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-- music identity / style as a dj
music identity / style as a dj
hey guys,
curious as to how u all came to spin what ur spinning now. how did u find ur style. askin as atm, i'm undergoing thru some identity crisis with my music. i like all aspects of trance, prog, uplifting and hard. style depends on the mood at the time tho. when i began only half a year ago, it just used to be trance, but had an urge for something with a greater edge, so moved to something harder. but the last month or so i've jus been mixin prog. i dunno, i cant seem to settle on a style and i'm not sure whether its because i havent found my sound yet, or that my tastes are just too varying. its been confusin, so confusin, i havent touched, nor wanted to touch my decks for the last two weeks. maybe i need to explore some techno or breaks or something.
also, i cant help but notice when everybody goes vinyl shopping, they choose the latest on armin's, tiesto's, pvds playlist. basically tunes that get so overplayed to the commercial status [as commercial as u can get in the trance scene] that really, you as a dj don't bring anything new to the scene. for those who try to create their own style and sound, what do u do, how dya go bout it [in terms of selecting tunes/records]?
i've only started and already I'm going a crisis (holy sh*t). I'm sort of unhappy about it... seeing as how i want to buld my vinyl collection. Before I started to DJ I was all about the trance, big Dj's lik etiesto and corsten actually at the time was my favorite. Then I got more into it... checked out the underground tunes (so many artists you just can't name 'em all). Now all of a sudden, instead of my usual prog or hard. I just got bored of it all, I found myself only liking a few traks that I had and sick of all the rest that I used to enjoy. With all these new tracks that came out, I just got bored with it... I was thinking... where do I go now? Then I noticed something new... I had d/led some house albums before and maybe gave them one listen, back when I was all about the trance and never gave much of a hoot about house/garage. I checked out again, and I clicked, something about it to me seemed more edgy, and when i could listen to it... i thought it would go really nicely with vocal/uplifintg trance. Like generally stuff from G&D, n AvB and related material. Now I'm all about the house/garage, and trance is basically my second. Generally I don't worry as much about tracks that have been hammered by PvD/Tiesto/AvB etc. I take a listen to some in particular i like from their sets as well as any other djs i listen too as well i regularly check record labels/producers that i generally like for their new releases. House and Garage being so huge there are just a huge array to choose from. I pick and choose since there are so many styles to choose from - from floor-fillers like Robbie Rivera's Hum Melody (old but just an example from the top of my head) to Thick Dick's (hehe) "insatiable" funky groove. Yea its definately a far cry from the fast hardtrance and tech i listened too and still do... just im pickier than I was before, and I still like mixing it in when I think it will sound nice.
So yea, I changed, but I still like a lot of trance, I guarantee that (its why im here after all!). I guess you could say I've moved to more girly club music. Generally I suppose the sound comes close to the general Ministry of Sounds club compilations (however I'm not getting all the club anthems that get played).
There's my story... sorta been wanting to get that out.
well, i have found a style that i want to stick with...hard trance. i mean, i like other genres of trance too, but im just drawn to hard trance.
but i have a similar second problem. if i hear a set and i like a lot of the songs a dj plays, i would probably want to go out and buy those songs. but it makes me feel weird. i like the songs the dj plays, and i think that the songs really fit my style(especially in sets where you really like almost every song. i have heard sets where that is the case)...but i dont want to just rip-off another djs style.
i guess since i would be buying a record because i like it, not because a certain dj plays it, its ok, but it still feels weird.
I've had that for a few months too, but luckily I got over it 
When I first bought my decks, I was listening to progressive mainly, so pretty obviously I started out with buying progressive records.. But after a few months I got kinda bored with it.. Dunno exactly why, I think mostly because I needed something with a little more energy..
Then I started to get into techno.. First pretty hard stuff, not too hard though, stuff from Marco Bailey, Ben Sims, Redhead.. You know what. But after a month, that too lost its attraction.. Mainly because I realized those tracks were so much the same.. Too little variation..
Then I got into deeper techno, tracks by Heiko Laux, Alexander Kowalski, Johannes Heil, etc.. And I know that's exactly my style, don't know why, it just clicks
Maybe this isn't of too much help for you, but try and decide which is your own style before buying too much records you will not use anymore after a month.. Like I did
But I'm glad I figured it out.. Not just by copying the style of other DJ's, but by deciding for myself what I like most.. Pretty obvious maybe, but it certainly worked for me !
