"What can't be done, can be done!" - Interview with Mike Huckaby, Part II
- Series: Ruhr Music
Part two of the interview with the DJ and producer Mike Huckaby from Detroit. You can find the first part here.
You still live and work in Detroit – what are the benefits of living in this city?
Mike Huckaby: Teaching at „Youthville“, that is amazing and is one of the strongest reasons, why I'm still in Detroit. Although I still wouldn't move. If you 'd move out of Detroit, you would wind up struggling wherever you would move to.
Has the Subculture in Detroit changed or developed over the years?
There were lots of parties like the Funkloch Party. Promoters used to break into spaces and throw parties, the Police wouldn't even know about shit, until a week later. Those where the good parties in Detroit.
Is it more difficult now?
Yeah. They put some bullshit on TV, about kids doing drugs in the suburbs, and then we had a new mayor coming in and he wanted to make it look like he was doing something. So now it's really difficult. Right now, you can't throw a party like the Funkloch party in Detroit. The police would come and shut it down.
As someone who is involved in culture, do you think that culture and art can actually make a difference and even change cities?
That is a deep question. Well, I'll put it to you like this: It has the power to change, but I think it has more power to change your own life than to change a system that is dedicated to ignoring its needs.
However, if something can generate money, people dont care what it is, they will invest. For example: There is a building, and they don't have any money to tear it down and nobody wants to buy it neither, so they might let people realize a project in that building. The government would never give individuals money to do this, but when they read about the project in magazines, they'd be like: „Oh, let's get behind this!“ They will only get behind something that already works – if they have to invest time in it, they wont do it.
The system is slow, but they also know what they're doing. They wait until the Poor Man is pulling his hair out, trying to figure out ways to make a living. And then, when they see that he has figured it out, they're like: „Okay, it's time now, we'll help him.“ It's like a puppet, you know? They're pulling the strings.
You said earlier, you were gonna come back to do another workshop in the future?
Yeah, I think there could be a lot of things in common with shrinking cities in Germany and Detroit.
Its a really emotional subject and connection. It would be really interesting to work together on something all year long. Not on something at the last minute. We are the ones that have to cause change. We can't expect someone else to do it for us, while we sit back. So I'd like to see this happen.
What is your impression of the area, have you seen anything yet?
No. So what do the people do here, now that they can not find work?
Many people are still working, but there are also many who are just hanging around, living on social support. Many of the younger people get educated, start businesses, throw parties and start cultural things or Creative Economies.
You have to be careful though, because when the government looks at an area, it always has more information than you. When they look at an area like Essen or Bochum, they have the numbers. They know, how many people live here, how many people have degrees, how many people are working? How many are over 50, how many are capable of sustaining the economy, how many people are in college etc., and if these numbers are falling, there is no reason to invest … The system might be slow, but it is not stupid. Sometimes it goes so slow that you think it is stupid, but overall it has more information than the outsider.
As someone from Detroit, a really special city with a special history, what is your advice for people who want to establish subculture?
You have to look at what you have in your area, country or community, that is different from anywhere else. You have to work with that, because that is where your unique opportunities will come from. And you have to get organized and do something, instead of just complaining at the bar with each other. So you have to organize yourself and then get out and then the right people will start to pay attention. They will say: 'Look, these people are organized, they are serious about this. They're doing things, they're not just talking.' When you approach a company, they want to know if you are organized enough to do this. You can't just say: 'Hey, I'm this groovy ass promoter who wants to throw parties in this building, will you trust me?' You have to explain how you're organized, and that is what I have learned from working with Native Instruments and Ableton. You have to know how to present your ideas to companies or governments, and you have to show them on paper what you are planning. Organize, make plans, network and join with other people. And show everyone: What can't be done, can be done!
Related videos:
Related blogs:
Go to channels:
You still live and work in Detroit – what are the benefits of living in this city?
Mike Huckaby: Teaching at „Youthville“, that is amazing and is one of the strongest reasons, why I'm still in Detroit. Although I still wouldn't move. If you 'd move out of Detroit, you would wind up struggling wherever you would move to.
Has the Subculture in Detroit changed or developed over the years?
There were lots of parties like the Funkloch Party. Promoters used to break into spaces and throw parties, the Police wouldn't even know about shit, until a week later. Those where the good parties in Detroit.
Is it more difficult now?Yeah. They put some bullshit on TV, about kids doing drugs in the suburbs, and then we had a new mayor coming in and he wanted to make it look like he was doing something. So now it's really difficult. Right now, you can't throw a party like the Funkloch party in Detroit. The police would come and shut it down.
As someone who is involved in culture, do you think that culture and art can actually make a difference and even change cities?
That is a deep question. Well, I'll put it to you like this: It has the power to change, but I think it has more power to change your own life than to change a system that is dedicated to ignoring its needs.
However, if something can generate money, people dont care what it is, they will invest. For example: There is a building, and they don't have any money to tear it down and nobody wants to buy it neither, so they might let people realize a project in that building. The government would never give individuals money to do this, but when they read about the project in magazines, they'd be like: „Oh, let's get behind this!“ They will only get behind something that already works – if they have to invest time in it, they wont do it.
The system is slow, but they also know what they're doing. They wait until the Poor Man is pulling his hair out, trying to figure out ways to make a living. And then, when they see that he has figured it out, they're like: „Okay, it's time now, we'll help him.“ It's like a puppet, you know? They're pulling the strings.
You said earlier, you were gonna come back to do another workshop in the future?
Yeah, I think there could be a lot of things in common with shrinking cities in Germany and Detroit.
Its a really emotional subject and connection. It would be really interesting to work together on something all year long. Not on something at the last minute. We are the ones that have to cause change. We can't expect someone else to do it for us, while we sit back. So I'd like to see this happen.
What is your impression of the area, have you seen anything yet?
No. So what do the people do here, now that they can not find work?
Many people are still working, but there are also many who are just hanging around, living on social support. Many of the younger people get educated, start businesses, throw parties and start cultural things or Creative Economies.
You have to be careful though, because when the government looks at an area, it always has more information than you. When they look at an area like Essen or Bochum, they have the numbers. They know, how many people live here, how many people have degrees, how many people are working? How many are over 50, how many are capable of sustaining the economy, how many people are in college etc., and if these numbers are falling, there is no reason to invest … The system might be slow, but it is not stupid. Sometimes it goes so slow that you think it is stupid, but overall it has more information than the outsider.
As someone from Detroit, a really special city with a special history, what is your advice for people who want to establish subculture? You have to look at what you have in your area, country or community, that is different from anywhere else. You have to work with that, because that is where your unique opportunities will come from. And you have to get organized and do something, instead of just complaining at the bar with each other. So you have to organize yourself and then get out and then the right people will start to pay attention. They will say: 'Look, these people are organized, they are serious about this. They're doing things, they're not just talking.' When you approach a company, they want to know if you are organized enough to do this. You can't just say: 'Hey, I'm this groovy ass promoter who wants to throw parties in this building, will you trust me?' You have to explain how you're organized, and that is what I have learned from working with Native Instruments and Ableton. You have to know how to present your ideas to companies or governments, and you have to show them on paper what you are planning. Organize, make plans, network and join with other people. And show everyone: What can't be done, can be done!
Related videos:
- Craig B (The Unwinding Hours) – heart and soul of a city
- HipHop in the Ruhr area – Recorded and Remixed / Episode 06
Related blogs:
Go to channels:
Wed, 05.01.2011
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