What do DJs do?

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kryptonjohn

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#2001677 24-Apr-2018 14:36

chevrolux:

kryptonjohn:

ResponseMediaNZ:

kryptonjohn:

Rikkitic:

I think I missed out on a couple of musical generations. I don't follow contemporary pop music and certainly not hip-hop and I really don't understand what DJs do that makes people want to pay money to see them. The news about Avicii was what put it into my mind and made me start wondering.

I'm a grumpy old man so am coloured in my perspective, but I think it's a cult of personalty. Such-and-such is cool and all the cool people go to his shows so he's super popular. Kind of empty - a bit like all the other celeb culture crap around people who are famous mainly for being famous (and rich) such as the Kardashians. Ick.

So the Beatles, Kiss, AC/DC, Meatloaf, The Rolling Stones, Led Zep the list could go on are not the same as Avicii's following?

Not even close to what I am talking about. Those bands became famous because of their artistic talent and musical innovation. I would argue some guy queuing up tracks while looking the part has none of those attributes. Nor do the Kardashians for that matter.

You've totally missed the point. These "DJ's" are mostly playing original tracks. They have made these tracks with "artistic talent and musical innovation".

This might interest you...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT40_00AGQU

Skrillex making a track with The Doors (or at least two of them)

So why do do they call them DJs? They're not doing anything with discs and their art is creative ... Why don't they call them musicians or composers?

Kids these days... bah humbug!

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chevrolux

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#2001686 24-Apr-2018 14:48

Yep totally agree. The term DJ doesn't apply to a large amount of electronic artists these days.

Coil

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#2001697 24-Apr-2018 15:02

chevrolux:

Yep totally agree. The term DJ doesn't apply to a large amount of electronic artists these days.

"Hybrid Minds are an English, Electronic DJ and production duo consisting of Josh White and Matthew Lowe."
"Alix Depauw, better known by the stage name Alix Perez, is a drum and bass DJ and producer"

These guys still Jockey Discs, As seen on the videos I posted but it seems they produce their own content to DJ more than others.
They also do a lot of DJ Sets which is a pre recorded live set where they Jockey Discs (physical or digital).. When they play live they DJ and they dont sit there talking to the crowd (Probably pointless as they are all chewing their upper lip off anyway lol) like a rock or pop singer. Their music is the attraction, Not the person.

I like what I like because of the music and how they can put that music together. Not some person who has a mint rack and made some catchy pop songs. Taylor Swift or Katy Perry anyone? (To watch live, Not take home)

Cheers

kryptonjohn

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#2001699 24-Apr-2018 15:06

Coil:

These guys still Jockey Discs

They actually put vinyl on a turn table and put the needle on a track? Or do they just press a button on a computer to select the next track?

Coil

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#2001702 24-Apr-2018 15:11

kryptonjohn:

Coil:

These guys still Jockey Discs

They actually put vinyl on a turn table and put the needle on a track? Or do they just press a button on a computer to select the next track?

The physical aspect of it is mostly gone apart from changing media input or CD's on a CD-J.

Te actual mixing and timing of the songs remains the same.

"The office lady now sends email invoices rather than post." Technology changes things, The fundamental remains the same.

Cheers

Fred99

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#2001707 24-Apr-2018 15:21

kryptonjohn:

Coil:

These guys still Jockey Discs

They actually put vinyl on a turn table and put the needle on a track? Or do they just press a button on a computer to select the next track?

This has been one of my fears. Have a turntable in the lounge for playing old LPs etc - which is quite fun sometimes. If one of my son's friends was to plonk a record on it and try to do that "scratch" thing that used to be popular with DJs back in the '80s, my horribly expensive moving coil Dynavector cartridge is absolutely sure to break.

hsvhel

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#2001708 24-Apr-2018 15:23

Not strictly a DJ, but i came across this last night and though it was interesting. He is making "music" completely live.

Warning: its not everyone's cup of tea aurally........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOTHl6Tldc

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Coil

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#2001734 24-Apr-2018 16:01

hsvhel:

Not strictly a DJ, but i came across this last night and though it was interesting. He is making "music" completely live.

Warning: its not everyone's cup of tea aurally........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOTHl6Tldc

Woah

hsvhel

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#2003141 26-Apr-2018 21:16

Coil:

hsvhel:

Not strictly a DJ, but i came across this last night and though it was interesting. He is making "music" completely live.

