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By Matt Crook

The Face oF elecTroSteve aoki, also known as Kid Millionaire, is a fashion guru and founder of one of dance music’s bright record labels. When he’s not busy hanging out with a-list celebs or making and breaking the latest electro acts, he is one of the world’s most in-demand DJs. recently celebrating the launch of his debut mix album, Kid Millionaire was in Bangkok for a hotly anticipated gig at 808.

Ah, to be young and hip in Bangkok. Who better to throw into the suburban mix than the guy who put the Klaxons on the world-music map? Not hip enough for you? He’s the son of the guy who founded Benihana, the brother of one of the world’s top supermodels, the founder of Dim Mak Records – and he’s a lot cooler than you. DJ extraordinaire, fashion-label guru and good friends with Lindsay Lohan, Japanese-American Steve Aoki is at the forefront of the electro revolution.

In 2007, Steve experienced something of a breakout year on the global DJ circuit picking up a string of DJ accolades from the likes of Paper Magazine, the Ibiza Awards and BPM Magazine. Renowned for throwing wild par-ties in LA and for having as much fun behind

the decks as those in front, Dim Mak’s head honcho is the epitome of the hip, now, sound that is tearing through the world’s clubs. His previous DJ experience includes gigs for top fashion designers and Hollywood celebs, as well as at international music festivals. Take a look at Bangkok’s club scene. The city’s top DJs (Magic Muffin, Stargazer, K.I.T.T.I) are all play-ing Dim Mak music.

Born in California, Steve is the third son of Japanese-wrestler-turned-businessman Rocky Aoki and wife Chizaru Kobayashi. Among his siblings are half-sister Devon Aoki (the world’s shortest supermodel) and brother Kevin Aoki, owner of the Doraku Sushi restaurant chain.

The buzz surrounding Kid Millionaire at the moment is thanks in no small part to his debut

mix CD, an innovative blend of the latest electro sounds all mashed together with guest vocals from some of the major players in the current dance-music scene. Mix CDs like this are rare, with voiceovers provided by, among others, Har Mar Superstar, Peaches, Kid Sister and Uffie – all long-time friends of Steve’s.

The title of the album, Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles, refers to a character Steve created, representing his alter ego, Pillowface, who travels incessantly and rarely sleeps. When he needs to rest, his head conveniently turns into a pillow.

“I sleep on planes most the time, so yes, it’s all very true. I fly almost every day and I tour all year. A few days off in one city is a great feeling.”

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The album is 17 tracks of full-on electro beats. It effectively sums up everything that is currently going off in the electro scene, with cuts from Justice, Klaxons and Mystery Jets.

While most of the tracks sound familiar, the custom vocals freestyled over the beats are what make the album special.

“I started with about 50 tracks for the album and then narrowed it down to the 17 you see now, then hit up the homies to do vocals over each track.”

Kid Millionaire’s homies are a who’s-who of the world’s trendsetters. All the people on his album are his buddies, some of them he signed to Dim Mak. Steve has played an instrumen-tal role in establishing these artists around the world. He pushed Bloc Party into the limelight and helped export the likes of the Klaxons from Europe to the US market.

“Doing this album was great. We have done really good numbers in Japan and America, where it was officially released. It was a fun pro-

cess working with all the great singers, rappers and producers on this one.”

The don of electro had a few days off in Bangkok with close friend and photographer Mark the Cobrasnake. Arriving on May 13, the duo hit the shops, explored, saw some “tropical stuff” and held one of their famous yard sales. The Kid and the Cobrasnake took over Zig Zag at Siam Square to meet fans and sell some of their coveted merchandise, including Dim Mak T-shirts.

“The best yard sales are always in LA, but we had a great one recently in Kuala Lumpur.”

Fresh designs are another thing that sets Kid Millionaire apart from the rest of the DJ scene. From his clothes, to his accessories and the cover art for his mix CD – everything is a cut above what others see as the norm.

“The ideas [for the CD cover art] were mine and my old friend Brian Roettinger of Hand Held Heart. He’s worked on many Dim Mak releases as early as our third release back in

to it for too long. I like classical music when I go to sleep.”

Coming from what he describes as a “busy and scattered” family life, the people’s DJ said that he is close with all of his siblings. His father, the legendary Rocky Aoki, was usually away on business while he was growing up, so Steve lived with his mother, grandmother and brother and sister, Kanaa and Kevin.

“There were just too many things happening around me. My mother was the constant rock in my life and for that I owe everything to her.”

Rocky Aoki not only founded the Benihana chain of Japanese restaurants, but he was an offshore powerboat racer and an Olympic wres-tler. Today, he is a successful businessman.

“My father has been a guru mentor all my life. He’s a wise man who never really needs to speak.”

While attending the University of California, Aoki Jr. began producing records and throwing underground parties out of his apartment living

1998. He’s my favorite designer and a great ty-pographer.”

Steve’s circle of friends goes beyond the electro scene. He is also close friends with Benji Madden and Joel Madden of Good Char-lotte, actor Danny Masterson and enfant terrible Lindsay Lohan, of whom he said, “She’s amaz-ing and I love her.”

A man of many talents, Kid Millionaire is working on everything from his fashion label (dimmakcollection.com), his own brand of headphones, sunglasses and line of shoes, through to signing bands, such as Mstrkrft and former Dude/Sweet guests Shitdisco.

A dab hand in the studio, his next release will be his own remix of Duran Duran’s Skin Divers, forthcoming on Dim Mak Records.

Steve cites having “good friends” as the rea-son he is able to stay at the forefront of elec-tro, although he said, “There are many things I don’t like about the whole scene – too many to list. One is that it can hurt your ears if you listen

room. These parties and his reputation grew. By the time he was in his early 20s, he had set up Dim Mak Records and begun his assault on the global music industry.

Being a guy close to the edge, Kid Millionaire has his finger on the pulse when it comes to new music. The band he’s tipping as the next big thing? Recently signed to Dim Mak Records, the Bloody Beetroots. Steve went as far as to say that he “enjoys working with the Bloody Beetroots most because they are the best”.

Recommendations don’t come much higher than that.

After ripping up 808 with his chunky beats on May 16, Steve flew out of Thailand the fol-lowing day and jumped straight back into his touring schedule, with gigs in California, Singa-pore and Hollywood. Before Bangkok, he had been in Maui, Osaka and Seoul.

So what’s next for Kid Millionaire and his pat-ented sound? “Electro tracks with Madonna,” he said, mysteriously.

To hear more of the sound that has made Steve a star today, visit www.myspace.com/steveaoki, where you can also find details of his latest tour dates. To check out the Bloody Beetroots, go to www.myspace.com/thebloody-beetroots.

STeve’S circle oF FrienDS goeS BeyonD The elecTro Scene. he iS alSo cloSe FrienDS WiTh BenJi MaDDen anD Joel MaDDen oF gooD charloTTe, acTor Danny MaSTerSon anD enFanT TerriBle linDSay lohan, oF WhoM he SaiD, “She’S aMazing anD i love her.”