The first voice we hear on "Deltron 3030: Event 2" is actor and director Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s, who declares, “Stardate 3040,” before framing the passing of a decade by telling us, “society continued to erode, as the people began to collapse under the weight of economic despair.”
It’s a callback to Deltron 3030’s self-titled 2000 debut, where it was Damon Albarn recording his own, Shatner-esque captain’s log to introduce one of the most unexpectedly influential hip-hop albums ever. Del the Funky Homosapien was and is a beloved underground MC and he recruited the gifted producer Dan the Automator to help him flesh out his idea for a concept record set in the year 3030. Montreal DJ, Kid Koala (Eric San) was brought into the fold and, by evoking the future, the trio made history; the album remains a crucial touchstone for catchy, experimental hip-hop.
While the début featured Sean Lennon, Money Mark, Crash Test Dummies’ Brad Roberts,and Albarn (and even begat the Blur frontman’s supergroup Gorillaz; their fluke hit single “Clint Eastwood” features Del and the Automator), 2013’s "Event 2" is even more star-studded. Albarn returns and this time he’s joined by actors David Cross and Amber Tamblyn, chef David Chang, Rage Against the Machine’s Zack De La Rocha, the Lonely Island's, Mike Patton, and more.
But the biggest coup is the inclusion of Gordon-Levitt, who got involved after working with Kid Koala on a movie about time travel and, ironically, the future.
“That’s how I actually met Joe, through Rian Johnson’s film "Looper",” San recalls. “Rian asked me to be the DJ in the future in that movie so I made this future retro-blues for that one scene. I flew down to New Orleans and that’s where I met Joe.
“He brought up 3030 and how he was a fan of that album and whether we were gonna do another one,” he recalls. “I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, we’re almost finished it.’ So we reached out to see if he’d collaborate and he did a great job with his whole Captain Kirk-style log introduction to the whole thing. He really sets the tone.”
The tone in question is often rather bleak. Despite the upbeat production, Del’s lyrics describe a society in decline, torn up by shoddy politicians, economic disparity, and interminable war. So, as the Automator suggests, not too different from where we’re at right now.
“If we talk about all of the things that happen today, would it sound like the present is all that great? No, but I think a lot of us would admit to enjoying it and that the present is really cool. There’s just as much strife and war going on now, as there was in the '70s or 1800s. The nature of man hasn’t changed in society ever. It’s always been this way. In some ways, the simple message of Deltron is that there is a nature to man that isn’t pretty but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a good life. That negativity in the space between the haves and have nots is what we as a society have always been up against.”
Though fans have clamoured for a new Deltron 3030 album for 13 years, Del himself says he’s not sure a follow-up to "Event 2" will ever see the light of day.
“Actually, this album wasn’t that fun to make,” he says over the phone, while riding his skateboard. “That’s something in the future, I’d think about. This is probably gonna be the last Deltron record I’m gonna make and the reason why I’m saying that is because the expectations would be so high, there’s no way to meet their demands. And even if I did, it still wouldn’t probably be good enough for people. People always want something bigger and better. I’ve already done it to the point where it was damn near impossible for me to even do this one. It took a lot of work for me to stuff it into this format. This is more to write a book with or make a movie or a comic book or something that allows you to have more space and time."
“When I invented Deltron, I didn’t really think that through,” he adds. “Like, ‘Can I sustain this over a period of time?’ After it got to Deltron 2, I started to realize, ‘Ok, this is unsustainable. It’s taking way too much work to do this and pretty soon what I get out of it might not be what I want or expect. I’m not too keen on sequels any way. That’s why I might move on. I’m not saying that me and Dan won’t work on something but the next project that I do, you can bet I’m a think it out and be like, ‘Ok, is this sustainable over a longer period of time.’”
You can listen to this entire interview on the Kreative Kontrol with Vish Khanna podcast.
