Keoki(I)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
The undisputed first and most legendary DJ of all time. This Superstar boasts a resume DJs only dream of. A visionary turned iconic pioneer, Keoki spearheaded a movement spawning the growth of electronic music around the world. DJ Keoki arrived on the mainland with merely forty records, a bag of clothes and $200, without an inkling he would go on to become a key figure to a groundbreaking social movement. As an Artist whose music would shreds the sonic spectrum, Keoki longed to transcend old ways. Keoki was destined to make a name for himself.
Born in El Salvador, raised on Maui and nicknamed for the mysterious bastard son of a legendary Hawaiian king, Keoki arrived on the mainland US in the late 80s. Landing a job with TWA in NYC enabled Keoki the opportunity to travel the world free. It was while moonlighting as a busboy for Danceteria (a hot Manhattan nightclub), that Keoki witnessed the sights and sounds that would change his life . . . perhaps even the future of music.
Fascinated by the powerful connection a DJ is able to conjure with the crowd, Keoki began to play records himself. Taking care to put his own distinctive spin on another artist's music was paramount. Flamboyant as hell, he dubbed himself 'Superstar DJ' Keoki and states, "...I wore a jeweled crown, big furry collars and gold chains. It was all a gimmick, but the fun of it really caught fire".
Though it started as a lark, 'Superstar DJ Keoki' quickly became sought after by many of Manhattan's underground trendsetters and top socialites alike. Keoki was now known as "The DJ to the Stars!". He worked legendary parties for the likes of Lou Reed, Deborah Harry, Drag Queen icon RuPaul and The B-52's. "All the glamorous stars and creatures of New York were there", he says.
The former baggage handler soon became a jetting-setting commodity as he began performing to massive audiences across America as well as overseas. It was a sonic sleight-of-hand in which Funk meets Punk. An intersection were barking Scooby Doo would mix perfectly with an ever ranting Jimmy Swaggert. Keoki continued to discover dramatic new ways in which he could keep the crowd right in the palm of his hands. "NY really showed me I could draw on anything around me and make something of it. There were just no limits".
By early nineties, the underground Dance music scene had swelled to a critical mass. The rave scene in America had been born. As one of the very first traveling DJs, Keoki was quickly propelled into the Limelight. Through numerous performances at LA raves, Keoki caught the attention of Moonshine Music President Steve Levy. It was his personality, flamboyance, showmanship and abundant musical talent that led to Keoki joining forces with Moonshine. Although signed as a Recording Artist, Keoki's immediate skill set lay squarely in his ability to DJ. As a result, a slew of top selling mix albums were released. The extensive discography includes such titles as "Superstar DJ Keoki -All Mixed Up", "Disco Death Race 2000", "Kill The DJ", "Ego Trip" and many more. Keoki continues to release music with new tracks like "I Am", "Sleeze", "Ono, It's the End of the World As We Know It."
Between releases, merch, and sold out performances, Keoki began crafting original material. Keoki's message began to shine as brightly as a welder's arc. "This generation, this Rave culture is so highly intuitive. Communicating to them through pure sound is absolutely possible. Since I had their attention, I figured why not take it a little farther and give them a story, a theme?" It was then, that Keoki the pied piper was born.
On his first single, Keoki teamed with co-producer Dave Audé for what evolved into an incredible Artist / Producer journey. "Caterpillar" was created and thus released in 1996. It featured a catchy chorus that states, "I just can't cope without my dope." A hook that made almost playful mockery of drug misuse. Blazing to #3 on Billboard's Dance Chart, the song earned Keoki a spot on the prestigious lineup of Lollapalooza's tour that summer. The track was so hot, it was even featured in season seven's episode 22 of The Simpsons titled "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish."
