Rob, Laugh all you want, but to me DJing is a HUGE responsibility, it is about connecting to a spiritual tradition thousands of years old. Music has the power to heal, and create very special states of consciousness. It also has the power to create quite negative states of consciousness.
If you examine the way traditional musicians in, for example, West Africa view music, you would understand what I'm talking about. I have a friend who is a drummer, from West Africa. He is a griot and is descended from a family of griots. If you don't know, griots are musician/story-tellers, and through music they are responsible for telling the story of their people, as well as healing and other such things. I see the true role of a contemporary DJ as being a modern type of griot. They should tell a story through their records, and connect to history and a deeper tradition through their selection of music. A DJ has an incredible amount of power over their audience. In my opinion, those who don't take such power seriously, have no business DJing. They may actually be negatively impacting the well being of their audience. I do believe that bad music can literally make people sick in a psycho-spiritual sense! ~dp On Tue, Jun 18, 2013 at 10:15 AM, Rob Taylor <[email protected]> wrote: > I am laughing at the idea of a 'serious dance DJ'. > > > On 18 Jun 2013, at 15:56, David Powers <[email protected]> wrote: > >> If you are a radio DJ, sure, but from the viewpoint of a serious dance >> DJ I would definitely would want an edit for these reasons: >> >> 1. Most important, at minimum you need to loop up something at >> beginning and end for mixing into and out of >> >> 2. Typical pop song structure is too short for the dance floor, it >> really makes it's point as quickly as possible and suddenly the song >> is over. This doesn't create the type of altered state of >> consciousness you want for dancers; to me dancing is very spiritual >> and you want music/rhythms that are conducive to attaining a real >> trance state, without needing drugs. I am not really a big fan of your >> normal pop music formulate, it's very limiting. >> >> 3. For me personally, the chorus is a bit too epic and cheese, I'd >> prefer to somehow tone it down somehow, filter and otherwise dub it >> out, and probably would only let it appear once, not multiple times as >> in normal pop song structure. The verse works for me, but it so >> clearly leads into the chorus that it probably needs to still occur >> before the chorus. So, if I was editing it, I would definitely focus >> on the intro bit, and the bridge with the keyboard solo; that changes >> it from a pop song into a dance track... >> >> 4. The type of production is really a mismatch in a set of house and >> techno records, basically in terms of the drums. Adding a bit of drum >> machine really makes it work better on the dance floor. (Remember... >> This is EXACTLY what the originators of house were doing with some >> disco records!) >> >> Just one man's opinion, I'm sure others disagree, but as someone who >> has released edits, perhaps the above will explain what it is that >> drives me to do a bunch of work to alter a song that is already a >> "good song"... in a nutshell, the radio pop song form is quite >> different from the type of form I prefer as a DJ. There might be >> exceptions when I do play a pop song if I figure out a brilliant way >> to mix it in, or it's the last song in a set, or for some reason I >> want to surprise people, but it's not something I would do often. >> >> ~dp >> >> On Tue, Jun 18, 2013 at 3:10 AM, Paul Kendrick <[email protected]> wrote: >>> I must say I think Africa is a classic and doesn't need an >>> edit/remix/whatever....just play the original... >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> From: Rob Taylor [mailto:[email protected]] >>> Sent: 17 June 2013 15:45 >>> To: David Powers >>> Cc: Wibo Lammerts; Daniel Bean; benny blanco®; list 313 >>> >>> Subject: Re: (313) Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus remix >>> >>> Quite, David. >>> And if you don't like the song in the first place, you have cloth ears and >>> your opinion is worthless! >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Jun 17, 2013 at 3:31 PM, David Powers <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> I could imagine a Toto "Africa" edit being decent, actually, I would >>>> have to hear it and judge for myself. I am not sure why one would >>>> assume it's no good without hearing it? >>>> >>>> Haven't heard that Quentin REM remix, that one does seem like a >>>> stretch; even so, in Quentin's defense, most of his output is pretty >>>> good and some of his remixes and PURE GOLD (I am not going to tell you >>>> which ones though, that would be to easy)... Nobody knows anything >>>> about them and they KILL the dancefloor every time. If anybody hasn't >>>> done digging through his back catalog, I would highly recommend it!!! >>>> Those are some of my ultimate secret weapons. >>>> >>>> ~David >>>> >>>> On Thu, Jun 13, 2013 at 9:58 AM, Wibo Lammerts <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> Seriously? An edit of Toto? Really? That's like a Quentin Harris remix >>>>> of >>>>> "Losing my religion" by REM. Which exists, and totally sucks. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> 2013/6/13 Daniel Bean <[email protected]> >>>>>> >>>>>> Haha >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> From: Wibo Lammerts [mailto:[email protected]] >>>>>> Sent: 13 June 2013 15:54 >>>>>> To: Rob Taylor >>>>>> Cc: benny blanco®; list 313 >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Subject: Re: (313) Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus remix >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> That's the C2 HypeMachine in full effect, and you fell for it! Shame! >>>>>> ;) >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> 2013/6/13 Rob Taylor <[email protected]> >>>>>> >>>>>> the way he described it made it sound awesome! >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Thu, Jun 13, 2013 at 3:30 PM, Wibo Lammerts <[email protected]> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> I think I heard that one, a while ago. and it is as bad as one could >>>>>> imagine. