You may recall a couple years ago we interviewed Initial P and reviewed his album Anime Love Hardcore. We were just informed there is a sequel to this beloved album, Anime Love Hardcore 2.

In prepartion for the release of Anime Love Hardcore 2, we have interviewed DJ initial P, aka Pete Ellison, with DiskoWarp Records. Coming soon will be our review of Anime Love Hardcore 2.

AnimeSalvation: Are you going to be performing at any cons or other shows this year?

Initial P: I’ll be playing Kumoricon in Portland, and Disko Warp is sponsoring a new event in Portland called Newcon at the end of the year. If you’re interested in having me perform at your local con, tell them! Send an email to their programming director and post on their forum that you want them to book Initial P.

AnimeSalvation: What’s your favorite con or venue to perform at?

Initial P: I love playing for the anime con crowd because they’re so fun and supportive and really engaging. I get to connect with a lot of fans. It’s a different kind of rush playing for 1,000 people, but my jam will always be playing small parties that are more intimate. I love it when it’s a crowd of 50-100. People want to highfive me and try to touch my beard, and I really feel like they are dancing for me and not just because it’s a con or a rave. I get really into it when I dj and I dance and stomp around a lot, and it’s more fun for me when I can pull that energy directly from a crowd. I dig it when its kinda sweaty and punk rock.

AnimeSalvation: What is the best/most memorable experience you’ve had performing live?

Initial P: So many. A pretty great moment happened recently when I was in Seattle for a party. I’d stopped off at Kinokuniya earlier in the day and noticed they had a copy of a Japanese trance CD that I helped produce (“Hapikoa Speed 2″ on Pony Canyon). I posted a pic of it to twitter, and this guy picked it up and brought it to the show that night and asked me to autograph it. It was a nice reminder that there’s people I don’t know that are really paying attention to what I do.
At Atomic Lollipop in Toronto they surprised me by lighting off fireworks at the beginning of my set. It was the sweetest thing ever. The next day I played a 2nd set mid-day and Bespa Kumamero went by in a giant wooden tank and waved at me.
AnimeSalvation: In general, how difficult is it to acquire the rights to use anime theme songs?

Initial P: I get asked this all the time and I always wonder why, because it’s so boring. Does anybody really want to hear about my paperwork? There’s agencies that do this sort of thing for you, so I don’t have to handle it at all.

AnimeSalvation: Have you received any feedback on your songs from people who were involved in any of the original songs or their anime?

Initial P: No, I think I’m pretty far off of their radar, but I’d be curious to hear what they think of some of the arrangements. I’m curious what anybody thinks about my version of “Still Doll” because it’s the song that I took the most liberties with in my arrangement.

AnimeSalvation: Are you taking suggestions/requests for Anime Love Hardcore 3?

Initial P: I probably won’t do another anime album for a while, but when I get around to it I’m strongly considering posting some kind of poll for people to vote for songs they’d like me to cover. I’d still have to have final say though because the songs need to be something I can get excited about.

AnimeSalvation: Obviously there was some success with Anime Love Hardcore 1 to decide to make a sequel. How successful was the first album?

Initial P: It continues to sell very well, I had a lot of fun making it, and made a lot of great connections from it.

AnimeSalvation: You mentioned in your email you were attending the Sakura-Con, Do you cosplay at anime conventions? If so who have you cosplayed as?

Initial P: I’ve never cosplayed as a character because I don’t want to shave my beard, and I don’t look anything like Jigen from Lupin The 3rd. This year at Sakuracon I wentdressed as a lumberjack. I think if I did a character cosplay I’d want to be something from a cute video game, like Mr. Driller or Dig Dug maybe?

AnimeSalvation: Anything else you would like to say?

Initial P: Please check out my album Disko Warp Presents Anime Love Hardcore 2 which will be out on CD and in iTunes by the time you read this!
www.diskowarp.com. For bookings please email mailbox@diskowarp.com

Note: Links to our first interview and review of 1st Anime Love Hardcore album.