Widely regarded as one of the most talented turntablists of our era, Alain Macklovitch, better known as A-Trak, took to the stage twice this past weekend at HARD's Summer Music Festival. The genius behind the "Fool's Gold" label and name closed out the first night on Friday on his very own stage and then appeared once more on the HARD main stage in a mid-day Saturday set. Prior to taking either stage, the man himself was kind enough to sit down and chat with us -

DxE: You’re the only one playing both days at HARD. What’s that like for you being able to take the stage twice?

A: It’s exciting. I am keen to playing both sets because every time I play a set at a festival I finish thinking like ‘oh sh*t, there’s all this other stuff I wanted to play” cuz I play a lot of different genres. My sets vary a lot from show to show so now I get to do two sets in one festival which is fun. So the first night is at the Fool’s Gold Clubhouse stage, the second on the HARD main stage tomorrow. For the main stage I’m bringing out my whole stage production  “A-Show” that I do at my bigger shows so there will be more visuals and musically, since it’s on the main stage, it will be a little more adapted to that. Today is probably gonna be a little dirtier, more bass lines.

DxE: How is it different closing on a stage as opposed to playing earlier in the day?

A: Well I think today [closing] will be more hip-hop influenced and also banging a little harder. I’m playing after Araabmusik so he’s gonna have that energy. I feel like tomorrow will be more like ‘hands in the air’ kinda stuff.

DxE: So we gotta ask about the whole button-pushing thing. You were one of the people who stood up for what they do as a professional, how did Deadmau5’s comment and everything else affect you and the journey you’ve taken?

A: You know, I feel like Deadmau5’s whole post was smart. My article on the [Huffington] Post wasn’t against him, there’s only one part that I disagree with in his whole statement. That’s when started bringing DJing into his statement because his statement about his light show and how it’s rehearsed but it’s fun cuz it’s a good show, I agree. My point in my article was like, you know, that can work if that’s your thing. If you’re a producer and you do an artist show or you play music, you don’t need to mix live that’s fine. There are other DJs who improvise sets and that’s a different thing. My whole point was that those are different things. So when Deadmau5 was defending his set and his approach to it, I agree with him it’s just different than what someone like myself does. It’s dope too, I think he puts on a great show.

DxE: Do you bring out the turntables everywhere you go to mix?

A: Ya, I DJ on turntables. For me it’s more than just mixing. One it’s the selection and the improvisation of it. But two it’s even more technical – it’s scratching, it’s beat juggling, it’s really breaking down the vinyl.

DxE: Do you see any artists out there today following in your footsteps?

A: I don’t want to act like I invented this, you know, I’m following in the footsteps of many others. But there are many DJs who are keeping the same legacy alive. People like DJ Craze, Gaslamp Killer, Z-Trip, and then there’s a ton of hip-hop DJs. I mean, Jazzy Jeff is a hero to the whole concept of longevity and turntable-ism, he’s been doing it for way longer than me.

DxE: And you always mix in a little hip-hop in your sets taking it back to the roots?

A: Ya, completely. I mean, to me, if you’re a DJ you gotta be able to play so many different kids of parties. You gotta take a DJ, throw him outside of his element and make it work.

DxE: If HARD were an acronym, what does H.A.R.D. mean to you?

A: *long pause thinking* Hmm, the H is tricky. Umm, Hummus Always Resides Deliciously.

DxE: *laughing* Hummus like the pita dip?

A: Ya, hummus. It’s on my rider. I’ve been known to eat a lot of hummus.