It's not every day that a superstar producer/remixer who has worked with Kool Keith, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Cat Power, blink-182 and Beck, among others, and co-founded virtual hip-hop outfit Gorillaz asks for advice on tracks for his turntable set.

But Dan the Automator — phoning from his San Francisco recording studio earlier this week — was doing just that. The occasion? A gig at tonight's Hawaii International Film Festivalhosted club event Cut & Scratch: The Sounds of Dan the Automator & Far*East Movement at The O Lounge.

"It's a film festival, so I don't really know what kind of crowd it's going to be," said the Automator (real name: Dan Nakamura), laughing. "My set can usually veer off into about three directions."

Nakamura described these as: hip-hop reggae, up-tempo electro (New Order, etc.) or a sampling of the more eclectic musicians he's worked with (too many to mention). Told the crowd would likely be a musically savvy one, more than up for serious body movin', Nakamura was pleased.

"That'd be good. That'd be more fun," he said, pondering an evening of reggae- and uptempo-hip-hop with some electro, just because. "If (the crowd) is looking more alternative, I'll go in that direction."

If you go, dance for the Automator. I don't want to look bad.

Nakamura is a true pioneer of his craft. The Bay Area-based producer knocked some much-needed out-there creativity and eclecticism into the late-'90s alternative hip-hop scene with a memorable slate of remixing and production projects.

Among these: his still-acclaimed, career-making debut crafting ragged atmospheric trip-hop for Kool Keith's Dr. Octagon project, and collaborative alt-hip-hop projects Handsome Boy Modeling School (with De La Soul producer Prince Paul) and Deltron 3030 (with Del tha Funkee Homosapien and DJ Kid Koala). His diverse remix and producer gigs also included work for Depeche Mode, Cornershop, Primal Scream, Sarah McLachlan, Stereolab and even the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

Nakamura's collaboration with Blur's Damon Albarn, artist Jamie Hewlett and a host of other musicians on the Gorillaz debut CD wound up an unexpected smash in 2001. Still likely Nakamura's most well-known production project, the self-titled "Gorillaz" disc sold more than a million units in the U.S. The Automator sculpted the CD's relentlessly crafty and catchy modern rock radio hit "Clint Eastwood."

Nakamura didn't return to handle production duties on Gorillaz' even-bigger sophomore disc, 2005's "Demon Days." But "Gorillaz" raised his already high-profile as an in-demand producer and remixer.

Four years later, superstar sound-crafting peers like Timbaland, Scott Storch and Danger Mouse (who assumed production duties on "Demon Days") similarly seem as well-known as the artists they produce. But Nakamura insisted that the concept of the producer-as-star has always been around.

"It's always been very important to music," he said of production. "Sometimes people are more aware of it. Sometimes people are less aware of it."

A student of the history and craft of producing, Nakamura shared some personal insights to make his point.

"Would the Beatles have been successful without (producer) George Martin?" he asked. "You don't know that they wouldn't have. You don't know that they would have.

"But I can guarantee you that Nelly Furtado wouldn't have made any comeback without Timbaland. Were the Beatles talented songwriters and singers? Yes. Is Nelly Furtado a talented songwriter and singer? Probably not as talented as the Beatles."

Nakamura's most recent work as a producer can be found on a CD soundtrack for the basketball video game NBA 2K7. The September release features Mos Def, A Tribe Called Quest, Lupe Fiasco, Ghostface and others rapping over his inventive beats.

Other current projects include a second Deltron 3030 disc he hopes to have out by January and possible producer gigs with British jazz pianist/vocalist Jamie Cullum and indie singer/songwriter Cat Power.

Nakamura was putting some finishing touches on a new track by former Faith No More vocalist Mike Patton's band Primal Scream before we chatted. Already wrapped are production and remix work for former blink-182 members Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker's new band (+44) and a remix of "Bling" for The Killers.

And bonus! Nakamura wouldn't rule out a long-rumored project with Hawai'i-raised scratch and breakbeat master Richard "DJ Q-Bert" Quitevis. Some day.

"We're old friends. We've known each other about 20 years," Nakamura said of the former member of internationally renowned turntablist collective Invisibl Skratch Picklz. "We go back so far that it's almost a shame that we don't see each other that much. ... So doing something full-on is definitely in the cards.

"I don't know when. But I can pretty much say it'll happen at some point."

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.