In a recent installment of Yahoo Music’s Backstage With Citi, EDM icon Steve Aoki sat down with reporter Katie Couric to discuss a wide range of topics ranging from drug abuse in the dance music scene to the origin of his caking gimmick. However, the DJ/producer and Dim Mak founder perhaps made his most noteworthy remarks in regards to his his humble beginnings – and particularly his relationship with his father over the course of his DJ career.
Aoki’s father, Rocky Aoki, founded the Benihana restaurant chain and did not encourage Steve’s work in the music industry, often urging him to pursue a different career path.
“It’s really hard or any parent to see their kid like that,” he said. “I was making, like, a hundred dollars here a hundred dollars there – and many times, he was like, ‘You gotta turn in. It’s time.'”
According to Aoki, before his father passed away in 2008 he finally approved of his son’s ambitions.
“He finally got to a place where he was like, ‘I don’t have to worry about you,'” Aoki said. “That was nice to get to a place where I was like, ‘Dad, I made it.’”
It’s widely speculated that Aoki’s father’s business success laid the foundation for his career, but he claimed the contrary while speaking to Couric. Still, harsh as it is to say, it’s difficult to imagine that Aoki rose to his current level of success simply because of his skill as a musician; his contributions to the EDM world extend only as far as cookie-cutter big room house anthems and remixes of rock songs.
But that’s just this writer’s opinion. What do you think? Do you believe Steve Aoki when he diminishes his father’s role in his success as a musician? Let us know in the comments section below.
