of have some attitude to deal with normal people. So I feel you.
Mirror: Thanks for sitting down, man. I appreciate it.
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