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-- Most influential International DJ on local DJ's?
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every dj has a sound thers nothing wrong with that

everyone likes a certain music more then other

but that doesnt mean that other music is bad

DJS should study music & incorporate it in a way there audience can understand

dont be scared to play it

if you think your crowd wont "get it" as a dj you should know how to explain it

If you are scared to play music or dont know about msuic just say it but dont put it down

The worst thing a dj can do is put down music

because when that music becomes a "fad" they look stupid when they play it

its better to respect all music from the start

just like with people

the problem with djs is everyone sounds the same

its like everyone is a clone

the same tracks over & over it gets boring

like Jenny said

Music is about being honest & real

A dj has to open up even if people make fun of him/her

quote:

Originally posted by jennypie It would be nice if DJs would just play what they love. Doesn't necessarily have to be outside the box or cutting edge or whatever, but it should at least sound genuine and sincere...personal. That's when you get truly unique/varied sets.

that would be in a perfect world. But people with a different sound from the norm won't get anywhere until they sell out to get noticed.

*patiently waits for someone to say that TO doesn't/never did have it's own sound*

quote:

Originally posted by jennypie *patiently waits for someone to say that TO doesn't/never did have it's own sound*

oh it does. but big name locals usually revolve around that one sound. (if not, i think even trance would be huge...lol)

Is that right? Go on...

yes and then when you add 2 and 1 together you get 4.

quote:

Originally posted by jennypie Or maybe the internationals play to the locals' taste/style? Especially if they come here often, like Lawler, then they know what gets the TO crowds moving/what they want to hear.

I agree with this and find it to be a shame...

I also hate it when DJ's totally change their styles. Cox, BBB, and even Picotto to name a few...

quote:

Originally posted by jennypie People really need to play more hip house.

Super funky techy house with hip hop lyrics is a fersonal fav. Best of both worlds.

Unfortunately, the term "hip-house" got a bad rap (no pun intended)back in the late 80's & early 90's. I'm with you though, it's time it's brought back & updated.

quote:

Originally posted by ***** all the big djs use to be small local djs who got a good agent

Fixed

Most WORKING DJs in Toronto try to play the same music, and most aspiring DJs who look up to these working DJs try to play the same music too.

lol thats all i'm going to contribute... id like to say I've seen enough to draw that conclusion

quote:

Originally posted by jon jon lol Who are these "unknown risk taking" superstar DJ's you mention?

I wish I knew

quote:

Originally posted by jennypie It would be nice if DJs would just play what they love. Doesn't necessarily have to be outside the box or cutting edge or whatever, but it should at least sound genuine and sincere...personal. That's when you get truly unique/varied sets.

i read this and instantly thought of Ace haha .. though some of you might not like him or his music you can't deny that he always plays what hes feelin at that moment and definitely has his own 'wildcard' sound

Obligatory

YES! Best post.

A good DJ can balance "playing what they love" with "playing whats needed to get the crowd moving".

Because unless you are playing a chin-stroke set at an Audio/Visual sit-down event at Mutek (or something similar) your job is to get the dance floor moving.

A good DJ can do this, while still presenting new/interesting tracks - they take you on a journey. They can present some weird-ass songs in such a context that you can't help but love it.

I've had DJ's blow me away and played stuff that I would have never thought to have listened to before, but they wrapped it up in a context that read the crowd, built up the vibe and energy to a place where the dance floor is willing to accept the unexpected and the unusual.

Many people don't like having left-field stuff dropped on them from the start of the night, but when the energy is right and the vibe is on spot - they let themselves go with the flow of the set.

There is simply "pandering to the crowd" and only giving them what they want to hear - the bangers, the anthems, the big hits, the classics, the recognizable tunes. Which is easy, and boring (and allot of DJ's do that).

Then there is playing to the crowd to get them to a place where you can take them on a trip. Being able to read the crowd and know when you are losing them and being able to bring them back in.

Having a self-indulgent DJ can be pretty annoying.

quote:

Originally posted by kaniz A good DJ can balance "playing what they love" with "playing whats needed to get the crowd moving". Because unless you are playing a chin-stroke set at an Audio/Visual sit-down event at Mutek (or something similar) your job is to get the dance floor moving. A good DJ can do this, while still presenting new/interesting tracks - they take you on a journey. They can present some weird-ass songs in such a context that you can't help but love it. I've had DJ's blow me away and played stuff that I would have never thought to have listened to before, but they wrapped it up in a context that read the crowd, built up the vibe and energy to a place where the dance floor is willing to accept the unexpected and the unusual. Many people don't like having left-field stuff dropped on them from the start of the night, but when the energy is right and the vibe is on spot - they let themselves go with the flow of the set. There is simply "pandering to the crowd" and only giving them what they want to hear - the bangers, the anthems, the big hits, the classics, the recognizable tunes. Which is easy, and boring (and allot of DJ's do that). Then there is playing to the crowd to get them to a place where you can take them on a trip. Being able to read the crowd and know when you are losing them and being able to bring them back in. Having a self-indulgent DJ can be pretty annoying.