Follow-up track entitled "Majick" released in 1997, signaled a precursor to the almost finished full length LP "Ego Trip." The lyrics that were suggestive of a communal euphoria his audience sought, could only have come from the "magic" within the listener themselves. It too, abruptly rocketed along the charts. By this time, Keoki had moved from NNY to LA (via Denver), and Keoki's album was now sharply in motion. Three short months later, "Ego Trip" was completed at last. It proved to be nothing less than a stunning leap, even for someone whose name was seemingly already synonymous with breathtaking invention.
From the harrowing, multi-layered track "Madness" to stellar hit singles "Caterpillar," "Majick," and the aural sex drive of "Space", "Ego Trip" contains ten tracks that are a seamless musical excursion. It is clear that they carry the listener effortlessly from one hook to the next. With trance-inducing synth-lines, mega-ballistic break-beats and carbonated vocals, "Ego Trip" crackles with energy. "Ego Trip" was the first full-length album of all original material by Keoki. He was a performer who (until then), had been primarily recognized as one of America's top seated premiere Electronic Music Mix Masters.
Whether a longtime fan or completely new to his Art form, this is an aural experience the likes of which one cannot imagine. Built from the Underground up, "Ego Trip" is a virtual wildly wonderful fun-house ride. It is an album in which Keoki injects everything he has, making sure to leave it laid out on the dance floor. "Ego Trip" is the every bit the culmination of Keoki's unique audio odyssey beginning decades ago. This Superstar DJ is no stranger to pouring everything he has ever learned about sound and its ability to captivate a crowd into the very core of his album's tracks.
Every generation produces a key performer who, by the sheer force of their talent and personality, pushes a new art form into acceptance by the masses. For the increasingly influential realm of electronic music, Keoki is that key. "Ego Trip" is his breakthrough. He states, "this is the beginning of a whole new kind of musical expression".
With over two and a half million records sold... (Limelight, Kill the DJ, Journeys By DJ: Keoki, Party Monster, Ego Trip and more), to his regular listings at the top of numerous Dance music charts . . . Keoki has evolved into a record spinner of international renown. He has lovingly been dubbed everything from the charismatic "Bad Boy of Techno," to "Superstar DJ." One thing is for sure, he is a figurehead of the vital, yet often infamously controversial Rave movement. The mere fact that Keoki can claim Bart Simpson is among his fans, is a resounding testament to his appeal and staying power. It does not get any better than this.
Born in El Salvador, raised on Maui and nicknamed for the mysterious bastard son of a legendary Hawaiian king, Keoki arrived on the mainland US in the late 80s. Landing a job with TWA in NYC enabled Keoki the opportunity to travel the world free. It was while moonlighting as a busboy for Danceteria (a hot Manhattan nightclub), that Keoki witnessed the sights and sounds that would change his life . . . perhaps even the future of music.
Fascinated by the powerful connection a DJ is able to conjure with the crowd, Keoki began to play records himself. Taking care to put his own distinctive spin on another artist's music was paramount. Flamboyant as hell, he dubbed himself 'Superstar DJ' Keoki and states, "...I wore a jeweled crown, big furry collars and gold chains. It was all a gimmick, but the fun of it really caught fire".
Though it started as a lark, 'Superstar DJ Keoki' quickly became sought after by many of Manhattan's underground trendsetters and top socialites alike. Keoki was now known as "The DJ to the Stars!". He worked legendary parties for the likes of Lou Reed, Deborah Harry, Drag Queen icon RuPaul and The B-52's. "All the glamorous stars and creatures of New York were there", he says.
The former baggage handler soon became a jetting-setting commodity as he began performing to massive audiences across America as well as overseas. It was a sonic sleight-of-hand in which Funk meets Punk. An intersection were barking Scooby Doo would mix perfectly with an ever ranting Jimmy Swaggert. Keoki continued to discover dramatic new ways in which he could keep the crowd right in the palm of his hands. "NY really showed me I could draw on anything around me and make something of it. There were just no limits".
