BBC Radio One regular and award-winning turntablist DJ Yoda will ensure the Festival of Light finale is out of this world on Saturday night as he prepares to take the audience an exciting journey through the world of sci-fi.
Billed as a 'cut, paste, scratch and mix odyssey', the British DJ will headline this weekend's festival with an audiovisual spectacular featuring Alien, Robocop, War of the Worlds, Blade Runner and more.
We caught up with DJ Yoda — aka 37-year-old Duncan Beiny — ahead of his Huddersfield show.
Are you ready for your Festival of Light set? Are you looking forward to it?
Yes, I can't wait! This is an exclusive show that I have only performed once - last weekend at the British Film Institute in London, so I can't wait to take it on the road.
What do you have planned?
My DJ sets include video — so I'm mixing and scratching visuals as well as audio — this whole set is themed around the best of sci-fi movies. So I tried to research and find all the most appropriate music to accompany visuals from movies like Blade Runner, Alien and ET.
Are you a fan of the sci-fi genre?
I wouldn't say it was my favourite genre, but as I researched to put this show together I remembered loads of films that I love that can be classed as Sci Fi. In a way it's a very loose genre - just because a film has spaceships or aliens, it doesn't make it sci-fi.
Galaxy Quest is a great comedy. Her is also a romance.
What's your favourite sci-fi movie?
Probably the original Robocop . I grew up watching that film, and I think it's stood the test of time really well in terms of theme and aesthetic (in fact I don't know why they bothered remaking it recently). Plus the music is amazing!
How would you explain what you do to someone who hasn't seen you perform live before?
It's one of those things that makes a lot more sense when you watch 30 seconds of YouTube of it than to try and put into words! I just kind of say I'm a hip-hop DJ, but I don't just play rap records!
Click below to watch a clip of DJ Yoda in action
How did you develop your particular style?
It was definitely born out of hip-hop DJ-ing. I would make mixtapes with small audio samples from movies that I love, so when the technology caught up and allowed me to mix and scratch the movies themselves, it just made sense.
Who are your influences?
Countless! Off the top of my head: for movies, The Coen Brothers, The Marx Brothers and David Lynch.
DJs: Q-Bert, Mixmaster Mike and Kid Koala. And music: Biz Markie, Steinski, A Tribe Called Quest.
Where did the name DJ Yoda come from?
There was a big Yoda toy by my turntables and my friend named it upon me for lack of anything else. I've never really liked the name, but I got stuck with it!
How long have you been working as a DJ?
Ages! Getting on for 20 years!
Where did your interest in DJ-ing begin?
At school. My parents both worked in the music industry. My dad kept his records in my bedroom, so I was literally surrounded with vinyl as a kid.
Will you be checking out other parts of the Festival of Light before your set?
Absolutely. I have some time to hang out, so I'm going to see what's going on.
What are you looking forward to?
The Stems show sounds really interesting.
DJ Yoda will headline the Festival of Light in St George's Square at 7.30pm.
Warm up for the sci-fi spectacular with our profile of the undisputed queen of sci-fi, Sigourney Weaver — who recently filmed in Huddersfield!
