Kid Fresh is probably the most thoughtful DJ we’ve ever met. Born to two German orchestral musicians, Fresh grew up in a musical household: “I basically learned music before I could talk. I was forced to play instruments as a toddler.” After years of attending music schools and playing various classical instruments, he gravitated toward hip-hop and scratching in his late teens, and was soon launching parties throughout Germany (he now mixes any genre he likes into his high energy sets).

Three years ago, he moved to Hong Kong and partnered with DJ Enso to launch Pimpin’ Aint Easy and later, Hype Nasty, two of Hong Kong’s most creative nights of the past few years. He now spends the bulk of his time on the road, touring Asia, promoting other artists, and managing a monthly night at the Opposite House in Beijing.

Last month he launched the excellent all-female DJ night at Volar, Bulletproof Kitten Mafia, and he recently began a monthly Friday night engagement at Fly, called Mixtape Fridays. For all his activity, Kid Fresh is a behind-the-scenes character, a dude seldom seen out on the scene. He says he generally prefers the company of his cats and tries to be in bed before midnight when he’s not playing. We recently sat down with him at a Starbucks of all places, for a quick catch-up.

What’s the best thing about nightlife in Hong Kong?
The party is always quite international and you can meet people from all over the world, which is a good thing.

Any complaints?
Well, Hong Kong offers a lot of great venues. But having said that, most clubs out here are managed in a very superficial, money-orientated way, so the music ends up being secondary. People go out based on what club has the most models and VIPs, and that sucks.

What are your guilty pleasures?
I don’t know; I don’t feel guilty. Well… I like window cleaner. I can’t have dust around me and my place can’t be disorganised, almost to the level of OCD. I love cleaning surfaces with window cleaner, sometimes too much.

Which DJ would you most like to play alongside?
I’m happy with who I play alongside now. I’ve played with Diplo before and I have a lot of respect for what he does, so that was a thrill. I’m playing another gig with him in May in Prague, so I don’t know, I’m pretty happy.

What’s your favorite word?
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, the 35 letter-long word that describes the fear of long words. That’s pretty hilarious.

What do you most dislike about other people?
Incompetence.

Do you generally listen to the same type of music that you play?
Not at all. I have a different approach to the stuff that I play. When I’m putting together a set I’m working from the perspective of being in the DJ booth, playing loud music for a crowd of drunk people. Listening to music quietly at home, or walking the streets with my headphones on and ideas in my head, it’s a completely different state of mind. There are overlaps, but in general I would say they’re two separate worlds.

So what are you into at the moment for home listening?
You want me to drop names?
James Blake, Lil Wayne, Joy Orbison, Hudson Mohawke, The Black Keys.

When are you happiest?
Creating something that I can be proud of makes me happy. Also, whenever I go to a place for the first time. When I go to a place that I’ve never seen, smelled, felt or heard before – the way that makes you feel. That’s something that I really love. And girls. [Laughs]

Patrick Brzeski

Kid Fresh (TOHK 75) by Time Out 6

Theme from Twilight Zone
Skit: Kool Keith
- Actress - Supreme cunnilingus
Skit: Marcel Vanthilt
- DJ Rashad - Who da coldest
Skit: DJ Craze & DJ Klever
- Soulja Boy - Pretty boy swag (acapella)
- David Whittaker - Theme from Lazy Jones
- Greg Lokus - Aww yeah (instrumental)
- Lil Wayne - Ask dem hoes
- Richard Sanderson - Reality
- Busy Signal - Real gallis
- DJ Vadim - The terrorist
Skit: Zoe Voss
- Jonathan Dunn - Theme from Platoon
Skit: Alabama rehab
- The Knife - You make me like charity
- Tobacco - Creepy phone calls
Skit: Andy Warhol
- Bjork - Human behavior
- Slayer - South of heaven
Skit: Andy Milonakis vs Ralphie
- Kanye West - All of the lights ft Rihanna
Skit: Kanye West
- Kanye West - All of the lights (interlude)
- James Blake - Limit to your love
- Joy Orbison - So derobe
- Aaliyah ft Timberland- Are you that somebody (acapella)
- Lil' Scrappy - Look at me (Bok Bok remix)
- Radiohead - Karma police
- Javelin - At home in the sea
Skit: Lil Wayne
- Busta Rhymes - Look at me now (prod. by Afrojack & Diplo)
- Devo - No place like home
- Air - La femme d' argent
- Public Enemy - By the time I get to Arizona
Skit: Kanye West
- Mayada El Hennawy - Aloly ensy
- Willow Smith - Whip my hair
Skit: Chloe Sevigny, Rosario Dawson
- I Blame Coco - Caesar (Miike Snow remix)
- Ratatat - Mirando
Skit: Doug E Fresh
- Lalo Schifrin - Danube incident
Skit: Brickhouse Brown
Skit: Kola Kwariani
Skit: Anonymous
- Theophilus London - Oops (prod. by Hudson Mohawke)
Skit: King Orgasmus One & Alice Schwarzer
- Hudson Mohawke - No one could ever
- Amerie ft Ludacris - Why don't we fall in love
- Richie Spice - Marijuana (Al Fingers remix)
- Nodzz - I don't wanna smoke marijuana
Skit: Werner Herzog
- Selda Bagcan - Ince Ince
- Ebo Taylor - Victory
- Wiseguys - Too easy
Skit: Brickhouse Brown
- Swedish Shouse Mafia - One
- Lone - Once in a while
- Girl Unit - IRL (French Fries remix)
- Gonzales - I am Europe (Djedjotronic remix)
- Martyn - Left hander
- Marcus Price & Carli - Mat bira kvinnor weed (Kingdom remix)
- The Count & Sinden - Addicted to you (Lone remix)
- Four Tet - Circling
Skit: Tony Leung
- Gus Gus - Add this song
- Richard Hawley - Tonight the streets are ours
Skit: Charles Bukowski
- Paul Rothman - Such a good night
- Bugs Bunny - That's all folks

Mixtape Fridays at Fly Mar 18 Entry is free