Project Logic
Interview and Photos by Andy Barrett

Perhaps you've heard of Project Logic, or perhaps you haven't. Perhaps you've heard of them through the various collaborations of band leader DJ Logic, the likes of which include Medeski, Martin and Wood, Moe, Karl Denson, John Scofield, etc. Perhaps you're now thinking, "I don't want to read about another one of those dirty, hippie, jam bands." Fortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth. The simple truth is that Project Logic lays down some of the fatest hip-hop/funk/jazz/ cuts in all of the land. But the proof is in the pudding kid. His new album, The Anomaly, due out May 22nd, will prove to the world that Project Logic is one of the most diverse musical outfits known to man. I had the pleasure of speaking to Mr. Logic and his band mates (Casey Benjamin on the sax, Rhodes, flutes, ewi, Stephen Roberson holdin' down the tight beats, Mike Wietman on keys/synths, various players on the bass and Andy Hurwitz on the management side of things) at several of the Project's recent gigs around the midwest. Read on son. There'll be a quiz at the end.

What kind of gear are you using?
I’m using Technics 1200 turntables, Gemini Mixer, the 07, Korg Kaoss Pad, and Autoform needles.

What about your sampler?
Well, I don’t have the sampler with me tonight, um, little technical
difficulties with the sampler tonight. But we should be havin’ it soon, it’s definitely in the mix.

What kind of records are you spinning?
I’m spinning a selection cause, you know, I’m into all different types of records.

Is that like a trade secret? You don’t want to reveal exactly what you got? Or you don’t really care?
No, it’s just what I like, you know, sound-wise. It’s all about the sounds....space sounds....lotsa different colors, sounds to blend with the band. I use the band as a turntable too. Play offa them.

Nice. What got you into turntables and DJing and everything?
Aw, you know, just going to parties and seeing other DJs spin records and see how they have the crowd under their control. The crowd would just move to whatever the DJ would play, so the DJ has a certain amount of skills and good records he knows how to make the people’s asses move, you know?

It’s in the drinking water you know man? Growin’ up in the Bronx. The birthplace [of hip-hop/DJing].
Yeah, right on.

What do you think of all these Rap/Metal bands using DJs in their music and how it seems like being a DJ is real popular, like being a guitar player was in the ‘90s. Everyone’s starting to incorporate DJing and Hip-Hop into their music.
I think it’s cool, cause you see MCs doing all types of music now. Turntables are an instrument, and I’ve been doing it before all these other DJs and rock bands. I was in an alternative-rock band called Eye and I back in ’90. And before that I was doing jazz gigs going all over the world at a young age. It’s just something I’m comfortable with.

Who’s doing something creative out there that you’re listening to that you’re liking?
There’s a lotta people I’m listening to...uh, St. Germain [door opens and logic gets distracted]...who else? Um, it’s hard man. You know, I’m a DJ, I listen to everything, but I’m diggin’ that St. Germain… [door opens again, stoned and hilarious band members come in, Logic, transfixed by their presence, gets distracted again. This process repeats itself 6 times, and after each time, Logic informs me that he’s "diggin’ that St. Germain," [Finally those hilarious fuckers leave]...I like the Wax Poetic album, and uh, Mos Def...[Mos Def’s] Black on Both Sides? [Looks at me, thinking I just asked him if he’s black on both sides, then realizes what I really said]...what? [Everyone cracks up] Yeah, yeah, yeah. Also my man Baba. Baba Israel, I just did a thing with him, check that out. And also a lotta the bands I play with: MMW [Medeski, Martin and Wood], uh, Karl Denson, Moe. all those guys.

I heard you are doing a tribute to Phish and a tribute to Hendrix. Is that true and would you like to expand on that?
Yeah, the tribute to Phish is like a charity thing, and we doin’ the song called ‘Cars, Trucks and Buses’. So look out for that, we’re gonna have a guest on that too, [Jazz/Funk Guitarist John] Scofield. The thing for Hendrix is gonna be in Brooklyn and that’s gonna be with a lot of special guest people. MMW, Vernon Reid, Sargent St. Victor, Gil Evans Orchestra. I’ll be openin’ up the set, so that should be great.

He’s doing the National Anthem, the Hendrix version, or rather, the Logic version of the Hendrix Version of the National Anthem. Are you gonna use the actual song or are you gonna do it yourself making your own sounds and shit?
My own sounds!

Wow, that’s crazy.
Yeah, you know, commin’ out with the bandana...and you know...light up the records.

How do you do that? How do you like hear something and just be like, ‘this sound, I can do something with this sound, I can use this and turn it into the National Anthem’?
You know just like listening to stuff, and just bein’ Logic, coming up with some Logical experimentation, you know just...make something happen.

Alright, well is there anything you’d like to say...to the people out there in the world?
To the people out there in the Heckler world [laughter]? Naw, just keep Hecklin’, y’know and definitely come check out the Project. Check out the new record that will be coming out next year, the website DJLogic.com and Projectlogic.com and also the label ropeadope.com and oh yeah, big up to Osiris [Clothing].

So now class, what have you learned?
Project Logic is:
A. A conglomeration of socially aware, racially integrated, music-minded mo'fuckers looking to tear you a new sonic asshole.
B. Devoid of unintelligent, hateful vibes that plague so much of our music scene today. The sounds fueling the synapses of young geniuses everywhere.
C. Some tight-ass shit that will make you wiggle your ass like you were drunk.
D. All of the above.

You know the answer. Check out the Project, if you know what's good for you.