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Spot on JOOF!

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

I�m a DJ first.....


The subjects of my blogs get dictated by what�s on my mind, or gets trigged by something I�ve read or been asked in a club or interview. A regular question I get asked, is why I don�t play some of my productions in my DJ sets when I play out? I�m from the original breed of DJ�s, the days when DJ�s were DJ�s. With any job, the best way to learn your skill is to work from the bottom up, this way you get a true understanding of what�s involved with the job. �Back in the day� I used to play the whole night at a club, starting from when the doors opened until the end. Playing this way gave me a true understanding of how an evening works. It�s a skill in itself transforming an empty dance floor into a full one. You have to open the room correctly, keep the volume lower and play the right music until you get that magic feeling when to get the people on to the dance floor, this is by far one of the most skilful things a DJ needs to learn. This is only the start of it, you need to keep those people on the dance floor and keep them interested throughout the evening. Often this involves going through a whole range of music to try and create a musical story. Take them deep, and then suddenly take an euphoric moment that will blow the crowd away. We often have a fun moment, by playing a few oldies that everyone will reminisce too. But like anything, give them too much of something for a sustained period and they will soon tire of it, the initial impact has worn off.

So this takes me back to the original question, why don�t I play my own music? As I�ve now explained, I�m a DJ first and my DJ head gets into work mode when I arrive at a gig. In today�s �DJ� world all DJ�s pretty much bang things out for 2-hours at the same level of intensity, because most of them aren�t true DJ�s, they have created a fan base due to productions and been thrown into the DJ circuit. So instead of me banging it out for another 2-hours and losing the crowds interest, I get a feel of the dance floor by watching the crowd, my DJ instincts tell me exactly where to go musically. This is when I see my CD wallet as tools to create the correct vibe on the dancefloor, maybe to calm things down, before I start to create my journey (This is most cases!). Unfortunately a 90 min set often doesn�t give me enough time to allow me to get to a place in my set to play my own stuff, as the first 30 mins is taken up taking control of the dance floor again. I know exactly where to place my own productions but often don�t get time to reach there. It�s not that I don�t ever play my own tracks, most of you know I often play the odd one, or road test new ones. I also don�t want to blatantly self promote myself at clubs or on my radio show. I want to express myself musically and show my skill as a DJ using my music as tools thus creating a magical experience on the dance floor.

Being honest I haven�t 100% played what I truly wanted the past few years. Changing times of the scene heading more commercial have made it difficult for me to do my job properly. I LOVE starting my sets with deep and dark twisted progressive music, this is where my heart is really at. But if I did that at most of the gigs I play, especially playing after some Euro Trance DJ�s I�d end up clearing the dance floor. So I go back into DJ mode and use the correct tools to keep the dance floor busy. I�m starting to prefer playing at clubs, especially when I can play longer sets such as my recent visit to 1015 in San Francisco. I had a pro DJ open up for me and then played for 4 hours�you have no idea how great it feels digging deep in to those tracks I really love. I�d much rather have heads down on a dance floor than hands in the air, too me this is a better vibe and more rewarding to me as a DJ as I know my passion is shared. This is part of the reason why I�m starting my own JOOF nights (next year) and agreed to take on a residency, this enables me to do the job in hand and also bring new talent along with me. Exciting times ahead J

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Last word:

Loads of people know my views on the DJ mag poll, especially after my rants of the past few years, so you are asking my view on it this year. Well go back and read my original blogs from 4 years ago and I pretty much predicted what would happen. It�s now become a great filter system slowly squeezing out the serious specialist DJ�s, so it�s a chart of the commercial marketed DJ�s. If you want some commercial music, then go and see one of the guys in the chart and have some fun. If you want some more serious stuff, then go hunting and find the specialist guys. No one is better, it�s your call what music you like, things got easier because you have a chart to find the most popular on.

What gets on my goat is that I KNOW what goes on in this industry, after all I know how it works after being in it 25 years. I hate trophy holders blasting thanks emails saying �thanks for all who voted for me this year�, when in fact they (and marketing guys) voted for themselves??! Unless you�re one of the big guns, the only way to get in that chart is to fix it for yourself. Harsh words I know, but it�s the truth. If anyone wants to confront me with this then lets set up a lie detector test before we start. There�s a predictable pattern of DJ agencies and their DJ roster in regular placing each year, doesn�t take much to work out how this happens.

I promised no more rants, so I stop there. No it�s not sour grapes before I get attacked by forum bashers. I don�t want commercial gigs, I don�t want to be a super star DJ, so the chart has no purpose for me.

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That�s it for me this month, keep an eye open for my new: compilation for Iboga, new single �JAWA� (parts 1 & 2) and also new John 00 Fleming & The Digital Blonde EP �Sunburn�.

See you again soon!

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^ JOOF explains it very well in this blog. I have much respect for truly passionate dj's like him. What are some of your guy's thoughts?

From Bobina's newsletter (don't ask me how or why I'm getting it, I never bloody subscribed or had even heard of the bloke):

quote:

The T-100 rumour mill had been turning for almost a week� It wasn�t until last Wednesday night (the 28th of October) at the Ministry of Sound in London that the jungle drums stopped beating and it was all made official. Bobina has sensationally broken into the Top 20 of the world�s biggest DJs, landing at No.16 on DJ Magazine's chart. The people, as they say, have spoken! Whether you are inside the Federation or out, the simple fact is he couldn�t have done it without you. We know that the voting form is precious (you only get five boxes with which to sum up your clubbing & musical year!), so if you put Bobina�s name in one of you, well, he simply can�t thank you enough! The coming 12 months are going to be another pedal-to-the-metal year for Dmitry � one that will see the release of his new artist album and provide any number of floor-rocking performances. Wherever you are in the world, he�s looking forward to seeing you very soon indeed!

quote:

Originally posted by thunderdownundr From Bobina's newsletter (don't ask me how or why I'm getting it, I never bloody subscribed or had even heard of the bloke):

Bobina sure knows how to market himself because his music has never been popular as far as i know

quote:

Originally posted by thunderdownundr From Bobina's newsletter (don't ask me how or why I'm getting it, I never bloody subscribed or had even heard of the bloke):

Russia is very strange country.

