DJ Klock RIP

It’s with great sadness that we found out yesterday that Ryo Kato aka DJ Klock passed away ten days ago. Klock was one of the most interesting producers and DJ to come out of Japan and the post-DJ Krush era, a truly unique and interesting artist.

I was first introduced to his work by Tatsuki, during the work I was doing on the new generation of Japanese DJs, producers and turntablists in 2005 and 2006. And it was last summer that Klock’s wife, Yuki contacted me and sent me a huge package containing copies of Klock’s last album and recent works. This, alongside the music of his I had previously found, completed a picture of a man who was truly on his own, working on musical tangents and directions in which most people didn’t dare go.

Whilst I had never had the chance to meet him, something I’d hoped to do this year, the discussions I had with him and his wife and the pieces I wrote about him left me feeling like I knew him, if only through his music. And that’s why the news of him taking his life, and leaving behind his wife and kid, are all the more so sad.

Wherever he is now we can only hope he’s happy, and whilst we may be sad now he leaves behind a body of work that will continue to live on after him – from his solo work to his work with bands like Cacoy. And so I can only urge you to go out and discover this work if you haven’t, or continue to if you already know of him. He will be sadly missed. Rest in peace DJ Klock.

You can read the feature on DJ Klock we ran last year, here, as well as a 2003 Japan Times article on his work here.

You can purchase some of his music outside of Japan over at Ropeadope records and Rumraket.

Finally you can check some of his music in our previous podcasts, especially the March 06 Japan special. Check the podcast archive or feedburner link.