Jesse & Stevo Kioto

J：你的化名從stevn.aint.leavn改成Stevo Kioto，同時成立全新廠牌Kioto，這個轉變背後有什麼特別意義嗎？

我其實很早就開始用 stevn.aint.leavn 這個 DJ 與製作人身份了！甚至早在創立 Beste Modus 廠牌之前，就抱著一種戲謔、玩笑的心情開始使用這個名字。不過大多數人認識我，還是因為 Beste Modus 的發行。幾年前廠牌結束營運後，我也希望替那段重要的時期劃下句點。畢竟 stevn.aint.leavn 這個名字，實在和 Beste Modus 的關係太緊密了，於是我決定改回 Stevo。另一方面，也常有人單從這個名字就覺得我「不夠認真」。如果他們對我不熟、沒聽過我做的音樂，很可能會以為這只是個搞笑藝名，背後沒有真正的創作企圖。而 Stevo 這個名字，是朋友們對我的暱稱，也是在我青少年時期做 Hip Hop beat 時最早使用的名字。對我來說，它反而更自然，也像是一種回到初心的方式。

J：「Kioto」這個廠牌名字與視覺風格裡都帶有濃厚的日本文化感，你自己怎麼看待日本文化對你音樂的影響？Kioto 這個名字又是怎麼來的？

我一直對日本文化和歷史深深著迷。那種傳統美學與極致現代科技並存的張力，無論怎麼看都讓我著迷不已。最早接觸亞洲與日本文化，是從功夫電影和日本動畫開始的。「Kioto」這個名字，是我經過一段時間思考後，才在一位日本朋友的幫忙下定案的。特別感謝 Kosuke，他幫我確認了日文拼寫是否正確，並協助視覺上的呈現。這個名字其實可以拆成兩個部分：「Ki」在日文裡有能量或精神的意思，「Oto」則是聲音；如果我沒理解錯的話（笑）。對我來說，「Kioto」是一個充滿能量，也能呼應音樂廠牌本質的字，是我非常喜歡的名字。

J：你從Beste Modus、Certain Circles的廠牌經營，一路到剛創立的Kioto，作為長年在柏林辦派對、DJ演出的創作者，你怎麼看待柏林電子音樂場景的變化？這對你的選曲或創作有什麼影響？

這些年下來，無論是作為 DJ 還是製作人，我的風格也經歷了不少轉變。剛開始的時候變化很大，但隨著時間推移，我也愈來愈清楚自己真正想放什麼樣的音樂，以及在舞池裡想聽見什麼樣的聲音。對我來說，這些選擇比較像是從個人經驗與時間累積中自然發展出來的，而不是單純被場景的流行風向所牽動。

J：臺灣的電子音樂場景某種程度深受柏林影響。作為在柏林長年策展與經營廠牌的人，覺得要辦好一場派對，最核心的元素是什麼？你會怎麼定義一場「好派對」？

一場真正好的派對，關鍵是一個對的場地。最重要的是音響設備與整體空間的規劃，必須讓人能完全沈浸其中，盡情享受音樂，也享受與自己相處的時刻。DJ 也需要聽眾，最好是那些渴望好音樂、渴望感受現場能量的人。而整晚音樂的曲線，更仰賴理解空間、掌握氣氛的 DJ 來駕馭，同時專注在唱盤或CDJ上，而不是社群的Reels。

J：你對黑膠可有特別的情感？

絕對有。那種可以親手拿起來、細看封面、唱片紋路，再慢慢把唱針放下去的過程，是一種觸覺與情感上的連結，我認為這是任何數位檔案都無法取代的。更別提那種厚實而溫暖的聲音質感了。我一直覺得黑膠是聆聽音樂最迷人、也最真實的媒介與形式。

J: You transitioned from "Stevn.aint.leavn" to "Stevo Kioto" and launched your new label, Kioto. I'm curious, is there a story or specific reason behind this change that you could share with us?

Kioto: I had my former DJ and producer name stevn.aint.leavn for a long time, before we even started Beste Modus and it started out of a joke. Most people probably know me through our Beste Modus label and the records we produced. As the label was closed a few years back, I wanted to close the chapter also for me personally with changing my name to Stevo, as stevn.aint.leavn was heavily affiliated with Beste Modus and on the other hand also, many people didn't took me seriously, if they didn't knew me or my music and just saw stevn.aint.leavn as a humoristic artist name, without any real serious intention behind. Stevo is my nickname among my friends and used to be my first producer name when I started making hip hop beats as a teenager, so it also felt natural to return to this moniker of mine.

J: "Kioto" has strong Japanese cultural elements. Could you talk about how Japanese culture influences your music or your label? And how did the name "Kioto" come about?

Kioto: Japanese culture and its rich history always fascinated me. The Japanese traditional aesthetics paired with the super modern and futuristic elements just mesmerizes me over and over. My first interests already sparked in martial arts movies and anime cartoons.

The name Kioto itself came together after a while of brainstorming and through help of a Japanese friend, to verify the correct spelling for the artwork in the original Japanese letters (shoutout to my friend: Arigato Kosuke!). The name Kioto consists of Ki which means energy or spirit and oto, which means Sound, if I got it right haha. For me this felt like a good connection and base for the label.

J: In your journey of organizing parties and DJing in Berlin, from your time with Beste Modus // Certain Circles to now Kioto-how has Berlin's electronic music scene evolved? How have these changes affected your musical selection and creative approach?

Kioto: Throughout the years I had different phases of what I liked as a DJ or as a producer. In the begining it changed a lot, but over time it kinda made more sense to me and I was more certain of what I really wanted to play and listen to in a club. In my opinion this comes more through personal experience and time, rather than of what's going on in the scene. 

J: Taiwan's electronic music scene is strongly influenced by Berlin. As a Berlin-based party organizer and label owner, what do you think are the key elements for curating a successful party? How would you define a "good party"?

Kioto: To have a really good party I believe you should have a proper venue. Most important is the sound system and the premises itself, so you can enjoy the music and yourself to the max. To get the party started you need some people of course, that should be hungry for some good vibes and sounds! Furthermore you will need a great soundtrack for the night, provided by DJs that know how to read a room and who are taking the wheels of steel (or plastic) in the booth more seriously, than the reels of their social media profile.

J: What is special or significant about vinyl records for you personally?

Kioto: The haptic perception of it. The feeling of being able to touch it and look at the cover, to see the grooves on the record and hear that crackle once you carefully drop the needle...that's just special and no digital file in the world can give you this personal feeling and connection to the music. Not to forget the rich and warm sound of it. It is just the best format to listen to music, I believe.