U shouldnt think about it too much its not a big deal just play what u like dun worry about style or whatever, i use keep thinking i need to stick to a style, but now i just play all kinds of styles in my sets progressive, all genres of trance to banging techno, its more intresting then sticking to on thing.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Breeze U shouldnt think about it too much its not a big deal just play what u like dun worry about style or whatever, i use keep thinking i need to stick to a style, but now i just play all kinds of styles in my sets progressive, all genres of trance to banging techno, its more intresting then sticking to on thing. |
Re: music identity / style as a dj
| quote: |
| Originally posted by JayKuE also, i cant help but notice when everybody goes vinyl shopping, they choose the latest on armin's, tiesto's, pvds playlist. basically tunes that get so overplayed to the commercial status [as commercial as u can get in the trance scene] that really, you as a dj don't bring anything new to the scene. |
It makes no diffrence who played the tunes first,,, a good tune is a good tune.
Its like finding a knack and sticking with it. You should eventually realize that you like certain sounding prog tracks and certain type sounding trance tracks, certain sounding hard trance, etc.
Its up to you, but i dont like completely eleminating genres. For instance, I may play a prog set, but it doesnt mean that i wont play trance or house set later on or on a different hour.
I first started with hard trance back in 2000 time, but for some reason i layed off hard trance, as i found it hard to find good tracks. I was into listening to George Acosta, George Alvarado, DJ Garfield and other local djs from Miami, Florida, and hard trance was pretty big here in South Florida area in around 98-00.
Then, I got introduced to Tiesto, and I found a more uplifting trance appealing. Now, im more into progressive or progressive trance and recently, Ive been interested in house and different genres of House.
Obviously, in a 1hr time period, im not gonna play house with prog and then hardstyle or anything like that. Tempos are different and wont go well. But if I have a 6-8 hr time frame, thats different. You can mix up different genres, even if they are fairly different.
Ill admit though, usually you are dominated by a certain genre... you may mostly play progressive.. or you may mostly play hardstyle. It depends on what you want to offer and what you want your sound to be.
Best way that i look at it, asking yourself 'what type of sound do i feel the most"... what is it that makes you move your head and groove?
Or what is it that takes you to another dimension.
EDIT: Also, one other thing, depends on what crowd you will be playing for. Certain audience will demand a certain sound.
i agree with 24k. However, you have to be more than just an anthem hammerer to get respect and gigs (at least starting out) you have to have your own tracks too.
the thing is, when a song gets huge, everyone plays it, and then people get bored of it, say for example the "cheese songs" of yesterday, ATB - 9pm, or Darude - Sandstorm. Both really catchy tracks if you ask me, but nobody respects them because they starting getting played in the bars and on the radio, and everybody and their dog knew the track.
Then think of other trance classics, maybe not quite so popular, like Rank 1 - airwave, Solar Stone - Seven Cities, Lost Tribe - Gamemaster, Sarah Mclaughlin - Silence, PVD - For an Angel. All of these tracks will still get a HUGE rise out of true trance fans, but only if only used sparingly, you can't just pound them one after another.
Anyway, i've digressed, the original question was:
how did you find your style? and how do you pick your records?
well, my style is trance. I found it from listening to classics such as the ones i listed above, reaching a state of euphoria and loving it, and trying to find more. I'd download sets of PVD, oaky, tijs, ferry etc, get the tracklists and find more tracks. sometimes i'd even buy the CDs, cuz i had limited ability to do so. I also listened to di.fm a lot to find out the names of tracks to get.