I would have to say that this is pretty spot on.

quote:

Originally posted by kaniz Having a self-indulgent DJ can be pretty annoying.

I think a DJ can play what they love without being self-indulgent. That wasn't really the point of what I said.

quote:

Originally posted by barbina i read this and instantly thought of Ace haha .. though some of you might not like him or his video's you can't deny that he always plays what hes feelin at that moment and definitely has his own 'wildcard' sound

fixed...

James Monro, D-Nox, Pena, etc. in my case.

quote:

Originally posted by barbina

this is like spamm this isnt a thread to promote your artist

quote:

Originally posted by VDub

I partly agree

I like when djs play music they are feeling if they want to play it they should know how to introduce it to their crowd

I dont agree when djs play something because its the in/cool/fad thing thats like a sellout

quote:

Originally posted by jennypie

You already said it so theres no need to resay it there is & there isnt a sound

that statement is 50% true

There are so many sounds here that is something thats very unique to Canada

rock/urban/edm/jazz whatever kind of music etc

theres a dj & a scene for almost every kind of music here & people are really knowledgeable about it

Some djs are big within there own scenes but outside their scene/style of music(comfortable zone) they sound & look lost

have you ever seen a hip hop dj play trance it usually sucks big time same vice versa they dont know enough to do it

you can tell they cant hang they are good at looking like djs

but when its time for music you say WoW these djs suck

The real sound of here is like about 15-20 years you all will help mold it i think

if you guys dont know by now the most unique thing about the music here is actually the music fans

The fans of music here are smart

DJs should stop treating them like they are stupid

Theres a reason I built my business around music fans

its because they know more then most the artists/djs here

So you have to challenge them but you have to respect them as well

its a give & take

Also alot of djs seem to have similar influences

its like they dont listen to anyone but the same guys that everyone else listens to

its like the they are mini me in the movie austin powers

quote:

Originally posted by jennypie *patiently waits for someone to say that TO doesn't/never did have it's own sound*

Toronto has always embraced the "extremely repetitive hard minimal shit" genre. You could say we're something of a pioneer in that area.

quote:

Originally posted by jennypie Haha, I actually agree with ***** for the most part.

quote:

Originally posted by DigiNut Toronto has always embraced the "extremely repetitive hard minimal shit" genre. You could say we're something of a pioneer in that area.

Zzzzzzzz....

quote:

Originally posted by ***** every dj has a sound thers nothing wrong with that everyone likes a certain music more then other but that doesnt mean that other music is bad DJS should study music & incorporate it in a way there audience can understand dont be scared to play it if you think your crowd wont "get it" as a dj you should know how to explain it If you are scared to play music or dont know about msuic just say it but dont put it down The worst thing a dj can do is put down music because when that music becomes a "fad" they look stupid when they play it its better to respect all music from the start just like with people the problem with djs is everyone sounds the same its like everyone is a clone the same tracks over & over it gets boring like Jenny said Music is about being honest & real A dj has to open up even if people make fun of him/her

This is like reading haiku.

a lot of interesting points (and one of better threads in TOTA lately)

I think a lot of beginner locals fall to this trap of trying to make a name out of themselves by whatever means necessary. They get this one gig at a decently well known club and want to make their mark immediately, thinking this is their only one chance to shine. Because it is pretty damn hard to get a gig as an unknown local DJ at any of the bigger clubs in Toronto.

Seems most of the bigger clubs are frequented by clubbers who want the techy sound. Just how many clubs are there that regularly cater to prog or deep house or etc?

So a DJ changes his sound to accomodate whatever the audience wants. Such is life?

A dilemma. Does a DJ play whatever he normally would like to play, or go play something techy just because that's what the crowd is into?

It's easy to say that a good DJ can read the audience and still make an impact and bring something new in a set while keeping touch with what audience wants. But the thing is, being a bedroom DJ is relatively easy in a no pressure situation to make a perfect promo.
Put an inexperienced DJ in front of DJs in a packed club/event and he'll have self doubts. It takes a lot of time to learn to how to read a crowd. A bit of catch 22 situation.

So a lot of young DJs will never get a good chance to learn the craft of DJing at clubs. They may be talented but oh well.

Personally, I'd never take a gig that I'm not comfortable with. If I'm a trance DJ, I'm not going to play at an techno event because that's just not what normally play. I don't want a gig at any cost, just to get that foot in the door.

Always curious to know why some of the more talented TOTA DJs quit or not as DJ as often. Guys like Mike Schryer, Tygon, Dennis Hahn, Kevin Harcourt, Sean Crawford, etc. Wonder what their reasonings would be.

Takes a lot of hard work, knowing the right people and a lot of luck to break into the club scene, esp now that it's pretty easy to be a DJ (all you need is a laptop lol). A lot of DJs I bet are fed up with the politics, limited amount of venues where they can showcase their own style, etc.

Hmmm... this post sounds less sense than a ***** post.

To answer OP: my biggest influences would be Luke Fair, The Timewriter, Joris Vorn and Markus Schulz. helluva eclectic combo

PS: come to TOTA pary at footwork on 23rd if you want to hear fresh, and talented TOTA DJs

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