Showing posts with label Elijah Wood interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elijah Wood interview. Show all posts
I want to have vada pav and cutting chai-Elijah Wood
7:46 AM
Hollywood actor- musician Elijah Wood, who is on an India tour, expresses his wish to relish Mumbai’s street treats and take rickshaw rides for all his meetings and parties here
Ria Lawrence (MID-DAY; September 5, 2015)
Right in the middle of interviewing Elijah Wood, one realises just why and how he has earned his ‘nicest guy in Hollywood’ tag. Unassuming and affable, Wood has earned an oddly indispensable spot in the big bad world of cinema. He’s been the indie film darling, but has also immortalised the role of Mr Frodo Baggins in The Lord of The Rings, possibly one of the biggest franchises modern cinema has seen, and is now pursuing his second love, Djing. Along with his ‘Wooden Wisdom’ console partner, Zach Cowie, Wood is on a three- city tour in India to put music lovers in an EDM trance. We caught up with the Hollywood star minutes before his performance. Excerpts from the interview:
What are your expectations from India?
A lot of dancing and fun, party loving people, hopefully. I got only a glimpse of the city on my way here, but it has such an infectious vibe; it’s growing on me already. I have been hearing all sorts of crazy rumours about my trip though.
Like?
The funniest was that I am traveling with four chefs and my own entourage. It cracked me up good. I mean all I have brought here is a bag with my headphones and musical instruments. I swear, that’s it!
Are you aware of any Bollywood musicians?
Well, I am just a student. I am learning. But I am a fan of Asha Bhosle’s… R D Burman and Bappi Lahiri too. In fact, we are mixing some of his (Lahiri’s) songs like Disco Dancer and Hari Om Hari. It should be fun. He is a smart producer.
Why was your DJing talent so shielded from the limelight, until now?
I have been DJing for six years now, but I suppose it’s only recently that I have started taking it seriously enough to perform. I want to play in more countries — Brazil, Nigeria, Africa, etc. We had a crazy time in Turkey. It’s so exciting to see how music brings people together.
Would you consider yourself a mainstream Hollywood actor now?
Oh, hell no! I am not in that circle. My life is so detached and there is so much other than movies that’s going on.
You worked with the indomitable Robin Williams. How was it?
I don’t think I have met anyone as bright and kind as him. His death shocked me. I wish people were less judgmental about suicide.
If you could bring back one musician back to life, who would it be?
I would like to see what Kurt Cobain would have done if he had lived. John Lennon, too. Heck, bring all of them back!
Are you excited about your trip here?
So very excited. I want to go out on the streets and have the vada pav everyone keeps talking about. Also the ‘cutting chai’; I am curious about it. Hopefully, I get time to do that after all the gigs are out of the way. I am also so amused by the rickshaws here and plan to travel in them for all my meetings and parties!
I love Bappi Lahiri, Lata Mangeshkar and Ilaiyaraaja-Elijah Wood
10:40 AM
Samyuktha K (BOMBAY TIMES; September 4, 2015)
The news of the Lord of The
Rings (LOTR) star Elijah Wood's tour of India was a twofold
surpise. While his visit is enough to spark excitement across cities,
jaws dropped when fans heard the reason for his tour - music. Although
both LOTR and Elijah Wood have a cult following in India, Wood's lesser
known persona soon began to make waves. In what is his first interview
since landing in India for his current tour, we discovered that Wood is
full of surprises - from his passion for vinyls to his familiarity of the
retro Bollywood music. So here's the lowdown on Wood's journey into
music, his biggest influences, and of course a little bit about his
endearing dimension of being a big hearted celeb. Excerpts:
For most of your fans, at least in India, Elijah Wood the DJ came as a bit of a surprise. Is this generally the response you get across the globe?
To a certain degree it is, especially outside the US. I suppose when people are familiar with one aspect of who you are, it's somewhat understandably assumed that it is all that you do. I've been DJing in some capacity for 15 years, but only taking it more seriously in the last five years.
Tell us about your journey into and with music and artistes who are your biggest influences?
I started DJing for fun whilst living and working in New Zealand in 2000. Those were pre-iPod days and I carried hundreds of CDs with me when I traveled and one night whilst at a friend's bar, I played with a CD mixer and started cross fading between songs. Playing music that I loved on a loud sound system for people hit me with instant joy and satisfaction. I kept it up for the years following as a hobby; DJing for friends, at bars etc. It was until six years ago, that I felt legitimised when DJ friends in LA asked me to be a part of a small collective called The Embassy. I began to play music for more people and eventually moved to vinyl exclusively, inspired by my friend and DJ partner, Zach Cowie whom I've learned a great deal from.
