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DJ - deeper & wider understanding of what he really Is - storm of questions

Nathan
IsraTrance Senior Member

Started Topics :  301
Posts :  3605
Posted : Apr 12, 2006 01:01
Ok so what is really a DJ 4 You? Why ppl want to be one? Fame?
What is really his job? What do you expect from him to be?
Have you ever found yourself standing in a party and saying: "this dj is bad. I cant dance..."
why?
or "This dj is special - unique.
why?
IS there a way to be special? To express himself in his way?
or am I just exaggerating.
What makes party organizers book dj over artist if he must choose between the 2?
PS. I'm not talking about music creation.




          -=The Meaning Of Life Is To Give Life A Meaning=
Soth_MfK
IsraTrance Junior Member

Started Topics :  19
Posts :  261
Posted : Apr 13, 2006 12:12
For me, a DJ is the guy which keeps the people on the dancefloor all the time. A Good DJ is a DJ which makes people think "ohh, i gotta go peeing, but the music is so good now, i can't go."

The main difference between a DJ and an Artist is that DJs usually don't produce their own music - at least thats how i think. The problem with artists (or, to be specific) livesets is, that actually a LOT more can go wrong, and usually the basis of the set is preproduced, meaning that the artists makes a mix before and plays it to the audience, then adds more elements into it live ... like playing on the synth, using Ableton Live or such things. and if the audience doesn't like the Liveacts sound (the basis) he's in a bad situation. Maybe still one hour to play, and lots of empty faces. On the other hand, DJs can (the emphasis is on "can" ) be much more versatile - if the audience doesn't like his set, he can change his set during playing.

My opinion
DropOut


Started Topics :  8
Posts :  673
Posted : Apr 13, 2006 19:48
Djs job is to make people dance continously non-stop. imo a dj experiments alot more than an artist.

What makes a killer dj?
Ability to make people dance with a combination of 'killer' music and 'killer' vibes
Nathan
IsraTrance Senior Member

Started Topics :  301
Posts :  3605
Posted : Apr 14, 2006 00:49
Quote:

On 2006-04-13 12:12, Soth_MfK wrote:
DJ which makes people think "ohh, i gotta go peeing, but the music is so good now, i can't go."






When you forget all about your physical needs, that's a true sign for a good set.           -=The Meaning Of Life Is To Give Life A Meaning=
Basilisk
IsraTrance Full Member

Started Topics :  168
Posts :  2984
Posted : Apr 14, 2006 00:52
A good DJ has substantial technical abilities, knows how to read a crowd and respond accordingly, isn't afraid to play music that is old as well as totally fresh, and has the ability to play a style for any contextual setting. A great DJ practises the art of storytelling through trance music, explores the nature of technoshamanism, and develops a deeper knowledge of the cultural and sociological background of the psychedelic movement to better their ability to craft higher-level experiences.

It is enough to rock the party - and with all the quality music out there, this is easy enough to accomplish - but I feel it is worth trying to aim higher and manifest the conditions for truly powerful trance-dance experiences. Lofty ambitions, I recognize, but why put all this time into it if you're not pushing yourself as far as you can go?
floatyhippyflower


Started Topics :  5
Posts :  538
Posted : Apr 14, 2006 03:36
Decent dancefloor DJ's take you on the sonic journey. Build you up, bring you back down, allow you to engage with the music and your surroundings. Almost like painting an environmental picture or telling a story...you want to know what happens next...dancefloor albums if you like. That being the case as I see it, I do wish that there wasn't so much emphasis on single tracks - mixed or otherwise - and more on the set as a whole but that's just a personal preference.

In saying that I have never seen my favourite DJ play live as yet. He's a radio dude who just happens to have very similar tastes to me, and I listen to his show purely because I know I'll hear tracks I'm going to love, both old/known and new/unknown. I've discovered a lot of new music because of him and I have come to respect his judgement/recommendations as a result.

*Karma Cola*
IsraTrance Full Member

Started Topics :  113
Posts :  2314
Posted : Apr 14, 2006 10:54
First and foremost..