I started going to a lot more raves, and got exposed to different styles such as prog, drum and bass, techno, happy hardcore, breakbeat and most of all house. I got to understand, what i liked, (trance, epic uplifting vocal style), what i didn't (drum and bass with annoying MCs, happy hardcore with screechy chipmunks), and what i wanted to learn more about (techno, prog, breakbeat, and house)
then, i knew i needed to DJ "for real" (i had been mixing mp3s on VTT for a year) so i started buying records. the first set of records i got was a triple pack with 6 wicked trance classics:
A Sasha - Xpander
B Da Hool - Meet Her At The Love Parade
C Paul Van Dyk - For An Angel '98
D Three Drives On A Vinyl - Greece 2000
E Kaycee - Escape
F Binary Finary - 1998
I got my decks, and continued buying records as i went. I got a few handed down to me from other DJs, tribal, house, some trance, and got to really enjoy spinning those (probably cuz they were so much easier to mix than my trance tracks)
then i started expanding out, and buying other kinds of stuff, progressive housy stuff that would never find it's way into a ferry corsten set, and would be more appropriate in a max graham set. I started getting compilations like "tranceport/transport" that started out trance, and got proggier and proggier, and my tastes went that way as well.
I also found a great source of music from my own records! sometimes you buy a tune for one mix, and then on the flipside is something you have never heard, and it blows you mind!
for example Red Jerry Vs Westbam - Wizards of the Sonic (Matt Darey mix) i found in an ebay auction, and knew i had to have it (tis quite rare i think). I bought it, and upon flipping it over, i found the dextrous mix, which is kinda garage, and bangs like the screen door in a hurricane! I always play that mix now, even though it's less trancy, it still get's the people dancing, and that's what it's all about right?
Anyway, now i continue buying trance, with a progressive edge, I've gotten really into stuff by Gabriel and Dresden, Andain (as has everyone else on this board), and have been listening to old sasha sets picking out the gems.
I'm also buying funky disco house type stuff, because that is what they play at the local club here, and i am trying to get a crack on the decks. plus i like it, it makes my fiance shake her booty!
but, i'm also still picking up those euphoric trance bangers we all love and know too!
The beautiful thing is, i don't look at this as an "identity crisis" but rather a beautiful opportunity to explore a ton of different kinds of music i had never heard of prior to a few years ago. And the honus is, being a DJ, i get to bring it to other people and hopefully start the cycle for them!
| quote: |
| Originally posted by JohnSmith The beautiful thing is, i don't look at this as an "identity crisis" but rather a beautiful opportunity to explore a ton of different kinds of music i had never heard of prior to a few years ago. And the honus is, being a DJ, i get to bring it to other people and hopefully start the cycle for them! |
yeah, there are always so many tracks you want, but so little money to work with, unfortunately.
THats why getting gigs (at least little house parties here and there) is vital if you do it seriously, at least to support some of your habit. Thats why they have always said, there is no money in djing... unless you do mobile and you do anything and everything. Or of course, the obvious, you get big.. but nowadays studio work mostly moves you ahead.
Re: Re: music identity / style as a dj
| quote: |
| Originally posted by 24K I disagree with this statement. It depends where you're from,,, most people in my city don't have a clue about trance. So you're telling me that when I play tunes that just get released,,, I'm not bringing anything new to the scene in my city? OK It makes no diffrence who played the tunes first,,, a good tune is a good tune. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Breeze U shouldnt think about it too much its not a big deal just play what u like dun worry about style or whatever, i use keep thinking i need to stick to a style, but now i just play all kinds of styles in my sets progressive, all genres of trance to banging techno, its more intresting then sticking to on thing. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Bachatu Its like finding a knack and sticking with it. You should eventually realize that you like certain sounding prog tracks and certain type sounding trance tracks, certain sounding hard trance, etc. |
Throw this whole concept of a style out of the window. Don�t try and conform to a preconceived style you think you should. Just buy the records that YOU like. If you do that, your own style will naturally emerge. 
I agree with the poster above. I would say don't worry to much about finding a style, just buy records you really dig spinning and that IS your sound. Wheather you buy every kind of music or not, that just is your sound, messy or not
I know one think I noticed for myself is that epic trance is definitly what got me into the scene and into DJing but once I starting buying records I was surprised how often I was playing my B-sides. The lesser known remixes or maybe if not lesser known, not the reason I bought the vinyl.
