i have to say darude.


but in all honestly some people that haven't had a release in years or do nothing in terms of trying to integrate to social media...magda comes to mind ... now maybe its because they have built a reputation with club goers , however to the casual fan we don't really see them on like instagram or twitter so they seem ancient.








they say deejaying is a young mans game, but to me this is a pretty healthy schedule for artist who aren't necesesarily known for their releases or really promoting themselves in an eccentric way..

Honestly, anyone who was touring since at least the late 90's and who continues to tour to this day. Granted, that's nothing compared to rock bands who formed 30+ years ago and who still manage to tour, but bands generally tour off new material with plenty of downtime when they want it, and their shows- while more intensive- span 90 or so minutes. Headliner names like Sasha and Digweed go out there weekend after weekend, to country after country, banging it out hour after hour, and even though they're behind the house system with their custom fit earplugs surrounded by their nice clean monitors, playing out all night on your feet under those conditions sounds downright grueling- and that's just *one* night in one club. I don't know how these old timers keep it going.

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He traded sands for skins, skins for gold, gold for life. In the end, he traded life for sand. Afari, Tales

Pete Tong once called DJing the "ultimate manual labour" because no matter how much you get paid, you have to go and do something physically demanding to collect every paycheck.

To be honest, I don't think DJing is a young man's game, and it hasn't really been since the original land grab of the early rave scene. Even relative "newcomers" are normally in their late 20s or early 30s, because it takes a solid decade of hard work to build a profile. And most of the best DJs are the ones who've been playing for years and years.

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Mixes:
> Maximum Elevation [Progressive House]
> DI.FM 26th Anniversary Guest Mix [Progressive House]
> Live @ Dance:Love:Hub London, 11.10.2025
> Higher Peaks [Progressive House]
> Dance:Love:Hub Afterparty (The Return) 23.11.24

Like these sets? Come see me play live at Kibosh in Manchester: https://www.instagram.com/kibosh.mcr/

I did a studio session with Sharam from Deep Dish and he was basically saying it's completely grueling, and those guys didn't even tour like Sasha and Diggers, or Carl Cox and Danny Rampling etc.

I realized early on that you have to have such an overwhelming passion to stay up late every single weekend, in clubs (often shitty), living out of a suitcase and on planes, eating plane food 80% of the time, and probably spending a few weeks a year in your own bed.

Personally I didn't want the life which is why I suppose is why became an engineer rather than out and out pursuing the DJ life.

All the older guys from the 90's did indeed get in to in their 20'a and 30's (rampling is 56 now and retired, Cox is 55, Sasha is 48, Digweed is 51) but these days it's WAY younger.

Zedd is 28, Martin Garrix is 22, Madeon is 24, Avicii was 27 and all these guys have been around for 8 years plus, making them teens when they hit the big time.

It becuase of the rise of the EDm producer being an instant path to touring (moreso than ever before) and not having to grind away on the club circuit for 10+ years to make a name.

Shit marrix basically had one big tune and rode it all the world to world tours.

Madeon was 16 when Pop Culture went viral and he went on tour by 17.

I think they guys who have been around since the 90's and are still touring have two things;

1, They love it so much they're made for it.

2, They wouldn't know how to do anything else and just keep going both personal reasons, and for financial.

I have to say, I respect Digital Blonde's most recent rant about him being a Road Construction worker and still playing out for the love of it even though it make no sense financially.

A lot of guys form the 90's and 00's tried to get in to other industries.

Oakenfold wanted to become a score composer and while he could have done worse, I think the stark reality of how difficult it is became apparent and I don't think he's working on any score now.

The Trouser Enthusiasts became commercial music composers/library guys and I think are doing OK.

Dave Ralph now lives in Boston where I think he owns a nightclub.

Carl Cox was hospitalized a while back cant remember exact year.

I've done a lot of flying (not Dj related) and I was bloody sick of it, hated the journey to the airport even. Always some bullshit to deal with, delays etc etc

Real troopers anyone who can cope with that weekend after weekend and I am not talking about A list, first class flying DJs I mean guys who are slogging it on easyjet and budget airlines

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1999 Mix series

Rare Vinyls spinning on video If you like that sort of thing

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN Zedd is 28, Martin Garrix is 22, Madeon is 24, Avicii was 27 and all these guys have been around for 8 years plus, making them teens when they hit the big time.

What's the point in comparing circus performers like them to Carl Cox or Sasha? Why not compare the ages of new generation DJs who have remotely similar styles or profiles?

___________________
Mixes:
> Maximum Elevation [Progressive House]
> DI.FM 26th Anniversary Guest Mix [Progressive House]
> Live @ Dance:Love:Hub London, 11.10.2025
> Higher Peaks [Progressive House]
> Dance:Love:Hub Afterparty (The Return) 23.11.24

Like these sets? Come see me play live at Kibosh in Manchester: https://www.instagram.com/kibosh.mcr/

Yeah, most underground DJs that break out are in their early 20s at least. And then most of them will probably quit or fade out within a few years years. The people that reliably tour the underground circuit are almost all 30 or over.

I think a big part of it is that, unless you hire a ghost producer, making an underground club hit requires fairly solid technical skills, which takes years to aquire and you need to compete with people that have been making club bangers for 10 or 20 years. Most 18 year olds just aren't there yet.

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June 2018 mix