I appreciate any dj who has put a little bit of thought behind his music selection.
I try and understand whether he has something to *say*. And that happens thru his selection and his mixing. If he can mix a certain track which is a perfect match into the earlier one, this is of great importance to me.
The music should have a story behind it.. a journey if possible.. a goal behind the music.

If a dj can do that its more than enough for me, be it whatever genre he plays.

Sadly, this happens very rarely . Last time i had such a experience was at the Voice of Cod party. Good, intelligent expressions.



Needless to say all this is very subjective. Bue hey, thats psychedelia for you .
          ~*** You can tell By the way i use my walk, Im a woman's man, No time to Talk***~
lokus
IsraTrance Junior Member

Started Topics :  12
Posts :  684
Posted : Apr 14, 2006 12:26
Quote:

On 2006-04-14 10:54, *Karma Cola* wrote:
First and foremost..

I appreciate any dj who has put a little bit of thought behind his music selection.
I try and understand whether he has something to *say*. And that happens thru his selection and his mixing. If he can mix a certain track which is a perfect match into the earlier one, this is of great importance to me.
The music should have a story behind it.. a journey if possible.. a goal behind the music.

If a dj can do that its more than enough for me, be it whatever genre he plays.

Sadly, this happens very rarely


hear hear!!!
i think excactly the same
          - last possible solution
- trick music
- ambivalent records
myspace.com/lokuz

ps: y trance?
Krell
IsraTrance Junior Member

Started Topics :  33
Posts :  1114
Posted : Apr 14, 2006 13:26
Quote:

On 2006-04-12 01:01, Nathan wrote:
Ok so what is really a DJ 4 You?



What a DJ is depends on within which scene he is a DJ. For instance, a "mainstream radio DJ" is a very different creature as compared to a "mainstream trance DJ".
Following that spirit, a DJ is defined by the subculture in which he is a DJ; also to remember, people get imprinted on to them what a DJ is by whatever subculture they are primarily a part of, therefore they might always adapt a view on what a DJ is when they are not 100% aware of that they have to leave old baggage behind when they vendor into a new subculture.

Quote:

On 2006-04-12 01:01, Nathan wrote:
Why ppl want to be one?



Im sure there are different reasons, first when I started out DJing around 1995 I wanted to be one because there were no goa parties at all in my area. We had to make our own, because we simply loved the music and Techno/Dance/House parties just didnt satisfy our needs.
Out of this grew the need to have DJs, and since we didnt really know any, and me + a friend were basicly the first to start a "goa culture/tribe" in our area at the time we had to DJ.
That being said, I was 15/16 years old, and djing in front of a crowd did have some appeal to me

Quote:

On 2006-04-12 01:01, Nathan wrote:
Fame?



Sure, why not ? Most DJs have a very strong ego. I think, fame can be split into several things... I for one do NOT like to be on stage and the center of attention... Im actually a shy fellow, only way I can enjoy my dj set is when I can concentrate 100% on it, so it becomes a matter of performance and perfectionism (djing as good as I can with what I have to offer).
However, I do like some of the respect that goes along with it. It does boost my ego when someone tells me I have been doing a really good job, as long as they tell me when Im done with my set, since I dont like to be interupted in the middle of it.

One thing to note here is, Im sure different DJs have different ideas about what kind of fame they like - I personally do not stand and wave my hands in the air or interact much with the crowd like that - But, I actually see that as one of my weaker points as a DJ - Being shy means that you communicate less with people, and you miss out on a bit of fun....
I remember a set I played, and I thought to myself "This track really rocks, Im gonna try looking at some of the people dancing, their eyes" (I like it when people dance with their eyes shut) - So I looked, and people started screaming at me, which made me retreat to my own little MIXER and CD PLAYER world again

Quote:

On 2006-04-12 01:01, Nathan wrote:
What is really his job?



Now, this depends on the scene in which he DJs. Of course, we are talking "Psytrance DJing" here. To understand a psy djs job I think we should first look at the experience created by the music and the philosophy behind it.

