DJ Y
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- ********
Having spent the weekend discussing a mutual friend "DJ" who has been off in various countries earning his keep doing this, I'm wondering why... or rather why are DJ's paid (and worse - respected as "artists") to do this?
I'm not really one for clubbing, so maybe I just don't get it.. but every one I've met turns up with a Apple Laptop, plugs it in, plays the set from disk, and stands there for 3 hours looking cool, but not actually doing anything. They don't even have records anymore, let alone CD's.
Fair game if you get paid to do this, that's very clever. But aren't they really just bunch of Charlatans?
- MrBixler0
Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ.
- rasko40
bunch of fag shit, unfortunately most people that go to housey housey clubs are cloned out idiots that dont have a fucking clue, they're just impressed by so-called 'superstar dj's' on the flyers but you just know they wouldn't notice the difference between one set and the next. Sweeping generalisations here but house DJ's suck and though apparently the best ones know how to 'work a crowd' and all that pants most of them are dull, boring, unimaginative cartoon characters. Maybe Sasha back in '90 could surprise you by dropping 'where eagles fly' or bring up the sunrise with 'where love lives' but really now it all sounds the same.. boring shit for boring people. Most of them are still happy to be listening to these old cunts that where djing in the 80's and they call it 'progressive' hahaa ;P
- ********0
well it's nice to know it's not just me then...
- Meeklo0
well, its all a matter of perspective, a dj could be the one that its all show, and does the "playback" thing, those nowadays are like superstars.
Then you have the dj that actually uses the turntable as a musical instrument, also called turntablism, wich are deffenetly talented, try doing what this guy does:
http://randomfoo.net/junk/qbert-…When it comes to laptop performances, I dont think its well respected yet, cause there is always somre sort of negative reaction for the "the new thing"
but you can either play mp3 with winamp or you can be using a combination of soft and hardware, that in certain cases gives the artist more freedom than a turntable to perform live acts. the artist can also be playing the tracks he produced at home, wich means that he had worked a lot more than a dj by taking the role of the whole band.
Imagine an old school designer, putting you down cause you are using photoshop on a computer instead of using your hands, cissors, glue, and rullers..??yes I agree, there is the type of dj that is all show and no play, but there is also true artist, behind the decks or yes a small laptop.
My advice, music should be heard not watched, close your eyes, and if you like what you hear, thats all it matter right?
peace
- ad10
almost completely true moth. but then most commercially successful music, whichever genre it falls in, is totally without substance or soul. the dj is a tool (hehe) of the corporation and most should not be arbiters of taste.
rasko's right about the superstar dj on a flyer to sell a club to the easily impressed. but there are a few djs who will defy being boxed into a genre and will suprise and delight you if you like to dance. the idea of a "star" dj is fundamentally wrong in the context of a party as everyone is an equal player there where the focus should be not on the dj but on the dancefloor.
but in answer to rasko's ongoing tirade against house music: again most "house" IS shit as are most of the clubs who play it but to dismiss "house" music entirely while some it encompasses the continuation of over half a century of african american music means you may miss something because some marketeer or journalist is telling you what to listen to ; P
- rasko40
yeah I was generalising the more mainstream arena, detroit produces some great house music that you would never hear in these 'superclubs'
- Meeklo0
the fact the britney sings and does shows on a "live band" format doesnt mean that all live bands sucks does it?
- ********0
Fair points Meeklo. If a DJ is playing his own tracks - that's altogether different. I'm a musician and can respect the effort it takes to make something. But most DJ's do NOT do this, and frankly - apart from mixing the set, I see nothing skillfull in it. And I see mixing as something anyone can do with a little practice.
But if they're not even mixing.. then I might as well turn up with my favorite tracks on CD...
- ********0
mixing is not anyone can just "do". There's still some good house around, damn fine hosue. Sessions that are mixed from start to finish. A 90 minute journey. You can't do that moth. I defy u to have a go. That's why it's progressive. I guess you'd respect the DJ's who worked the crowd more, but putting out a mix is a skill in itself. Knowing the perfect track to follow from the next. Knowing how well two (or more tracks) sit next to each other. That's not easy. DJs have forged (and continue to forge) land mark styles, and define music "scenes". Obviously there's the blaggers. But there's real innovators too.
