Thanks, guys. There's a lot of good feedback here that will help re-orient my thinking about track selection.

I admit that I feel like I want to be the first to get a hold of new music--new music which I like--and be playing it before it's all over the place in order to feel like, "Wow, I called that one. I knew this was going to be big."

I agree that it's counter-dj to just pick tracks that are big (i.e., played by big name DJs) or which you think will be big and play them because you think they'll be big, not because you like them. I feel like this is what goes down on Pete Tong's In New Music We Trust: playing not what he likes but what he reckons will be big.

On the other hand, what is the definition of a track "being big" except that a lot of people like it. If I like, as a DJ, a track which is also liked by tons of EDM enthusiasts, there's no reason to not play it; and to not play it because it's big, though I like it, is rather silly. That is the other extreme of playing something just because it's big and that extreme is not playing something just because it's big. This seems to be the thinking employed by Domesticated because choosing songs that nobody knows about is still choosing based on popularity.

I think the above comments have been helpful in re-orienting my thinking, though I don't think I have fallen into either extreme, but can't deny the ever-pull towards the first extreme of just playing what's popular whether I like it or not (which is silly at the end of the day and I shouldn't be a DJ if this is my operating principle).

Moreover, I like Whippenberg's Chakalaka and to not play it now because it's gaining massive support and becoming overplayed is entering into this last extreme. What happened to the advice of to just play what I like? Does this also extend to instances in which the track which I like is also becoming overplayed? In part, this thread is a lament directed towards the fact that Chakalaka is currently unreachable except by the big name DJs so that by the time it is released it is overplayed. Would that unknown DJs were able to give tracks like this a chance from day one and decide whether to play it or see if they like it or not before it's overplayed. That is my lament. (I do understand the reasoning behind passing a promo to Armin instead of me. I just don't like it.)

Further, to simply ignore Chakalaka because it's done by an "overplayed" producer while it's gaining in popularity amongst music enthusiasts seems rather foolish. But what I'm gathering here is that the DJ's choice of music should be mostly informed by his taste, not the vox populi. Is that a fair characterization?

I do play what I like. For example, I'm really digging "Alex Gold - Give It Up/Reaction (Adam K, Soha & Alex Gold Remix)" and have been playing it and including it in my mixes, but I've not seen it in any of sets nonetheless by big name DJs. I just like it and play it and can't believe it's not bigger (maybe it is, but not that I've seen). This is a track I jumped on when it first promo-ed and have been loving it since but it hasn't gone big or become overplayed. Does it make my wonder why more haven't been playing it while I have been? Yeh, it does. Because that would seem to provide confirmation of my selection. But, at the end of the day as everyone above seems to be pointing out, musical selection needs no confirmation.

Thanks guys! This is turning out to be a very helpful discussion.

Maybe to get closer to the answers I was looking for I should pose the following question instead of the one in the name of this thread:

How do you find music you like on your own apart from other DJs?

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Last edited by Eleazar on Sep-21-2008 at 13:11

quote:

Originally posted by Eleazar How do you find music you like on your own apart from other DJs?

i sometimes randomly here a track i like on di.fm and look it up
i sometimes look up tracklists of djs i like
but i normally just spend hours listening to music on audiojelly / trackitdown.net.

To be honest though i never look at the release dates of tracks i buy most of the stuff i get is probably older.

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quote:

Originally posted by palm just stay out of the charts, shouldnt be too dificult when the charts realy suck balls.

Lol, so true!

quote:

Originally posted by Eleazar How do you find music you like on your own apart from other DJs?

Effort.

And it doesn't even feel like effort because all I'm really doing is finding music I like.

Honestly, how fucking hard is that to figure out for yourself?

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It is not always necessarily about finding tracks no one else has touched. Sets sometimes need a track or 2 that the listener can relate to or point out, some people get satisfaction at being able to pick a track out (trainspotting). I think the key is how your tracks flow and interact with each other. It is about framing those more known tracks with a few that are good that might have slipped under the radar to create a sound , vibe, and feeling that portrays what you want to show as your style. Effort, effort, effort, and lots of practice.

20 dj's can play the same record different ways and make them sound different. To do this though you need to find complimentary music...ie set up those big bombs with nice filler, dj tools, accapellas.

You should never try to sound obscure for the sake of trying to be different. Balance is key.

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quote:

Originally posted by elFreak It is not always necessarily about finding tracks no one else has touched. Sets sometimes need a track or 2 that the listener can relate to or point out, some people get satisfaction at being able to pick a track out (trainspotting). I think the key is how your tracks flow and interact with each other. It is about framing those more known tracks with a few that are good that might have slipped under the radar to create a sound , vibe, and feeling that portrays what you want to show as your style. Effort, effort, effort, and lots of practice. 20 dj's can play the same record different ways and make them sound different. To do this though you need to find complimentary music...ie set up those big bombs with nice filler, dj tools, accapellas. You should never try to sound obscure for the sake of trying to be different. Balance is key.

winning post

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quote:

Originally posted by chinamon not true. i say "ugh" but i am a tranny.

quote:

Originally posted by kotsy lol colour me retarded

quote:

Originally posted by elFreak It is not always necessarily about finding tracks no one else has touched. Sets sometimes need a track or 2 that the listener can relate to or point out, some people get satisfaction at being able to pick a track out (trainspotting). I think the key is how your tracks flow and interact with each other. It is about framing those more known tracks with a few that are good that might have slipped under the radar to create a sound , vibe, and feeling that portrays what you want to show as your style. Effort, effort, effort, and lots of practice. 20 dj's can play the same record different ways and make them sound different. To do this though you need to find complimentary music...ie set up those big bombs with nice filler, dj tools, accapellas. You should never try to sound obscure for the sake of trying to be different. Balance is key.

True

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I Trance You!

Just another thought.

There's way too much good music out there, and even releases by well known producers don't get picked up by a lot of DJs.

Crate digging should be one of the most fun thing you do as a DJ. Nothing like finding that hidden gem that rock the dance floor.

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quote:

Originally posted by chinamon not true. i say "ugh" but i am a tranny.

quote:

Originally posted by kotsy lol colour me retarded

quote:

Originally posted by Yohan Crate digging should be one of the most fun thing you do as a DJ.

What does digital crate digging look like for you? I got things I do but there's got to be better ways.

___________________
trip the light fantastic
"I cannot rest from travel; I will drink Life to the lees."

quote:

Originally posted by Eleazar What does digital crate digging look like for you? I got things I do but there's got to be better ways.

Are you really asking these questions?

Fucks sake, just look for music for more than five minutes - that's all you have to do.

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last minute disco dot net

set aside 1 hour a day to preview and hunt.

at the end of the month i can guarantee you will have tons of new fresh music.

do not look at charts and top 100. Only buy the stuff that speaks to you. There is no better way. You only get what you put in in this game.

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Le Freak - A.D.D & Chimichurri [Techno/Tech House/Music to put on burritos.]*click bitches*

find artists you like, find out what labels they are on. research said labels, you'll find a shitload. good luck.

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