28/06/19

One brief, important clarification to preface the thesis below: I am only describing a DJ's work, not producers. They are related professions, but with very different skills and artistic attributes. Anyone that can master both, I tip my hat to you...  So with that said, I ask:

What is a DJ?

In today's electronic music scene, the ever expanding innovations in the equipment & tools artists have at their hands, has a constant and dynamic affect on the evolution of what it really means to be an electronic music DJ. In the current environment, with all the tracks & remixes, websites & podcasts, software, hardware, DJs and producers, how does one sift through the total sensory overload to find talented and artistic musicians?

I used to believe that what made a good DJ was an equal recipe of 1/3 part beatmatching, 1/3 part mixing/transitions and 1/3 part effects/improvisation. But with all the technology now at our fingertips, I feel the art is (and has to) evolve with it. While it is still a great skill to be able to beat-match vinyl records by sound only with no other assistance beyond your own ear, this is, for better or worse, a dying value. While an impressive and respectable skill, this is less and less relevant in the modern club scene.

And while it is a welcoming opportunity to witness a real pro on stage throwing down proper affects, breaking beats, scratching records and engaging the crowd with their improvisations (not to mention fun!), again, the technological advancements in DJ equipment today have made these improvisations sometimes all too easy for those willing to accept 'average'.

So what is left for the TRUE ART of DJing?... I think John Digweed's radio show 'Transitions' sums it up rather well. There is no device, software or hardware, that I know of that can tell you how to transition from song-to-song, and how to build a night and control a crowd. I believe that this is where the real ARTIST can still thrive. Every mix I organize and upload on this site, is thoughtfully designed and meticulously arranged, from start to finish, to bring you on a very controlled journey. Whether it's a trip that starts out fast and never stops, or one that tugs at you slowly but surely sets you into the mood, this is where my passion for DJing lies. It's the 'designing' of the set that essence of DJing for me. And I feel it is an absolute PREREQUISITE for any DJ worth experiencing.

Beat-matching and improvisations are still CRUCIAL elements to a well-rounded DJ and a fun set, and the equipment we are faced with will continue to help us improve on both those ends. In fact, the nice part about embracing these advancements in electronic music is the freedom they allow for the more artistic sides of DJing.

But, again, it's the smooth transitions that seamlessly mend songs together, the builds/the breaks, that toy with your emotions, the intentional hard turns that take you by surprise and the mash-ups/remixes that bring a new perspective to an old track that keep the art of DJing alive and well.

I am an amateur DJ (and a licensed Architect during the day), so the mixes here are my humble contribution to the ART, made with the passion I describe above. I hope you enjoy, and like any real artist, I welcome any comments or criticisms.

Happy listening.

Il me semble parfois que mon sang coule à flots, ainsi qu'une fontaine aux rythmiques sanglots

Brooklyn, NY

#IDM #electronic #experimental

28/06/19

Camilo