Anyway I think JOOF got a point there. My thought are pretty similar.

passionate dj's like j00f are what keep me still interested in trance, and make me still have hope their are truly people who love what they do. as we all know most big name dj's lose that passion, when marketing becomes involved. nice post gomita.

Sucks to be you if you can't figure out how to play the right parties.

how can i spit on him again?

quote:

Originally posted by Clovis Sucks to be you if you can't figure out how to play the right parties.

you have obviously got some issues mate, so fuck off and deal with them, stop bitching

quote:

Originally posted by Clovis Sucks to be you if you can't figure out how to play the right parties.

Sucks to be you if you make comments on a scene you obviously have no fucking clue about.

oooooooooohhh.. fight fight fight

Re: Spot on JOOF!

quote:

Originally posted by costizzle I�m from the original breed of DJ�s...

Erm, no you are not.

Re: Re: Spot on JOOF!

quote:

Originally posted by woscar Erm, no you are not.

You want to back that point up? J00F has been DJing since the mid 80's, if that doesn't count as being amongst the first than I don't know what does.

I hate it when djs try to go out and change the world since more often than not they sound like complete toolbags. This being no exception.

quote:

Originally posted by Demoted I hate it when djs try to go out and change the world since more often than not they sound like complete toolbags. This being no exception.

I hate it when knobheads like you have not got a clue when it comes to this music industry, J00F has been in this for 25 years, that alone shows he knows what he's talking about mate

Wanna bitch some more? Fuck off go to a different forum mate

Re: Re: Re: Spot on JOOF!

quote:

Originally posted by SPANIARD You want to back that point up? J00F has been DJing since the mid 80's, if that doesn't count as being amongst the first than I don't know what does.

Try mid-70s: David Mancuso, Francis Grasso, Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash. You know, the guys who actually invented modern DJing as we know it.

I'm glad to hear J00F come out with this, because I had exactly the situation he described when I went to see him: Euro-trance prats banging out two hour sets with no respect to the structure of the night or who is following them. It's obviously not his fault, it's the promoters and the current demands of the trance scene that have made a mockery out of good trance nights.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Spot on JOOF!

quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J Try mid-70s: David Mancuso, Francis Grasso, Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash. You know, the guys who actually invented modern DJing as we know it. I'm glad to hear J00F come out with this, because I had exactly the situation he described when I went to see him: Euro-trance prats banging out two hour sets with no respect to the structure of the night or who is following them. It's obviously not his fault, it's the promoters and the current demands of the trance scene that have made a mockery out of good trance nights.

Your right i was there mate, they had no respect or knowledge at all

Re: Re: Re: Spot on JOOF!

quote:

Originally posted by SPANIARD You want to back that point up? J00F has been DJing since the mid 80's, if that doesn't count as being amongst the first than I don't know what does.

He has been in the game for a long time but he certainly was not amongst the "original breed" of DJs. Guys like Frankie Knuckles, Larry Levan, Francis Grasso, Nicky Siano and many others were busy pioneering the art long before Mr. Fleming.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Spot on JOOF!

quote:

Originally posted by woscar He has been in the game for a long time but he certainly was not amongst the "original breed" of DJs. Guys like Frankie Knuckles, Larry Levan, Francis Grasso, Nicky Siano and many others were busy pioneering the art long before Mr. Fleming.

I think we are being a bit pedantic here.

He's just saying that he is from a generation of DJs that had a different approach to djing than the people who are in the game today. I doubt he was trying to suck his own dick or anything.

People seem to scrutinise every word that famous people say!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Spot on JOOF!

quote:

Originally posted by woscar He has been in the game for a long time but he certainly was not amongst the "original breed" of DJs. Guys like Frankie Knuckles, Larry Levan, Francis Grasso, Nicky Siano and many others were busy pioneering the art long before Mr. Fleming.

He plays a style that is literally a polar opposite to what those guys played.

Literally polar opposite. Music that is, quite literally, opposed in its polarity to classic disco and house.

quote:

Originally posted by sam111 I hate it when knobheads like you have not got a clue when it comes to this music industry, J00F has been in this for 25 years, that alone shows he knows what he's talking about mate Wanna bitch some more? Fuck off go to a different forum mate

From what I understand, playing records for people to dance to is such serious fucking business.

Life's so harrrrd.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Spot on JOOF!

quote:

Originally posted by woscar

You sly dog.

quote:

Originally posted by Demoted From what I understand, playing records for people to dance to is such serious fucking business. Life's so harrrrd.

Yeh it is and if you have no respect for people in this music industry for what they believe and are passionate about then why the hell are you on a dance music forum bitching??? All you do mate is bitch??

You have personal issues you need to deal with, you are bitter about summit
I'd love to meet ya then you'd have summit to complain about

Summit sounds like some AA or rehab.

Shit's a bitch.

and you sir seem quite volatile and angry, is there a reason for that? You obviously have no clue how to handle the internet, stop taking everything so fucking personally, other people's opinions should not be this grating for you, especially people you don't even know.

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