“We used a lot of equipment. A lot of old dusty oil can tape delays, basically a lot of antiquated technology. I always have a fondness for that,” says San. “Anything in the studio was fair game, but I wanted to have that intimacy. I remember when I did the piano pieces there was just the intent – everything that was going on in my head and heart at the time was in the piano, so I knew that everything else had to support that.” That “everything else” included an upright bass and complex layers of strings that San would cut onto vinyl and manipulate, as well as remarkably expressive viola playing courtesy of Arcade Fire’s Marika Shaw.

Ever since Kid Koala beguiled audiences the world over with his ‘Moon River’ routine, it was only a matter of time before he created a piece of work that wholly celebrated the beauty and emotion embodied by Mancini’s timeless song. And that’s essentially what Space Cadet is, a deeply personal, affecting labour of love that allows us to see a side of the DJ that is in complete contrast to his exuberant, bear-suited stage persona. That it took eight dedicated long years to complete simply adds to its potency.

So, with Space Cadet finally launched into the ether, Brainer is intrigued to find out what San has on the horizon. A lot, as it turns out. There’s the producer’s fourth studio album for Ninja Tune, titled “12 Bit Blues”, to be released in the coming months. There’s the long-awaited return of Deltron 3030 in the New Year, the hip-hop super group Koala is a member of along

with Del tha Funky Homosapien and Dan the Automator. Then there’s the follow up to the turntablist’s balls out, sludge blues The Slew project, with eight hours worth of recorded material in the can. It’s all truly exciting stuff, but it significantly pales in comparison when he casually mentions the zombie ramen puppet musical. That’s right. Zombie. Ramen. Puppet. Musical.

“It’s basically a story about zombies and ramen noodles that has a few quite amazing people signed on for vocal talent,” drawls a smiling Koala. When asked for more detail, the DJ remains understandably secretive, although he does reveal that it involves a ramen noodle storeowner whose customers turn into (presumably flesh eating) zombies. The potential is staggering. When it’s ready to be unleashed upon the world, one thing’s for sure: Kid Koala will still be making people cry. This time, thankfully, they’ll be tears of laughter.

Words: Ian Hsieh
Photography: Tom Oldham

Kid Koala’s Space Cadet graphic novel and accompanying soundtrack is available from the Ninjashop. He’ll be bringing his interactive Space Cadet headphone concert to London’s Village Underground in November. For more info and tickets, click here.

To keep up with Kid Koala, visit www.kidkoala.com and follow him on twitter, too.