Well it's another year over and last year saw me looking to quit following but a swift come back.

Well, I realised DJing is all I know Well all that I'm interested in.

2007 looks to be an interesting year for me, as my DJ career is slowly getting back on track and it sees me get signed to a record label so some Nem tracks are going to be out there (I know, shameless promotion).

But 2006 makes me look at variety of things. The scary thing is that you have a new breed of DJ. The one who has never known vinyl and even looks down on CD (Not all I do declare). I have been witness to this on a couple of forums and indeed one or two club nights.

The live performances with Ableton that I bore witness to have left me cold and unmoved and this was even before I knew the guys were playing on a laptop.
The only laptop performance I saw last year that really rocked was PvD in Ibiza, but then you have to expect that from him.

Something that strikes as a major difference is what your entry point was in DJing.
In my experience at least, the guys who have been on vinyl then CDJs will have a different outlook to the capabilities of Ableton et al, as they have learnt to deal with the restrictions of each format before that and probably wished that some features were available to them.
The majority of laptop entry level DJs (that I have witnessed) are still strugling with the basics of DJing such as track selection and when to mix.
The myth that Ableton will make you sound like an experienced DJ is just that, a myth.

It still hasn't convinced me to pick it up as it is too dull for me, but I do have to admit that I respect anyone who can use it well.

So what of the rest of us?

Well, for a start the music industry is changing. There are so many producers out there now it's scary as music creation software becomes more accessable. Remember if you are creating music, then try and put your mark i.e. personal touch on your music rather than just trying to sound like your favourite artist.

DJing and production are art, so make it your art.

And for anyone who DJs but does not produce music, or at least tried then I would recomend that this is one of the things you try this year as it will change the way you DJ and make your better at it, I guarantee it.

Sure, we know how to EQ a mix but it's not until you have managed to do a good mixdown on a production that you really understand it. What I'm saying is this... Producing tracks will take your understanding of sound and how it works to new heights and they can for the most part be applied to your DJing in some form or other.

It does also change the way you listen to music but don't be sucked into the habit of judging a track purely on it's production values. Remember that clubbers often wont know the difference and given that a lot of soundsystem can be quite relentless there is a good chance that you wont hear it either.

So what if this year?
Well, if nothing else, learn something new.

If you are a bedroom DJ, make that special effort to try and land you that first gig. It doesn't matter how big or small but put yourself on the map and stake your claim!.

Learn the tools of your trade well, and then make a point of letting everyone else around you know it too.

Whatever format you use I wish you all the success in the world and that 2007 is a good your for you.

All the best
Karl (That's Nem's real name you know )

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https://www.mixcloud.com/Calvin_Karass/