Warning: its not everyone's cup of tea aurally........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOTHl6Tldc

Woah

I played that clip in the office today, and whilst its not my normal palate, the sound was actually amazing to hear on large gear.

Shortly followed by something a little less "industrial"....

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BurningBeard

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#2003394 27-Apr-2018 11:11

hsvhel:

Not strictly a DJ, but i came across this last night and though it was interesting. He is making "music" completely live.

Warning: its not everyone's cup of tea aurally........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOTHl6Tldc

Man I'm sure glad I saw this thread - This guy is awesome! Thanks!

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geekiegeek

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#2003415 27-Apr-2018 11:33

I think someone like Armin van Buuren is probably a great example of a modern day DJ. He has a weekly radio show where he showcases new music and connects with his fan base as well as producing his own music and travelling the world DJ'ing shows. Went to his latest A State of Trance show in Sydney last weekend at it was pretty epic. He's been a DJ for over 2 decades so not just a flash in the pan.

I've been following various forms of dance and electronic music for about 30 years now and the art form has definitely changed with the advent of technology but the good DJ's will use that technology to further enhance the music by adding live loops and transitions during their sets. I'd also mention that its considered bad form to use the auto beat matching that modern day software provides so the better DJ's will still do this by skill alone.

Coil

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#2003613 27-Apr-2018 15:46

geekiegeek:

I think someone like Armin van Buuren is probably a great example of a modern day DJ. He has a weekly radio show where he showcases new music and connects with his fan base as well as producing his own music and travelling the world DJ'ing shows. Went to his latest A State of Trance show in Sydney last weekend at it was pretty epic. He's been a DJ for over 2 decades so not just a flash in the pan.

I've been following various forms of dance and electronic music for about 30 years now and the art form has definitely changed with the advent of technology but the good DJ's will use that technology to further enhance the music by adding live loops and transitions during their sets. I'd also mention that its considered bad form to use the auto beat matching that modern day software provides so the better DJ's will still do this by skill alone.

Chicorelli is an Auckland does who does the same with Liquid DNB.
https://www.mixcloud.com/discover/liquid-lowdown/

raytaylor

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#2003688 27-Apr-2018 17:53

Rikkitic:

Honestly it seems strange to me but I realise there must be more to it.

To put it simply, the profession of DJ has morphed into being a proper music artist.

They record their own music, edit other artists music into new versions and can often do it live.

Example One
The original song Steve Winwood - Valerie which you may recognise as a popular song in the 80's
Steve Winwood - Valerie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbKNICg-REA

A popular DJ last decade created a new version which Steve Winwood loved so much, he came into the studio to re-record the lyrics that Eric Prydez sampled from the original song.
Eric Prydez - Call on Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UknCBaEt38k

Example Two
Flo Rider, who is known for creating a blend of dance and rap music has a popular song Good Feeling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OnnDqH6Wj8

Avicii, a popular Swedish DJ who recently died from health problems was able to sample that song and created a whole new one from it which was even more popular than the original
Avicii - Levels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ovdm2yX4MA

Example Three
Most of the music created by DJs is instrumental, and may use samples from other popular songs.
David Guetta is a DJ (who like Avicii) would be considered the top of his field for creating tracks - and this example is one where David G has created an instrumental song of his own creativity.

The music label will have paired him up with a reasonably famous or talented singer, and a song writer who can put lyrics to the music created by the DJ.

The collaboration between DJ David Guetta and singer Kelly Rowland resulted in
Kelly Rowland - Commander

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwfKZ-1jyiw

Example Four
This one will go back a bit -
Meatloaf is a talented singer, but most of his songs such as Bat out of Hell, and Paradise by the dashboard light were written by one of the greatest songwriters of all time - Jim Steinman.

These days, if Jim Steinman had used a computer rather than a backing band to create the music, and he could use that computer to create a live performance by calling upon the various samples of music, and recordings of Meatloafs voice/singing, and do it on demand in front of an audience, while responding to the audience then he could be a DJ. Though most live DJs are instrumental with only small amounts of pre-recorded lyrics.

However in his day, all the fame and popularity went to the singer - Meat Loaf.

These days, the creator of the music can be just as famous as the singer, and using computers they can create a collection of their music live, called a "set" which is usually a one hour part of a 3 hour DJ concert.

Everyone grows up with music they love and the younger generation always seems to have it wrong - but thats okay.

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