How familiar are you with Indian music? Any artistes you love?
Definitely familiar with Bollywood soundtrack music, with a particular love for the '70s and '80s. I love artistes like Biddu, Bappi Lahiri, Lata Mangeshkar and Ilaiyaraaja.
Will you be mixing tunes from Indian cinema in your India tour?
We've all brought a few records of Indian film music. We couldn't play in India without representing the land and its music!
In a video dated 2013, you are identified as DJ Jamie Starr while in another gig, you are identified as DJ Frodo. Could you throw some light on the story behind your stage names?
When I was DJ by myself, I don't ever use a stage name, except for when I used Jamie Starr once whilst DJing in LA. Jamie Starr is one of the many pseudonyms used by Prince, whom I'm a massive fan of. When Zach Cowie and I DJ together, we go by Wooden Wisdom, as his DJ name is Turquoise Wisdom, so it's a combination.
You have acquired a reputation of being a 'sincere human', with your involvement in a lot of causes. Tell us about the causes closest to your heart.
Well, that's very nice to hear. If you ask me to pick causes closes to me, it has to be anything related to children, such as Art of Elysium, which brings the arts to children in hospital. I also back anything related to pushing for clean and natural food production and support of local farmers. Ultimately, I'm a humanist and am endeared to all human issues.
Anything about India that you are really excited to explore?
I have never been to India, so I am excited to explore as much as I can in a short amount of time. I'm particularly excited to eat local food.
Any news on your upcoming movies?
I finished a film earlier this year with Nicolas Cage called The Trust that is in post production. Two films that I produced are being released soon and the third one is in post production.
Any parting words?
The three of us, Fitz, Zach and I, are so excited to visit India and play records for y'all!
For most of your fans, at least in India, Elijah Wood the DJ came as a bit of a surprise. Is this generally the response you get across the globe?
To a certain degree it is, especially outside the US. I suppose when people are familiar with one aspect of who you are, it's somewhat understandably assumed that it is all that you do. I've been DJing in some capacity for 15 years, but only taking it more seriously in the last five years.
Tell us about your journey into and with music and artistes who are your biggest influences?
I started DJing for fun whilst living and working in New Zealand in 2000. Those were pre-iPod days and I carried hundreds of CDs with me when I traveled and one night whilst at a friend's bar, I played with a CD mixer and started cross fading between songs. Playing music that I loved on a loud sound system for people hit me with instant joy and satisfaction. I kept it up for the years following as a hobby; DJing for friends, at bars etc. It was until six years ago, that I felt legitimised when DJ friends in LA asked me to be a part of a small collective called The Embassy. I began to play music for more people and eventually moved to vinyl exclusively, inspired by my friend and DJ partner, Zach Cowie whom I've learned a great deal from.
How familiar are you with Indian music? Any artistes you love?
Definitely familiar with Bollywood soundtrack music, with a particular love for the '70s and '80s. I love artistes like Biddu, Bappi Lahiri, Lata Mangeshkar and Ilaiyaraaja.
Will you be mixing tunes from Indian cinema in your India tour?
We've all brought a few records of Indian film music. We couldn't play in India without representing the land and its music!
In a video dated 2013, you are identified as DJ Jamie Starr while in another gig, you are identified as DJ Frodo. Could you throw some light on the story behind your stage names?
When I was DJ by myself, I don't ever use a stage name, except for when I used Jamie Starr once whilst DJing in LA. Jamie Starr is one of the many pseudonyms used by Prince, whom I'm a massive fan of. When Zach Cowie and I DJ together, we go by Wooden Wisdom, as his DJ name is Turquoise Wisdom, so it's a combination.
You have acquired a reputation of being a 'sincere human', with your involvement in a lot of causes. Tell us about the causes closest to your heart.
Well, that's very nice to hear. If you ask me to pick causes closes to me, it has to be anything related to children, such as Art of Elysium, which brings the arts to children in hospital. I also back anything related to pushing for clean and natural food production and support of local farmers. Ultimately, I'm a humanist and am endeared to all human issues.
Anything about India that you are really excited to explore?
I have never been to India, so I am excited to explore as much as I can in a short amount of time. I'm particularly excited to eat local food.
Any news on your upcoming movies?
I finished a film earlier this year with Nicolas Cage called The Trust that is in post production. Two films that I produced are being released soon and the third one is in post production.
Any parting words?
The three of us, Fitz, Zach and I, are so excited to visit India and play records for y'all!
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