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Posted by evil_bastard on Nov-01-2002 06:29:

The principles of trance...

Sorry for the textbook title, but there a few issues have intrigued me about the music we all know and love.

Firstly, an issue of plagiarism. If a DJ became successful, be it on a national or international circuit, should he, in your opinion, contribute to the industry in terms of production if he is to maintain his respect on the circuit (and his wealth)? ie make some tunes of his own. In the UK circuit, for example, there are a number of DJs who I'm sure make a comfortable living playing around the country, yet to my knowledge have never released any productions. I bet every other country has the same. Has anyone any views on this?

Of course, a DJ must mix into and out of each track with precision and innovation, if the crowd are to love him, but if a DJ makes a lucrative career out of spinning only (or too much of) other people's music, do you have any reservations about this? Perhaps the term plagiarism is too harsh, but has anyone got any issues to raise about this subject?

Or do you believe that DJ'ing and production are different arts, and that it is perfectly OK for a DJ to make fame and fortune whilst contributing little or nothing to the production world which other DJs can spin? However, if too many people started doing this, there would be fewer productions and the genre would shrink, no?

For example, some DJs (like Tiesto) almost always include their own productions in their sets, but are there any DJs you feel are leeching? (a harsh term, but I know of no better word to describe it). I mean, there are plenty of cover bands in the pop industry, but they never make much money.

Secondly, does anyone feel that some of the bigger DJs are spinning too many of the same tracks? I sometimes get frustrated when I download sets from PVD/Tiesto etc from the same months and there is an overlap of tunes. Now I tend to download sets from different time periods to try and stop this. There are many tracks this year which have been overplayed to the point of destroying them. Tunes like "4 strings - into the night" for example I used to enjoy, but in the early half of this year every trance DJ under the sun was spinning it and now I'm sick of it. "Ralphie B - Massive" is an old tune, and was very good, but it seems that about one in five trance sets (from the big DJs) in the last year contain this track. Isn't this kind of like going on a 'journey' where you keep on going to the same bloody places, or like lots of artists painting the same picture?

I'm nowhere near as knowledgable on the subject as some of you, which is why I'd like to hear some views on this. Is there anything in the industry regarding authenticity and innovation which gets up your nose?

Cheers for your time

Posted by DJDigDug on Nov-01-2002 06:38:

Well first of all this whole thing is kinda silly a "DJ" spins a 'producer' produces heh so in a way a DJ must spin and even if they dont blaze out there own trax i still have loads of respect im just like barely stepping in the water of DJing getting my first vinyls and equipment in and im worshoping just in house club DJs now lolz.
But simultaneously my buddy / partner in all of it is gettin in his roland so we will be practicing producing as well because i have to agree making your living off others is not exactly the greatest. Id much rather see people like oakenfold who dont usually mix all that well but produce like no other In all i agree if your a mega DJ you need to learn to produce even if you make shit at least your attempting

Posted by evil_bastard on Nov-01-2002 06:57:

I'm not suggesting DJ's "blaze out their own trax", just that some DJ's seem to make what they spin, and others seem to rely on a lot of high profile productions from other DJ's (mentioning no names).

Posted by Avro on Nov-01-2002 12:18:

well I'll give it a shot

this may sound lame, but being a DJ is like any other business. If a bar can make money selling other peoples beer, than a DJ should be able to sell other peoples music. after all he did spend a fortune on that music.

but way aside from that, if I go to a party or club, to see a live set by an artist, chances are that artist has only a couple good tracks, and the rest is not usually that good. A dj plays all the artists best tracks, and creates a constant flow for everyones musical enjoyment. Its an art in itself, but perhaps not the same art as production.

I personally love it when a DJ throws in his own music, its great that way. but for the people, all they want is good music. I love seeing a great artist do a DJ set, not a live set. thats just my personal perference.

""Secondly, does anyone feel that some of the bigger DJs are spinning too many of the same tracks""

Yes I hate this, and thats why I stay away from bigger DJs. cause usually by the time they get big they have sold out, and play commercial stuff that eveyone else plays. then small DJs who dont their own creativity play that stuff also. 4 strings and ralphie b are perfect examples of this. I guess its cause its rare enough for a good quality track to come out, so when one does, everyone jumps all over it.