Anyway, I think the important thing is to not worry. Your sound can evolve with your tastes. Although if you are DJing to get big or something and are trying hard to promote yourself and develope a fan base/following then switching "sound" all the times is probably not a great idea. But seriously, I don't think (or at least hope not) that is why you started spinning.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Breeze U shouldnt think about it too much its not a big deal just play what u like dun worry about style or whatever, i use keep thinking i need to stick to a style, but now i just play all kinds of styles in my sets progressive, all genres of trance to banging techno, its more intresting then sticking to on thing. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Spin Doctor Throw this whole concept of a style out of the window. Don�t try and conform to a preconceived style you think you should. Just buy the records that YOU like. If you do that, your own style will naturally emerge. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Spin Doctor Throw this whole concept of a style out of the window. Don�t try and conform to a preconceived style you think you should. Just buy the records that YOU like. If you do that, your own style will naturally emerge. |
Exactly instead of going towords one type of stile creat your own. I dont even pay atention to what genere the stuff i play is in. In my sets iv even mixed some hip-hop and put it in my set its all up to you. Some of the reasons people go towords electronic music is to get away from the norm standerized by society theres no need to put another label on it, just let it be free
say milo - do brazilian women actually look like that lil' sig you got there? 
Hell yea man and the best thing of all is that they dress like that just if you ask em you just gotta be like "hey baby wanna go to the beach " its fuckin sweet
Re: Re: Re: music identity / style as a dj
| quote: |
| Originally posted by JayKuE you're definitely right, however, my reference to the scene which i guess i shuda clarified was more so "overall" to the trance scene in general. for example, within this community. here we have an amateur's dj section where well, obviously amateurs upload their mixes for ppl to dl. if i, [a decently knowledgable, though arguable, TA] see a tracklist with all so many tunes i'm familiar with, no matter how seamless ur mixing is, i wont bother downloading it. why? cause it wont have brought anything new into my life. i guess what i mean by contribution, is more so in regards to innovation and creativity, rather than a replication of a sound that top djs have already established. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Spin Doctor Throw this whole concept of a style out of the window. Don�t try and conform to a preconceived style you think you should. Just buy the records that YOU like. If you do that, your own style will naturally emerge. |
Re: music identity / style as a dj
i recognize myself in the exact same boat 4-5 months ago... I am so sick of trance, ofcourse there is very little quality trance made nowdays, and even then it gets over exposed to the extreme by top jocks like Tij, Ferry and Armin. But if you look at the progressive scene the exactly same thing is happening there... Sasha has become an ass and spins records that are 3 months old. I was in such a panic as to what I was going to spin, as I wanted to have a style that brought something new to the table... or rather the style that was not over exposed to the max like trance and progg have become as of late.. but no matter what if the record is popular everyone will start to spin it eventually... just look at "James Holden - Nothing (93 Returning Mix)" it was hammered to death by every progg jock than Armin and the rest of the trance world decided to kill the record...
anyways what I was trying to get I guess was the search for that style that made me feel good about my self and was fresh and somewhat different from everything else that is really big as of now...
at one point I really got into techno, I still spin some of it, but some of the stuff I just can't listen to it just not fun for me... as a techno jock it's a completely different job as a dj, for the most part you spin on 3 decks sampling from each record and making a new tune, it's innovative but it seems just a tad bit too repetetive to me, that's why I use a moderation of techno in my sets... (even reading an interview with Misstress Barbara she said her self that "I, Carl Cox, Sven Vath and all the other big names in the techno scene had the exact same records in their box, it was just the matter of skill as to how they would all put it together in the set" ...later I got into a lot of house but the harder side of house (no I am not talking about hard house)... and it just came to me one day that I loved the hard variation of house and techno and it just came to me as a realization that I loved tech-house like mad!
After reading up some more info on the DJ's I finally saw that every true DJ never sticks to just one style, you never see yourself playing the exact same stuff 3 years down the road... you always want to inovate and try new things and apparently it's absolutely normal...
hopefully what I wrote here somehow helps you...
the only real thing you can do is try to stay away from all hype filled vinyls and go on a search for the less known tunes, the one site that really helped me was www.juno.co.uk with all the samples I would just sit there for 2-3 hours and listen to every single thing that they had for sale in nearly every section and the stuff I like I wrote down and that out of that whole bunch I picked the records that appealed the most to me...shit I mean you should see the variety of stuff I purchased over the last 5 months or so... it's insane...
maybe whould you should do is take a little break from all of your music completely for a little while like a week and come back and see what happens...
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