DJing...

Michael Donaldson (badmood@earthlink.net)
Wed, 19 Jun 1996 20:01:01 -0400 (EDT)


Hey there-

I've been pretty down on DJing... a guy playing other people's songs and
getting all the glory. Orlando is the land of the superster DJ, where every
kid's idol is some dude who bought turntables a year ago and got a
residency at a club his friend does lights at or something... and most of
these DJ types acted real snotty and superstar-like, as if they had some
amazing contribution to the world. It was pretty disgusting. Folks would
call me a DJ and I'd have this a snappy reply: "Don't call me a DJ... I
don't want to be associated with those other DJs. It's like if you called
me a 'serial killer'... I wouldn't want to be grouped in with all those
other serial killers!"

I've been doing this DJ thing for almost a decade now, doing 5 years on
radio and the last 4 in clubs. The thing that got me in DJing was educating
an audience, and playing them music that they wouldn't otherwise hear. As a
DJ, my job was searching out those uncut gems and bringing them to the
masses. My attitude hasn't absolutely changed from this, but there are some
differences now. I'm now also really into moving a crowd.

So, the past couple of months I've been having really positive DJ
experiences that have me 'up' on the concept of being a DJ. The past 10 or
so gigs I've done have transcended everything... there's nothing like a
dancing group of people really into the music you're programming. I get
into it as well and am often seen dancing behind the turntables (just ask
the folks who recently saw me play in SF!). The music is what it is all
about, and thats what gets the movement started.

However, mixing is very important to me. And just as important as mixing is
realizing imagined mixing juxtapositions: this song would sound good with
that song, etc. Playing two cuts together that click just right (even if
just in a 10 second crossfade mix) with perfection can light a magic spark
onto the crowd. It is an area (besides transforming, scratch-tricks, and
other acrobatics that I'm not that great at) where the DJ can create art
and touch on the concept of 'DJ as musician'. And it is a DJ challenge to
find these magic mixes. I work at it all the time, when listening to songs,
when practicing on the turntables, when running through mixes in my heard
as I ride my bike... this is where I have the most fun as a DJ.

I think an audience appreciates this, too. Sure, a DJ playing some new
white label releases will inspire and impress an audience (assuming the
tracks are all that) but there's nothing like taking a familiar track and
creating a new twist with it via mixing. An example that just popped in my
head happened last night: BMF stuck the "Bring The Noise" acappella on top
of the Fila Brazillia DJ Food remix. The crowd went out of their heads!

So I suppose a DJ can be an educator (non-mixing, playing new tracks) or an
entertainer/artist (mixing, working with the tracks). But, of course the
best DJ is both...

Just some quick thoughts.... SEE YA + PEACE

michael
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