Kemek the Dope Computer

By
January 2003

Los Angeles, the City of Angels... home to beaches, movie stars and a breakbeat night called Boom Box that's making a stir loud enough to resonate through the palm tree-covered hills. On a brief hiatus until this month, the breaks night is picking up again in January 2003 as a monthly. Kemek the Dope Computer is one of the resident deejays, along with Oscure and Odeed and of course Boom Box promoter Robtronik.

January also marks the first release on Kemek and Robtronik's new label Roke Records. The first track will be a 12" remix by Kemek the Dope Computer called "Future Modular." This track will be the first of many to hit the world from this new label in sunny LA.

Taking a step back, Kemek has a DJ residency, he has a record label, and it's safe to assume he has a computer... but who is this guy and what's he doing in Southern California? He's Kemek the Dope Computer and he's turning up the volume on breaks in Los Angeles.

With a musical background and Los Angeles as his backyard, Kemek is doing what he's always done, but this year he's doing it louder. "It's always been about the electronic music for me. Even as a kid, my favorite sounds came from synths. I loved the Disneyland Electric Light Parade because of the music, not the lights."

Kemek the Dope Computer (aka Adam Douglas) started DJing when he was just 13. While rocking kids' birthday parties, he was also making tunes on his Korg Poly-800 synthesizer and a Mattel Synsonics drum pad. Putting these aside for more expensive toys, Kemek staring producing seriously at 21 and put out his first tracks, techno and ambient stylings, on Silent Records back in the early '90s.

Breaksworld and Kemek the Dope Computer cross paths at a coffee shop/record store/club in Brooklyn called Halcyon. Dropping beats on DJs Sneak-E Pete and Scottie's B's night, Kemek causes a stir at the club, then sticks around after his set to chat up the locals and pump a fist in the air. His love of breakbeats comes across in his musical banter and in the smile he boasts when he's behind the decks or in the crowd. Kemek is a friendly, seemingly everyday guy until one of his tracks comes on, and then it becomes quite evident that the word 'dope' in his name is not an exaggeration.

His sound has been described as "distinctly American". In the studio Kemek is paving the way to an American style of breaks that incorporates the classic, funky sounds of Florida as well as influences from UK style breaks. His tracks are receiving a good response from other producers like renowned breaks and house artist Meat Katie, who is looking into putting out one of Kemek's tracks on his UK label Whole Nine Yards.

"I've never tried to go for any specific sound. I tend use a lot of 303s but I also love the kinds of bass you hear in a lot of UK records," says Kemek. His beats are almost obsessively clean and his tracks range from vocal and bouncy to techy and bassy. He has a style such that each track is recognizable as a Kemek creation, but each tune holds its own. The difference between Kemek and some other acts out there right now is that he's not trying to fit in a mold. He is not even trying to make his own mold, he is just experimenting and making the kind of music he wants to hear. Luckily for us that music is breakbeat.

"Hearing Kraftwerk for the first time was pretty crazy for me because it was like the kind of music I wanted to hear all my life. I just makes sense. Breaks to me also makes sense. It has all my favorite sounds: cool bass, interesting beats, an electro element, and a general lack of - or at least a willingness to ignore - rules."

Besides mixing and producing, Kemek's other talents extend to his day job at an automotive magazine, where he works as managing editor.

Currently concentrating on the local action, Kemek is hoping the Boom Box night will help open up some more breaks nights in Los Angeles.

His new label Roke Records is not exclusive in the acts it picks up, but does intend to put out a lot of domestic sounds. Kemek's likes within the breaks community are high in favor of his neighbors in L.A. - producers Odeed, Bassplugger, Influx 1 and Digital Rust. He's also fond of Electric Ghost from Texas, the Hungarian act Cup of Chi and the Dangerous Drums crew from Berlin, Germany. Overall Kemek is optimistic for the future of breaks both in Los Angeles and in all corners of the globe. With his new label, hopefully his sound can reach all these corners and remind the world that while the old styles of breakbeats are amazing, the new styles can rock a dance floor too.

With a name that is meant to embody the human and machine element of his music Kemek the Dope Computer admits the 'dope computer' bit is a little silly, but as of 2003, everything else he's doing is serious enough to get his music heard and his dope name known throughout America and beyond.

New Releases from Kemek the Dope Computer
-Kemek the Dope Computer: Future Modular Remixes (Roke Records) - January 2003
-Son of the Dope Computer: Deeper/Starve 4 This (Roke Vs Bless) - March 2003
-Kemek and Jana: The Rapture (Airdog) - early 2003
-Kemek the Dope Computer: Mega Force (Sponge) - March 2003
-Kemek the Dope Computer: Ghola (Roke Records) - March/April 2003

For further info see:
http://www.dopecomputer.com/