We have ideas/themes about

- Expansion of mind and consciousness.
- Increased awareness of body, soul, intellect and the universe.
- Ancient tribal rituals and forgotten life.
- Manipulation of trance & dream states.
- Essential psychedelic experiences, going to new places in your mind.
- The trip inside your mind, the dream, voyage, feeling of space and time passing by.
- The body; Zerotonine Rush(Runners High), Body Trance.
- Memory of the human mind vs feelings. For instance, old tracks instill deep emotional responses since they convey flashback sensations inside the set... By music you can access earlier periods in peoples lives; playing with their emotions.
- Openness towards each other, compassion and spiritual moments.

The list goes on. Its all values which are important, for some more than for others.

Now - to me, a Psy DJs job is to know these values and how he can affect them inside his DJ set but also as a person image wise.
I think, as a Psy DJ you need to be a philosopher as well - You need to identify with and understand the values of the scene, and always relate them to your musical presentation.
This task is never ending, because it is so infinitely complex. It comes down to understanding how to manipulate human consciousness over many hours using different kinds of music, it doesnt even matter if its trance or chillout - The ideas behind are the same.

Mixing technique, Track Selection & flow are the concrete results of the above. In regards to "image" I think its important the DJ isnt sniffing cocaine in front of the audience, or whatever. I think a good psy dj is aware of the fact that he is a role model, especially to the younger people.


Quote:

On 2006-04-12 01:01, Nathan wrote:
What do you expect from him to be?



I dont expect all of the above to be fullfilled - but I expect a good psy dj is on a path of enlightenment.
For me, its not important if the dj does it for himself or others - not at all. But, its important for me he understands the values I mentioned, and is working toward becoming a better psy DJ according to my own vision.

Quote:

On 2006-04-12 01:01, Nathan wrote:
Have you ever found yourself standing in a party and saying: "this dj is bad. I cant dance..."
why?



Most of the time yes. Thats the drawback of Djing yourself, you become a lot more demanding. The same can be said for music production, where you can hear other producers just using the presets of synths etc.

For me, what drives me to tell people "Here I am, Im a DJ, I can play at your party" is that fact that I dont think most of the DJs are very good, and I feel bad about the worse DJ being in the booth.

For me, DJing is sort of sacred, and I think it should be the best guy for the job who gets the gig, and not the friend of the organizer, or a guy who will book the organizer back in return, or a producer who offers a 2 for 1 deal so that the organizer can get a foreign dj on the lineup as well.
The better I get, the more ambitious I get - The more I want to spin, and the more aggressive I get in telling other people that fact.

Quote:

On 2006-04-12 01:01, Nathan wrote:
or "This dj is special - unique.
why?



Well - I find DJ pr0fane(Dance N Dust) to be special. Why ? First of all he is my friend, but foremost its his relentless dedication to Djing and music which has truely devoured him. Over the course of a couple of years he has gotten technicly good, but also understands the music well and is able to do a very nice track selection + play more than just one "killah dark psy" or "killah full on" genre.
Another DJ, again a friend of mine, I find special is "Jespar", he is mainly into chillout - but, he understands it well, is extremely serious and tries to improve.
Yet ANOTHER DJ would be my girlfriend Sara/Psilence, she has NO dj ambition whatsoever, and only plays if you ask her nicely Again, deep devotion to chillout music, and a good understand of it.

All of those 3 sets I would rather listen to than Hallucinogen, Tristan or Wrecked Machines Live. Simply because I know I will get to listen to better music and a more interesting trip. Thats my personal opinion.

Quote:

On 2006-04-12 01:01, Nathan wrote:
IS there a way to be special? To express himself in his way?
or am I just exaggerating.



Of course there is a way, but I dont think it can be found that much in the mixing technique in regards to psy djing.
The tracks are closed chronologicly and I dont think much is achieved EXTRA by mixing them more aggressively.

However, understanding the values I mentioned before, being on the right path as a Psy DJ and having the will and positive energy inside you to animate yourself to carry out a really well layed out DJ set... That is special!
When a DJ prepares himself for 2 weeks for a 2 hour DJ set, then thats VERY special - Its more than most producers spend on creating their tracks.
The expression of the DJ is the total sum of the DJ set and the persons image on and off stage. Its really quite complex.

