On the eve of his gig in Mumbai, King Unique talks to The Sherp for a light and surprisingly insightful interview!
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FS: The best bed you’ve ever slept in?
KU:Β My sofa, for about an hour one afternoon when my first son was around 6 weeks old & waking up a few times every night. I still remember the delicious luxury of taking a nap on that lumpy old sofa β whenever I need to fall asleep somewhere I picture myself lying down to sleep that day.
FS: One thing you can’t leave home without?
KU:Β Clothes, Iβm old fashioned that way.
FS: Biggest inspiration in your life?
KU:Β The Apollo moon landings β what it took from hundreds of thousands of people to put those 12 men there, what it meant to humanity that they went & what it meant individually to the men who went there. I managed to meet/hear all of the surviving moonwalkers and speak about βitβ in person β very interesting people.
FS:Β Weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
KU:Β Sea urchin at an extraordinary sushi restaurant in Tokyo in 2001! Itβs also the worst tasting thing Iβve ever put in my mouth.
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FS:Β Biggest fail behind the console?
KU:Β Picking up Col Hamilton (the promoter of Lush! in Northern Ireland) to wave him at the crowd and smashing his head extremely hard into the ceiling.
FS:Β Best moment behind the console?
KU:Β Hard to say (see next answer) but I always have a soft spot for playing to any group of people whoβve decided to have a good time. Β Doesnβt need a big crowd or great venue β just that spark going round everyone to make the most of the night. Those are the legendary gigs.
FS:Β Happiest moment of your life?
KU:Β Thatβs rather a hard question to answer as Iβm currently trying to quit that outlook. Hanging your greatest happinessβs on particular moments is like fitting a rose tinted rear-view mirror in your car β you just keep looking over your shoulder. Additionally you can become overly defined (both artistically & personally) by your βlegacyβ; what you did becomes a disproportionate determinant of what you do. Iβm happy to be sitting on a plane and answering these questionsΒ J
FS: What would you be if you weren’t an artist/musician/DJ?
KU:Β Archaeologist β I bought a 170 year old house recently that hadnβt really been lived in for years. I found loads of interesting old bits & pieces under the floors, stuffed in the chimney, packing out door frames etc. Everything from coins & jewellery to old newspapers & bus tickets β if someone wants to pay me to do that Iβd love to.
FS:Β If you had a superpower, what would it be?
KU:Β To let people look clearly into each otherβs hearts, and into their own.
FS:Β Top 3 tracks on your iPod right now?
KU:Β Debian Blak βSix Months from Marsβ
Boards Of Canada βReach for The Deadβ
Any of the dozens & dozens of pieces by βMax Richterβ