After a three-year hiatus from making music under this particular pseudonym, the DJ, musician, and producer RJD2, born Ramble John “RJ” Krohn, is back. Touring in support of his fifth studio album, 2013’s More Is Than Isn’t, the follow-up to 2010’s The Colossus, RJD2 hits the 9:30 Club this Sunday, February 23.
More Is Than Isn’t was released on RJ’s Electrical Connections, RJD2’s own record label. Reissues for his first three studio albums, a box set of his work from 2002-2010, The Colossus, and We Are the Doorways, RJ’s 2011 release under the moniker The Insane Warrior, were also released on the label.
It’s no surprise that the self-professed vinyl junkie would start his own label, since over his prolific fifteen-year career releasing music as RJD2, The Insane Warrior, or as half of the duo Soul Position, he has only released music on independent labels. Over this time, he has spanned genres from hip-hop to rock, electronica, and nu-jazz, but mainstream audiences may know him best for the instrumental version of “A Beautiful Mine,” the theme song to AMC’s Mad Men.
In July, he released the debut single to More Is Than Isn’t, “Her Majesty’s Socialist Request.” In September, he followed with the stellar R&B-tinged track “Temperamental,” which features the soulful vocals of rapper Phonte Coleman, as well as the video for “Her Majesty’s Socialist Request.”
“The idea behind the video came about from me sitting with the song, and the claps in it started invoke these images of a crazy step team routine with a bunch of different dance styles being touched on. So I dug up Reggie Oliver in Philly, and he spearheaded the choreography and pulled in the other dancers. Once I plugged them in with Nick Heller, who shot it, it all fell into place great!”
Sunday is your chance to see the master at work, and maybe if we’re lucky, some crazy-fantastic dancing in the audience as well. Don’t miss out. Local DJ Christine Moritz opens, and tickets are still available.
