It’s not every day we get to interview a cartoon. OK, we’ve never interviewed a cartoon. But that ends today with Major Lazer, the creation of DJs Diplo and Switch. The Major’s cartoon backstory is that he’s a Jamaican commando who lost an arm in a secret zombie war in 1984. He was rescued by the U.S. military, who replaced his arm with a laser, and now he flies around on a rocket-powered skateboard fighting monsters and partying a lot. He owns a dance club in Trinidad and makes dancehall and ragga-influenced electronic music sung in Jamaican patois, with help from friends Diplo and Switch.

Major Lazer’s had some funny press recently, too – photos have been distributed of him hanging out with Jack Nicholson at a Lakers game, Angelina Jolie, and Rihanna. He also has his own iPhone application called iDrum: Major Lazer, where users can remix the songs, and there are two amusing videos for “Hold the Line,” with Santogold, dancehall star Mister Lexx, and lots of cartoon action, and “Zumbie” featuring Andy Milonakis (NSFW).

Diplo and Switch are both known for experimentation. Both DJs worked with M.I.A., Switch is a noted remixer, and Diplo helped produce and popularize the Brazilian baile funk genre, which combines samples and dirty lyrics in Portuguese. The duo came together for the Major Lazer project, and the first album, Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do is out now. They’ll be at the Rock and Roll Hotel on Saturday with Matt and Kim. Unfortunately, it’s sold out, by try Craig.

After the jump, we talk to the Major himself via email.