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> 2013/6/13 Rob Taylor <[email protected]> >>>>>> >>>>>> speaking of dodgy remixes, Carl Craig was speaking with Joe Muggs in a >>>>>> Resident Advisor podcast recently ( >>>>>> http://www.residentadvisor.net/podcast-episode.aspx?exchange=149 ), and >>>>>> he >>>>>> mentioned a remix/re-edit or maybe even a re-recording of Toto's Africa >>>>>> that >>>>>> he played at London's Plastic People club. I have a soft spot for this >>>>>> tune, >>>>>> so would be curious to find out what he meant. Anyone know? >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Thu, Jun 13, 2013 at 2:39 PM, benny blanco® <[email protected]> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> I thought this 'tribal' interpretation was pretty blah as well. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> The new DM Single, 'Soothe My Soul' has an interesting remix take by ZZ >>>>>> Top. >>>>>> >>>>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4bPH2U40jAU >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> benny blanco® >>>>>> blancodisco.com >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Thu, Jun 13, 2013 at 8:22 AM, kent williams <[email protected]> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> No offense intended, but my reaction on first listen to that track is >>>>>> that it is hilariously bad. I can imagine it might work on the >>>>>> dancefloor -- punters on their 5th hour of thrashing about do love to >>>>>> hear something they recognize -- but after the third minute of those >>>>>> claves mixed too high I wanted to shoot the producer. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Thu, Jun 13, 2013 at 3:09 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> Found it. >>>>>>> Jamie 3:26 sent me the link >>>>>>> https://soundcloud.com/polyrhythm-1/personal-jesus-mktl-polyrhythm >>>>>>> Thanks anyway guys >>>>>>> And DAMN!!!! It wasnt David Morales... It was John Morales from NY >>>>>>> :):) >>>>>>> Haha >>>>>>> Peace >>>>>>> Ed >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>>>> From: >>>>>>> "Diego Simak" <[email protected]> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To: >>>>>>> "Daniel Bean" <[email protected]> >>>>>>> Cc: >>>>>>> "edward thompson" <[email protected]>, "[email protected]" >>>>>>> <[email protected]> >>>>>>> Sent: >>>>>>> Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:32:04 -0300 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Subject: >>>>>>> Re: (313) Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus remix >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> yes it is >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> 2013/6/10 Daniel Bean <[email protected]> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> That’s pretty dire. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> From: Diego Simak [mailto:[email protected]] >>>>>>>> Sent: 10 June 2013 13:36 >>>>>>>> To: edward thompson >>>>>>>> Cc: [email protected] >>>>>>>> Subject: Re: (313) Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus remix >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xLvArgSp3k >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> 2013/6/10 edward thompson <[email protected]> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Hi guys, >>>>>>>> I went to 2 parties today (David Morales during the day and Jamie >>>>>>>> 3:26 >>>>>>>> at >>>>>>>> night and at both gigs Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus remix was >>>>>>>> played. >>>>>>>> An >>>>>>>> absolute dance floor killer of a track. Must be relatively new. >>>>>>>> Does anyone know what the remix is and who did it? >>>>>>>> Id say all the big boys would be playing it atm. >>>>>>>> Peace >>>>>>>> Ed >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> ---------------------------- >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> http://www.bbc.co.uk >>>>>>>> This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain >>>>>>>> personal >>>>>>>> views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated. >>>>>>>> If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system. >>>>>>>> Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in >>>>>>>> reliance on it and notify the sender immediately. >>>>>>>> Please note that the BBC monitors e-mails sent or received. >>>>>>>> Further communication will signify your consent to this. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> --------------------- >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> | http://soundcloud.com/w1b0 | http://vibedeck.com/wibo/ | >>>>>> http://twitter.com/w1b0 | >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> | http://soundcloud.com/w1b0 | http://vibedeck.com/wibo/ | >>>>>> http://twitter.com/w1b0 | >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> ---------------------------- >>>>>> >>>>>> http://www.bbc.co.uk >>>>>> This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain >>>>>> personal >>>>>> views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated. >>>>>> If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system. >>>>>> Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in >>>>>> reliance on it and notify the sender immediately. >>>>>> Please note that the BBC monitors e-mails sent or received. >>>>>> Further communication will signify your consent to this. >>>>>> >>>>>> --------------------- >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> | http://soundcloud.com/w1b0 | http://vibedeck.com/wibo/ | >>>>> http://twitter.com/w1b0 | >>>>> -- >>> >>>
