As the art of the DJ enters what is by far the highest pinnacle of its existence, I find myself asking exactly what the role of a DJ is? More specifically though, how does recent technological advancement effect the industry? Obviously there will be drastic changes and choices for both the aspiring and accomplished DJ to make. But these decisions will be up to each and every one of them.
While some have embraced the growth of technology within both hardware and software, others have become resistant to such change. Perhaps we could call them ‘Luddites’ of the dance music industry? Or perhaps the art of DJing is evolving into a form completely separated from that of what we used to know.
Others however, have been much more pragmatic, choosing what works best for them individually, whether this be during live performances or working in the studio. Whether you are a DJ or not, what are your views? Should we whole-heartedly embrace our ever-changing technological advancement within this art? Is there a limit to what we should accept and reject? I would love to hear responses from you guys before I post my own response. I look forward to hearing your views.
5 comments:
Its definately not about being able to just drop a beat these days , there is technology out there that can do it for you. All the musical equipment out there , high tech or low tech , should be though of as tools for the artist , once an artist hits a certain level of competency and "fluency of use" with thier tools of choice , they can then concentrate on creating new sounds branching out, away from what we have been listening to for the past decade, into a new era of sounds . Embrace change people , dont let the frightened purists sway your decision to buy a new peice of tech.
Everyone and anyone can press play on a machine, but few can evoke that inner peace, bliss, euphoria, call it what you want..Rush.. even which catapults you to a higher state of consciouness. A DJ for me, is the modern High Priest of a ritual situation. People visit clubs, bars and night clubs to engage in an escape, a journey. Much as we used to visit a temple or a sacred place of worship thousands of years ago, consume a substance, and engage with others, all our fears, hopes and dreams can come out in a dancefloor. I love it and am addicted to it. Vinyl many purists will argue is a true form of DJing..and that's fine. We will always have this argument. But as generations of people grow up without a vinyl player and as we enter the digital age, perhaps even without discs..technology will overtake. Also with space and opportunities..why dont you want to have 10,000 songs at your disposal. Is it not true with more information and choice..you can deliver more freedom? But then you have programs which are vinyl emulators..but its the feel I believe which attracts you more to vinyl..just like writing..as opposed to typing..that human interaction resonates some beautiful feeling of creation.... A DJ takes you someplace else..and a crap DJ takes you to another place! haha.. At the end of the Day, the DJ is another story teller, and if they tell it from vinyl, technology, mixing or effects..and its a GOOD story, it doesnt matter. Cuz you can have everything and still deliver garbage.or you can play the right track at the right time and embed in the mind..a memory, emotion of a lifetime. Technology is your friend, not your enemy..but at the same time..your mind is the most advanced piece of technology which we are still trying to unlock...
More sounds, more beats, more hypnotica..bring it on..Evolution is inevitable, dont fight it..embrace it..
peace and love
Raju
I think the advancements in technology most benefit the production of music and not the DJ side so much. The advancements make the technical side of djing easier, but fuck the technical side, it's what a truly inspired DJ does with his tools that matters, full old school vinyl or the latest auto beat matching computer software with hardware interfaces to turn tables etc. The turn table is incredibly important, it allows you to manipulate sound physically! For me, I will use the latest tech in the studio and a mix of vinyl and tech when spinning tunes.
For me personally the answer goes both ways, but I’ll use this opportunity to voice some of my own feelings about DJing.
I love the fact that we can and still do use vinyl.
It is such a unique and different medium of expression. It was never made with the intention to be used as it is now. Mixing, scratching, cutting etc was never intended when they first came up with turntables. However, through the evolution of vinyl those who have chosen to think outside of the box have adapted to playing records in a way that has created new experiences for generations. As a DJ, I find vinyl much more friendly to use, there is something close to the hand and heart when playing it. It feels right.
The tools of a DJs (who still uses vinyl) trade are simple:
Two, sometimes three channels
Faders
EQs
For me it is more incredible to see what someone can achieve in terms of a set with a simple set of tools rather than with an excessive amount of gear. But that’s just me. I’m not knocking those who use gear, especially those who use their gear to achieve that which they can’t with a set of decks.
Essentially, I think it’s important to look at what DJing is really about, what experience is a DJ trying to create for an audience. It’s not the same as a performance. The experience of the dance is about, quite simply put, dancing. It’s about having a good time, losing yourself within the music and sharing experiences with the people around you. While this is including the DJ, I refuse to believe the DJ is the centre of the event. That is not how this whole idea came about. It’s about the music. Music is meant to be danced to not looked at. And so I say to all those DJs with aspirations of having a whole room focus their undivided attention on you, lose your ego of how good you are, what trick you can do, or even what new piece of equipment you’ve bought that makes that certain sound. Unfortunately, that’s not what I believe it’s all about.
Now production and technology, live sets in fact... those are other questions unto themselves which will be answered later...
but wouldn't you say DJs have also embraced technology even with the traditional turns? heck, francis grasso was beat-matching on turns without pitch sliders. I read the book "Last Night a Dj Saved my life" he himself said something about "DJs Suddenly having it easy" and he was unhappy about it.
http://ped111251.tripod.com/francis.htm
in "better living thru circuitry" the documentary there was much emphasis placed on the embracement of technology among artist esp on the sampler or the technics turns... so much for "forward thinking music"
fact is technology will always make life easier for us and maybe to some extent, prevents us from experiencing the "real thing"
i just hope some of the skills like beat-matching does not become a redundant thing to learn in 10,20 years time.
i sit on the fence for this one, however personally i feel its not what tools the DJ uses, its the emotional impact of a DJ's set on his/her audience.
this is just an observation... when i was in melbourne in 2005 i notice at a rave all the DJs there were using vinyl... solely.
does the collective consciousness with-in traditional rave scene choose to retain some of the more traditional 'rules' of djing?
since cultural appropriation has always been an problem for underground music movements, in this case it could be that.. any average joe can now mix using LIVE
Les
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