By early nineties, the underground Dance music scene had swelled to a critical mass. The rave scene in America had been born. As one of the very first traveling DJs, Keoki was quickly propelled into the Limelight. Through numerous performances at LA raves, Keoki caught the attention of Moonshine Music President Steve Levy. It was his personality, flamboyance, showmanship and abundant musical talent that led to Keoki joining forces with Moonshine. Although signed as a Recording Artist, Keoki's immediate skill set lay squarely in his ability to DJ. As a result, a slew of top selling mix albums were released. The extensive discography includes such titles as "Superstar DJ Keoki -All Mixed Up", "Disco Death Race 2000", "Kill The DJ", "Ego Trip" and many more. Keoki continues to release music with new tracks like "I Am", "Sleeze", "Ono, It's the End of the World As We Know It."
Between releases, merch, and sold out performances, Keoki began crafting original material. Keoki's message began to shine as brightly as a welder's arc. "This generation, this Rave culture is so highly intuitive. Communicating to them through pure sound is absolutely possible. Since I had their attention, I figured why not take it a little farther and give them a story, a theme?" It was then, that Keoki the pied piper was born.
On his first single, Keoki teamed with co-producer Dave Audé for what evolved into an incredible Artist / Producer journey. "Caterpillar" was created and thus released in 1996. It featured a catchy chorus that states, "I just can't cope without my dope." A hook that made almost playful mockery of drug misuse. Blazing to #3 on Billboard's Dance Chart, the song earned Keoki a spot on the prestigious lineup of Lollapalooza's tour that summer. The track was so hot, it was even featured in season seven's episode 22 of The Simpsons titled "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish."
Follow-up track entitled "Majick" released in 1997, signaled a precursor to the almost finished full length LP "Ego Trip." The lyrics that were suggestive of a communal euphoria his audience sought, could only have come from the "magic" within the listener themselves. It too, abruptly rocketed along the charts. By this time, Keoki had moved from NNY to LA (via Denver), and Keoki's album was now sharply in motion. Three short months later, "Ego Trip" was completed at last. It proved to be nothing less than a stunning leap, even for someone whose name was seemingly already synonymous with breathtaking invention.
From the harrowing, multi-layered track "Madness" to stellar hit singles "Caterpillar," "Majick," and the aural sex drive of "Space", "Ego Trip" contains ten tracks that are a seamless musical excursion. It is clear that they carry the listener effortlessly from one hook to the next. With trance-inducing synth-lines, mega-ballistic break-beats and carbonated vocals, "Ego Trip" crackles with energy. "Ego Trip" was the first full-length album of all original material by Keoki. He was a performer who (until then), had been primarily recognized as one of America's top seated premiere Electronic Music Mix Masters.
Whether a longtime fan or completely new to his Art form, this is an aural experience the likes of which one cannot imagine. Built from the Underground up, "Ego Trip" is a virtual wildly wonderful fun-house ride. It is an album in which Keoki injects everything he has, making sure to leave it laid out on the dance floor. "Ego Trip" is the every bit the culmination of Keoki's unique audio odyssey beginning decades ago. This Superstar DJ is no stranger to pouring everything he has ever learned about sound and its ability to captivate a crowd into the very core of his album's tracks.
Every generation produces a key performer who, by the sheer force of their talent and personality, pushes a new art form into acceptance by the masses. For the increasingly influential realm of electronic music, Keoki is that key. "Ego Trip" is his breakthrough. He states, "this is the beginning of a whole new kind of musical expression".
With over two and a half million records sold... (Limelight, Kill the DJ, Journeys By DJ: Keoki, Party Monster, Ego Trip and more), to his regular listings at the top of numerous Dance music charts . . . Keoki has evolved into a record spinner of international renown. He has lovingly been dubbed everything from the charismatic "Bad Boy of Techno," to "Superstar DJ." One thing is for sure, he is a figurehead of the vital, yet often infamously controversial Rave movement. The mere fact that Keoki can claim Bart Simpson is among his fans, is a resounding testament to his appeal and staying power. It does not get any better than this.