Simplified.

DJ Qualities(Trackselection, Technique, Flow & Styles) + Role Model(On and Off stage behavior) + Cultural Understanding(Philosophy, Psychedelics, Storytelling, Psychology and much much more) = Psy DJ.

Quote:

On 2006-04-12 01:01, Nathan wrote:
What makes party organizers book dj over artist if he must choose between the 2?



Most organizers only book acts which will attract people to their events. Either that, or they book DJs who will in turn book the organizer.

Only very few Psy DJs get bookings with expenses paid and a fee, and those are managers of big labels or have a name which has become strong over the years.

VERY few DJs EVER make it if they dont own a label which releases really good music. (But, owning a label that does that in no way is a guarentee that the DJ is any good at all - Could be just a rich kid really).

Even as a DJ, the biggest plus for you to be booked as a DJ is when you are a producer as well. Being able to write "DJ Raja Ram(Tip World)" is worth much much less than "DJ Raja Ram(Shpongle)".

For the most organizers what matters is not the DJ set in itself, but what favours the DJ can do for them. "I book you, you book me", "you get a live set AND dj set", "I bring my deco to your party", "I help you with the money for the party", "I get you gigs at other parties"; and so forth.

In that sense, Im affraid the psychedelic trance scene is and always has been a playground for the rich and talentless. Of course, those who do not fall to that statement should not feel hurt by it. Those with real talent and dedication know who Im talking about.

Thats very sad, but its a fact. (There are very few organizers I know if you dont fail in these regards). Best way to get DJ gigs yourself is to make parties, make your own festival, have your own label and release very good music, bring your own deco and so forth.

Quote:

On 2006-04-12 01:01, Nathan wrote:
PS. I'm not talking about music creation.



Like you see, the 2 are linked

Best Wishes

Krell          Label DJ>
www.jesterrecords.ca
K - OS


Started Topics :  1
Posts :  192
Posted : Apr 14, 2006 13:50
@Krell:

Case closed

*Topic Locked*




          
~*Try to find a higher level*~
andonis
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :  28
Posts :  901
Posted : Apr 14, 2006 16:36
To me a good psy dj is the one that sends you tripping with the music he/she mixes. In order for that to be achieved they need to mix special music (i.e. well chosen), in the right order (good flow) and with good transitions (good mixing technique). I like most dj's who introduce new exciting music which has to do with the dj listening to a lot of new music and having an adequate aesthetic background (or else knowing their music and not being afraid to experiment). Sure there are special dj's out there and listening to some of them is what made me wanna be one. Most of them do not get enough bookings but I don't think they care eitherways.
raider
IsraTrance Junior Member

Started Topics :  22
Posts :  491
Posted : Apr 14, 2006 18:19
I skip dancing all the time, because of bad DJs. Not only because of bad taste, but because of the poor mixing. I can't dance, if the mixing ain't proper and enjoyable.           LABEL-DJ @ 3D VISION RECORDINGS | www.myspace.com/djraider | www.myspace.com/3dvisionrecordings
ganjagil
IsraTrance Junior Member

Started Topics :  48
Posts :  858
Posted : Apr 14, 2006 18:26
I think that a good dj plays really great music well mixed and with a really special selection to take the people on a voyage..Most of Dj's i hear today are only there to mix well there is no interesting ideas or selection so it becomes boring...Djing can be considered an art nowadays with todays music (the rare good one i mean) can be mixed for a complete voyage through time and space...

Bom
Ganja           Your sound, is your music, is your soul keep them all on the right track!

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CRX(HSS Records)
IsraTrance Full Member

Started Topics :  97
Posts :  2707
Posted : Apr 15, 2006 01:24
the dj is the man with the plan
the dude with the map in his hand
which is showing us the way of how to get away
yo yo

          Helicon Sounds Music
www.hssr.gr
Trance Forum » » Forum  Trance - DJ - deeper & wider understanding of what he really Is - storm of questions

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