Tonight, some of Montreal's finest DJs will get behind the decks to honour the late Adam Yauch, aka MCA of the Beastie Boys, in a benefit show we're producing with Pop Montreal. It'll be a night of good tunes, sick beats, and lots of vinyl scratching in memory of one of hip-hop's greatest innovators.

While getting ready for the event, I checked in with DJ Brace to talk about his music, his childhood, his future projects, and his distinguished career (2004 DMC Canada Champion, 2009 Juno for Best Instrumental Album). He hits the stage tonight at midnight.

How did you get into scratching? Did you ever break your parents' record player as a kid?

Always had an interest in scratching, been buying records since I was 9. I definitely put my mothers turntable to the test and it survived.

How old were you when you played your first show? How'd it go?

I was 18 when I entered my first battle, I got second place next to Winnipeg's legendary DJ Grasshopper. Couldn't of gone any better.

How has your music evolved over time?

My compositions have evolved from simple beats to more progressive intricate songs.

I see you with one turntable in your videos - what kind of setup are you using there?

A midi turntable, which allows for note change, with serato/ableton and a mixer. Ableton plays the sounds I'm not scratching, and my scratch samples come from Serato.

Where do you keep your Juno?

In the lab between the the ASR-10 and the MPC

What are you working on next?

-Working on a collaboration EP with ESL Music artist Kabanjak
-Remixes for the likes of Geraldine, Soul Khan, Fat Albert Einstein and So Called
-My next solo album, The Electric Nosehair Orchestra in Apatheia

What's your favourite Beastie Boys album?

Pauls boutique.

For more info on the whole event, including the lineup, go here.

DJ Brace plays tonight at Jackie & Judy, 6512 Parc
$5 minimum donation at the door, all proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society