- sherman0
interesting debate. I am a dj, i dont play out alot and i love to collect music.
I agree to a degree that a dj gets overpaid to play other peoples art. Certain djs who cater to the mainstream probably started out with the best interests at heart however, I would be led to believe that they have become jaded as the money came in and as they fail to stay on top of progression and just general lack of interest.
its actually takes alot of skill and practice to become good at being a dj. long days and nights getting it right, not to mention alot money spent on records, knowledge of music and ability to be a performer.
they are basically paid to ensure people dance and have a goodtime inplace of a probably more expensive live band or musician.as for the laptop debate that one will go on for eternity. personally i dont think watching someone who stands behind the screen of a glowing laptop while on stage using some form of digital mixing software is entertaining. at least mixing records adds some visual stimulis to the performance. I am all for the laptop as a tool in the studio or as part of multiple tools used ina live performance however i think this debate will rattle on for time to come.
a dj is just another person who either loves music and wants to share it or loves getting paid for playing it.
i perfer to keep my day job and keep sharing music when i get the opportunity to play out.
what was i talking about?
- Fritz0
Chicago House 80-90's is truly where it began. These young adults that missed the rave scene are picking up in the clubs thinking they are experiencing some great new or "superstar DJ" when all they are doing is looking like a fool. As for the dj I give them no credit when using the notebook to play a prerecorded mix that prob was done with Traktor... or playing someone elses set. Now Turntablistics, I have respect for their creativity and passion to make a track their own by breaking it down into parts that are restructured into their own song. This truly shows talent!
- sherman0
well put kuz
i guess i was lucky at who i was exposed to first. and that it wasnt some whack ass club playing some trance (not for me).
i was exposed to some very talented germans - ricardo villalobos and ric y martin.
they blew me away and opened many doors for me to killer minimal house and deep techno stuff.
- carver0
tell ya what, when i seen bixlers name on the thread i was expecting the fuckin' pipes to cave in, but i was, well what can i say, disappointed. and another thing, i WAS a D.J, long before this D.J shit thing kicked off, i was one of the first irish D.J's to play cross border, and in 1989 i went out to portugal and plied my trade across there, done many a stint in london in the early 90's. there ain't Nuttin' i can't drop! dj carver,with 'is tins on, 'carves' up da flo-ah! allrite y'all, daft eh?
- ad10
damn. throw me the bait and i'll take it.
fritz this is one of the first places it started: 1969 NYC
http://www.andwedanced.com/djs/m…
http://www.discomusic.com/people…
with this dude playing records while other people danced for 8 - 12 hours. He still does parties today with no mixer or mixing just the best audio components available and a lot of different music mostly about love. its about a sharing of knowledge and understanding, and dancing in celebration of life : )
- ad10
NT knees up with carver in the mix. WORD!
- carver0
yeah, i can understand where the kid's coming from, all the shite about a sharing of knowledge and understanding, and dancing in celebration of life ,but that's just the fucking drugs by the way, i should know cos i took me fair share off that ramp over the years. but i reckon it's less marginalised now though, i prefered when it was 'ok,pal, hands off, that's your lifestyle, i respect that, you dance across there' 'alright there, jemima back to mine or what?"- daft!
- sherman0
?
- ad10
jemima: there's owt like posh crumpet and their access to good drugs
- ********0
good points to all... but just saying it's the business ain't going to convince me. Although drugs might!
Kuz.. I've been playing and recording and mixing my own music since i was 16/17.. sure it's guitar based - but to mix in drum loops and loops of whatever... i'm pretty confident i could get up and DJ a set in the space of a week. I'll admit it needs an ear... but that's it. You have it or you don't.
I have it ;)
- Fritz0
That may be where mixing started or the whole dj'ing/rave but the genre of house music...
http://www.djforums.com/articles…
http://www.chuckiii.com/Reports/…
Keep it real