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As a long time member of this forum there’s no better time that to pop in here and put my side across.
I have to agree I must come across as a moaning old fart. But that’s not the case at all. I’m just passionate about what I do and the scene I’m involved with. You have to remember I grew up in a scene that was music orientated, the attraction was to experience a new DJ offering new music. This biggest tracks of the nights where the brand new ‘hot off the press’ promos that where spun that evening. DJ’s used to be DJ’s using the music as tools to build the night, we actually had to work hard to keep the dance floor interesting. Importantly the promoter was the man who programmed the events perfectly. People trusted that promoter week in and week out. If he advertised a new DJ was playing prime time, we trusted him and filled the club to see that guy.
Today things are totally different there’s a generation of clubbers grown up thinking that a DJ is a chap who is supposed to play anthem after anthem with a huge amount of pyrotechnics and lighting production.
The past decade has seen huge changes. Instead of DJ’s and producers being creative and innovative in the studio, career’s are born from internet marketing. IT people have become the new DJ’s! This is where I have the problem. Most music specialist I know (inc me) have no care for fame or glory. We don’t want num 1 charting tracks. Don’t want self-glorification. Don’t want to shout about how we ‘rocked’ thousands of people. Music comes first to us. That’s all we care about. Unfortunately in today’s climate, these humble people now get overlooked by promoters, punters because they haven’t got a clever IT person getting them 1000’s of friends on Facebook or appearing on Google searches. It saddens me that we have lost a whole bunch of DJ’s and producers due to this. They have given up. This is what upsets me and I suppose sparks my rants. We lost some of the best producers ever.
Most of you don’t know half the story of the way this industry works, the Pop world style management is at work, yet again pushing others out of the way in order to support their own.
I’m actually doing something about this now. I’ve started my own branded nights ‘JOOF Editions’ that many of you have already experienced. This allows me to do my own thing musically. So I’m taking action instead of many words in the past. I’m currently involved in a HUGE project supporting specialist producers and DJ’s that will be launched soon. Everything is music orientated, so it’s very exciting times.
Blogs, post and words can get very twisted around on forums. So to clear things up..
1) Purist?
No I’m not a purist and hate anything commercial (I’m close friends with Armin, A&B and never say anything bad against them). All I’m trying to do is help unlock the way promoters and some clubbers look at the scene and show there is another fruitful way. Often commercial Trance can be an easy gateway to get people into EDM, once in they may eventually discover me! Things shouldn’t be so separated. No reason why one week you should enjoy Armin dance your socks of to some anthems, then the following week have a heads down night being battered by some dark techno. That’s what the scene used to be about, then people chat about it after and share experiences. Forums seem to create bad vibes on discussions like this today ☹
2) Producers & DJs
Phew here we go again! Producers and DJ’s are a team. We need each other and that will always be the case. No one can hide the fact that if a guy that has been sitting in a studio all his life is presented with DJing at a club he will have no idea what to do.
Things used to work when producers came into clubs playing ‘live sets’. There is no better feeling watching a true music geek twiddling on keyboards, and FX. The crowd on the dancefloor will be in a different mind set knowing they are watching a live set, in the same way when you’re at a concert to see a band. After all you’re hearing all his tunes you love, and seeing him perform live (he plays them anyway in a DJ set anyway!). Once finished the DJ takes over. This format worked perfectly for years. I think today’s producers should take this approach I know for sure it’s more fun for them. This also lets more real DJ’s onto the circuit.
** In the same way Anton Chernikov performed a live set for me in Brighton**
3) Vinyl – Digital debate
No I’m not taking Pioneer’s side due to me being involved with product development. It’s a simple answer. Carrying around 60 KG of vinyl across the World is no fun. Costs a fortune in excess luggage. On tight flight transfers creates go missing. I’d have to wait weeks to get a track from a producer and have it pressed on vinyl.
Today I turn up at a club with a USB stick and headphones, then play a track a producer has just emailed to me from the other side of the world on the same night.
CD players didn’t kill vinyl, times changes.
4) System J makes a good point. Why do I allow myself to play alongside others that don’t suit me? With lack of specialist clubs in certain territories do I let my fans down and not play in their city at all, or make the effort and do this for them? My fans come first, even if this means I’m out of my comfort zone. When I see their faces enjoying themselves on the dancefloor, I know I’ve made the right decision.
5) didn’t have time to spell check or grammar (both my weakneses!)
6) Oh and I like cake!
I hope you see it’s not ranting, just love for what I do. I also appreciate the huge amount of support from this very forum ☺
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