Editorial Note: So, this issue we finally have an EXCLUSIVE interview with the notoriously talented yet difficult to speak to “DJ P0n3”, also known as Vinyl Scratch. This interview was recorded on the 20th of April, 1003 and our reporter has managed to ask questions that P0n3’s fans have been sending us for months, she’s answered some of them!

Cantering Rock: Good evening Ms. Scratch, firstly I’d like to thank you first of all for allowing me to interview you for Cantering Rock, the best music magazine in Equestria!
Vinyl Scratch: ...Thanks, it’s great to be here this evening.

CR: So, before we get around to the interview proper, how about you tell us a little about your latest tour, the “Indifferent To Your Atrocious Taste” tour?
VS: You know, I really do hate that title. Seriously, it’s something that was forced upon me by my manager; it makes me sound like the sort of pony who should be prancing around with kitchen utensils on my head or with food made into a dress... Needless to say, he doesn’t work for me any more. I have adored the tour itself though, it’s kind of hard to think that six months ago I was performing at fashion shows, where as now I’ve got so much on. It’s amazing.

CR: Can you give any details to future projects or tours that you might be involved with?
VS: Unfortunately, no, I can’t. Actually... you know what, [Censored] it. I’ve just been invited to play the evening of the Grand Galloping Gala. Something about one of the Royal Guard giving my CD to Princess Luna. It’s six months away, but I’ve already started working on my mixes for that; I want everypony there to have an amazing time - it’s like a drug for me.

CR: Wow! A royal fan! I do actually have some questions from our readers at Cantering Rock, they’ve been flooding in since you first entered the scene, would you be willing to answer a few?
VS: Sure. Go ahead.

CR: Alright, first we have a question submitted by d-mail from little eight year old Applebloom in the town of Ponyville. She says she’s a massive fan and hopes to come along to one of your concerts when she’s old enough.
VS: [Interrupting] The little ones are always the most adorable, I love how into my music most ponies are, but it’s kind of touching to be approached for an autograph by a foal who hasn’t tried to join a clique yet, just loving the sound because it makes them feel good.

CR: Right, well, she asks what colour your eyes are and wants to know the story behind the goggles themselves, is it a style thing?
VS: [Removes her goggles, her eyes are a deep scarlet colour.] I like to think my eyes work with my colour scheme as an individual, and the purple lenses go well with my red eyes, so that’s why the goggles are that colour. The reason I got them? Well, when I was little I used to love swimming... Eventually they just became part of my look after I tried to learn welding with my Dad.

CR: She also wants to know the story behind how you got your cutie mark.
VS: Wow, I was only expecting the one question per fan, but I guess someone else would ask eventually. Basically, for those who haven’t seen, my mark is a slightly crooked quaver. The quaver itself represents my innate musical talent, where as the fact that it’s slightly different to a regular one recognises that my thing is mixing; I worked it out when I was twelve and had been bought my first tape deck. I was obsessed with the thing, always splicing tape together to see what sounds I could get, creating play lists, that sort of thing. After one especially good tape, I felt a tingle and turned to find my mark there.

CR: So you were a late bloomer for gaining your mark?
VS: Don’t you think that’s a little inappropriate? Sure, I was the last in my class, but I really don’t think it matters; what matters is the adventure leading to finding it. My story wouldn’t be anywhere near as interesting if say I’d just randomly caused it during some random activity that didn’t mean anything to me as an individual.

CR: Ah. Yes. Sorry. Moving swiftly on, we have a question from a reader in Trottingham asking about your style. She wants to know what dyes you use for your definitive streaked mane?
VS: Seriously? [sighs] This is why I never do interviews. I’m never asked about my music, just endless hair this, sexuality that. I don’t dye it. It’s natural. Next question.

CR: I do have a question about your hate of journalists... It’s actually something I’ve clipped out of a review of your last album from the Enquirer. Hightrousers, the reviewer, suggests that you snubbed being a judge in his new show, “The Eq’s Factor”, because, and I quote “She’s burnt out, at barely 23. That’s why she’s so full of loathing for the media and there is no way she could handle my show”.
VS: Wow. Those are some really really sour grapes. I turned down Hightrousers because, to be honest, the guy is a bit of a [censored]. He seems to think that you can just produce music from a production line, perfect little vacuum formed singers. Hell, have you ever *seen* a proper musician on that show? No. They’re all singers, all singing the same damn thing, day in, day out. It was hilarious when “Buck Against the Machine” took the Hearth's Warming number 1 from the guy ripping off some other little foal pushed off the production line; just a shame that BATM and the Eq’s Factor use the same record label.

CR: Now, please don’t yell at me, but I’ve got another piece from the Enquirer here. It’s about a supposed fling you had with a model...
VS: [Interrupting, again] Oh in Celestia’s name... Seriously, I’ve only met the filly once. We were photographed chatting at a party and shared a cab to the hotel because she was to weighed down with clothing to fly. Heck, there are time stamped photos of her getting to her hotel, leaving the cab and then five minutes later, ones of me going into my hotel, ALONE. I hate the media, so much... Well, except for you. You seem cool, takes balls to ask the stuff you’re asking to my face and I hope you won’t be screwing with the wording of anything I say tonight.

CR: Alright, one more personal one, then I have a few more musical ones for you, time permitting. A reader from Manehattan asks “How do you keep in such impeccable shape?”.
VS: Oh, that’s not too bad I guess. Just exercise mostly, my diet itself has always been pretty good, but because I’m on stage I like to go to the gym once, maybe twice a day. I plan to exercise tonight, once our interview is finished; it’s an amazing way to either build up to or cool down from a gig. I love the cross trainer the most because it works on every part of me, I can stick some music on and just power away for hours.

CR: Awesome, I’ll try not to keep you much longer then.
VS: Oh, no, you’re welcome to stay. I want to answer some more of the fan questions you’ve got.

CR: Oh, alright. Here I have a question about the brand of turntables that you use, it gets a bit technical though...
VS: Yeah, they’re Mustang 980’s. They’re an older model, but the needles are far easier to replace, I don’t like to let the roadies near my gear so I’d rather do maintenance to it myself.

CR: But I noticed you allowed your warm up act tonight to use the deck?
VS: Haha, I’ve known Daft Pony for years. They’re great guys and there is a lot of trust between us; they’ve even let me use their gear a few times.

CR: What tips would you have for anypony looking to start out in show business?
VS: Finally! I’ve been waiting for that question all night. The best way to break in is through getting together with other artists. Get a strong community together and then do things like running free gigs. Like I said, one of my early events was playing at a fashion show run by a friend of a friend looking to impress... Damn, I forget the name of the guy, but the designer’s name is Rarity, she’s kinda cute and the dresses turned out great in the end.

CR: So...
VS: [Interrupting again] Wait, no, before you even say it, no. She’s cute, but it doesn’t mean that I’m [censored] her. For your information, I’m actually seeing a stallion at the moment. He also left Cantering Rock recently, I hope.

CR: Oh, do I know him?
VS: I imagine so. I’m not really willing to let ponies know who he is just yet though. I want to actually keep my private life private for now.

CR: Well, I wish the two of you the best of luck. Unfortunately that’s all the time I have for this interview, I’d like to thank you Ms Scratch for your time and I hope you enjoy your exercise session.
VS: Thanks. It was an experience and I totally will.