Scholastic's Top 10: Dystopian Novels
Above By Leah Bobet(01 of10)
Open Image ModalMatthew has loved Ariel from the moment he found her in the tunnels, her bee's wings falling away. They live in Safe, an underground refuge for those fleeing the city Above - like Whisper, who speaks to ghosts, and Jack Flash, who can shoot lightning from his fingers. But one terrifying night, an old enemy invades Safe with an army of shadows, and only Matthew, Ariel, and a few friends escape Above. As Matthew unravels the mystery of Safe's history and the shadows' attack, he realizes he must find a way to remake his home - not just for himself, but for Ariel, who needs him more than ever before. (credit:Scholastic)
Ashes, Ashes By Jo Treggiari(02 of10)
Open Image ModalFor Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her. With a touch of romance, adventure and suspense, teen readers will keep turning the pages of this gripping debut. (credit:Scholastic)
The Bar Code Tattoo By Suzanne Weyn(03 of10)
Open Image ModalThe bar code tattoo. Everybody's getting it. It will make your life easier, they say. It will hook you in. It will become your identity. But what if you say no? What if you don't want to become a code? For Kayla, this one choice changes everything. She becomes an outcast in her high school. Dangerous things happen to her family. There's no option but to run... for her life. Individuality vs. conformity. Identity vs. access. Freedom vs. control. The bar code tattoo. (credit:Scholastic)
The Eleventh Plague By Jeff Hirsch(04 of10)
Open Image ModalPart adventure, part suspense, part romance, The Eleventh Plague explores trust, friendship, survival, and hope in a stark, dystopian world. America is a vast, desolate landscape left ravaged after a brutal war with China. A vicious strain of influenza has left two-thirds of the population dead. People called the sickness the eleventh plague. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among they few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade for food and other items essential for survival. Stephen finds his way to Settler's Landing, a community that seems too good to be true--where there are real houses, barbecues, a schools, and even baseball games. There Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. When they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler's Landing--and their lives--forever. (credit:Scholastic)
Empty By Suzanne Weyn(05 of10)
Open Image ModalCivilization has just run out. It's the future - the very near future - and the fossil fuels are running out. No gas. No oil. Which means no driving. No heat. Supermarkets are empty. Malls have shut down. Life has just become more local than we ever knew it could be. Nobody expected the end to come this fast. And in the small town of Sage Valley, decisions that once seemed easy are quickly becoming matters of life and death. There is hope - there has to be hope - but there are also sacrifices that need to be made, and a society that needs to be rethought. Niki, Tom, and Gwen may find what they need to survive. But their lives are never going to be the same again. (credit:Scholastic)
Green Heart By Alice Hoffman(06 of10)
Open Image ModalWhen her family is lost in a terrible disaster, 15-year-old Green is haunted by loss and the past. Struggling to survive in a place where nothing seems to grow and ashes are everywhere, Green retreats into the ruined realm of her garden. But in destroying her feelings, she also begins to destroy herself. It is only through a series of mysterious encounters that Green relearns the lessons of love and begins to heal as she tells her own story. As she heals, Green lives every day with feelings of loss. Her family is gone, the boy she loves is missing, and the world she once knew has been transformed by tragedy. In order to rediscover the truth about love, hope, and magic, she must venture away from her home, collecting the stories of a group of women who have been branded witches for their mysterious powers. Only through their stories will Green find her own heart's desire. (credit:Scholastic)
Green Angel By Alice Hoffman(07 of10)
Open Image ModalLeft on her own when her family dies in a terrible disaster, fifteen-year-old Green is haunted by loss and by the past. Struggling to survive physically and emotionally in a place where nothing seems to grow and ashes are everywhere, Green retreats into the ruined realm of her garden. But in destroying her feelings, she also begins to destroy herself, erasing the girl she'd once been as she inks darkness into her skin. It is only through a series of mysterious encounters that Green can relearn the lessons of love and begin to heal enough to tell her story. (credit:Scholastic)
Green Witch By Alice Hoffman(08 of10)
Open Image ModalIn this powerful, lovely sequel to Green Angel, Green must learn the stories of a number of''witches' and free her true soul mate from a prison as she grapples with life, love, and loss in a post-disaster world. (credit:Scholastic)
Fever Crumb By Philip Reeve(09 of10)
Open Image ModalFourteen-year-old Fever Crumb was adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb, a member of the Order of Engineers, where she serves as apprentice. Soon though, she must say good-bye to Dr. Crumb -- nearly the only person she's ever known -- to assist archaeologist Kit Solent on a top-secret project. As her work begins, Fever is plagued by memories that are not her own, and Kit seems to have a particular interest in finding out what they are. Fever has also been singled out by city dwellers, who declare that she is part Scriven. The Scriveners, not human, ruled the city some years ago but were hunted down and killed in a victorious uprising by the people. If there are any remaining Scriven, they are to be eliminated. All Fever knows is what she's been told: that she is an orphan. But is Fever a Scriven? And Scriven or not, whose memories does she hold?
The Ellie Chronicles series By John Marsden(10 of10)
Open Image ModalFor Ellie Linton, being back on the farm with her parents is what makes the terrible things that happened during the war - the things she, Homer, Lee, Fi, and the others had to do - all worthwhile. It's where she belongs. But the war won't let her go. A devastating tragedy has shattered any hope she ever had to reclaim her life, or herself. It's a new kind of fight. And the enemy isn't always from the other side of the border. A spectacular series of war and its consequences by bestselling author John Marsden. (credit:Scholastic)