I Am A Drum And Bass Dj (rant/imminent Drama)
| Good [+4]Toggle ReplyLink» Screwhead a répondu le Wed 10 Mar, 2010 @ 11:49pm |
 Coolness: 685545 | So fuck it, posted this on Facebook, might as well post it somewhere where it's actually relevant.
Important note: I AM NOT TARGETING ANYONE IN PARTICULAR WITH MY RANTINGS, it is just a personal opinion based on observations made by ME. I am not aiming this at anyone in particular! I am not calling YOU a sellout. But, as they say, if the shoe fits... *start* So I just had a weird fucking dream, and after waking up, it's like the dream was giving me a message; it wanted me to get something off my chest that's been bothering me for a while now. I AM A DRUM AND BASS DJ! Not just any kind of DnB, either; HARD DnB, AKA Skullstep. I like dubstep, I've even made a bunch of dubstep tunes and mixes, but that is NOT what I'm into mixing. 99% of every other DnB DJ in the city is suckind dubstep cock for gigs, and I'm part of that one percent that's not going to get down on his knees and follow the fucking trend. Now don't go mistaking this for an attack on dubstep; it's not. There's some good music coming out of the dubstep camp, but it's not what I'm feeling. The key word here is FEELING. I've tried to always play/mix what I am FEELING. I'm not a jukebox standing there to play your favorite tunes or the current trendy style-of-the-year. I've always tried to play what I was feeling. Much as DJing means playing other people's music, I've never been into it to be just a beatmatching robot; I put myself into a set as much as a guitar player puts themselves into a solo or a singer puts themselves into their lyrics. When I started mixing, I was into mostly the Trance 'n Bass, some jump-up, and what I called "Big Tunes" (Pendulum, Concord Dawn, really high-energy stuff), and I played that not just because it was music I liked, but because it's how I felt! Despite having come out of a relationship really bad and being depressed about things, I was still fairly positive and optimistic; I'd discovered a whole new scene and music that I loved, had a ton of new friends, and I was pretty stoned every waking moment. Despite being depressed about some shit in my life, I was still looking up, and it reflected in what I mixed; upbeat feel-good music and huge energetic anthems. Then some more shit went down, things took a bit of a dip for me; I was living in a stressfull situation, I was poor as hell and could barely afford food and spent every day worrying about how long I was going to be able to live where I was and what I'd do when that ran out.. But I was still smoking weed, still going to see friends, going out to parties and clubs.. I still had some good despite the bad shit that was going down, but the bad took it's toll; I wasn't as into the up-beat, trancy, "happy" DnB anymore. I got into Noisia, Evol Intent, Ed Rush + Optical, The Upbeats; stuff that's still got some energy behind it, but that's decidedly darker than what I used to mix. Then about 4 years ago shit took a nose-dive; WAY too much stress at home, barely eating 'cause I couldn't afford food, and I ended up wit chrons. At the time no one knew what it was; I went to the ER three times because I thought I was dying, the doctors I saw treated shit like it was all in my head and that if I stopped being stressed out and ate properly it would just "go away". It went undiagnosed for about 2 1/2 years, and I had to give up EVERYTHING; the food I loved, everything I loved to drink (alcoholic and non), couldn't smoke weed, my gut was too unpredictable to really take gigs (I must have missed about 2/3 of what I was booked for) and the gut unpredictability also kept me from going out (also, almost no one ever fuckin' came over to see me and hang out, watch movies, play videogames, whatever, despite EVERYONE knowing that I couldn't go out because of my health, so THANKS EVERYONE for showing some support for your friend when he needed it most) So despite being on medication now that the chrons has been diagnosed, that's still the head-space that I'm in, and it's pretty well reflected by what I play and by my bookings; dark, evil, alone, frustrated and pissed off. Now to take a quick side-step from the main point I'm trying to get to and go on a bit of a tangent (that will eventually weave back into my original point): I believe that music is a powerful thing. I may be mixing electronic music, but I'm still very much a metalhead at heart, and I've always had a 'goal' or a 'belief' (dunno what would be the proper word to describe it) about musical performances; they have the power to influence people's emotions and their state of mind. The dark and heavy and evil music I'm into now even more so than what I used to play; like I said I'm a metalhead at heart, and most metal concerts aren't playing radio-friendly, happy, 'safe' music. They play hard, dark and aggresive music. People go crazy and throw themselves at each other in what is essentially a controlled riot. The music pulls up all their hate, their frustration, their anger, and lets them get rid of it, and at the end of the show, it's like you just stepped out of Fight Club; it feels like everything else in your life got the volume turned down. Nothing matters; you could have someone yelling at you, you don't hear them. For a short period of time, it's like all your anger and aggression has been exorcised from you, and that's what my goal is when I play out. I don't just want you to dance, I want you to let go. I want you to bring up all your hate, your fears and insecureties, and spend an hour thrashing around like a lunatic, slamming into walls and people, so that by the end of the set you feel like you're about to die; you're exhausted, covered in sweat, sore everywhere, but at the same time you're washed over with a complete feeling of being at one with the universe.. I want you to feel at peace with everyone and everything around you by indulging in your hate and anxieties and aggresiveness and exhausting your supply until you have none of that left. Anyone that's got a crate full of "big tunes" can just take the easy way out and play some dancefloor smashers and get everyone dancing, hell they don't even have to beatmach shit together, just as long as the follow a 'safe' formula and play what all the blogs are telling them are the hottest thing around and not take any risks. Cheezy mid-range lead, two-step beat, BLAM you've set the dancefloor on fire, playing the exact same thing every other DJ that plays your style is playing. Any DJ can take the easy way out and set a dancefloor on fire, but I've never been into the 'easy' way of doing things, and my goal isn't as simple as "I want everyone to dance and have a good time".. I mean yes, I do want people to dance and have a good time, but that's not my main goal. My main goal is to do what no one else is doing, to play what no one else is playing, and to give you something that no other DJ can give you; release. Release from your stress, your anxieties, your frustrations.. not just a one-night-only escape; I don't want you to excape anything. I want you to confront your dark side. I want you to let the beast we've all got gnawing away in the dark recesses of our minds loose. I want you to stop repressing your dark and aggresive emotions and indulge. Let loose. Go fucking crazy. FEEL something that you normaly don't let yourself feel, indulge it, revel in it, and get it out of your system. It's amazing how scared people are of those feelings, but it's something we all have. Everyone has a dark side, and it's usually repressed; it's the unwanted family member you hide in the basement when your friends come over; you just put on your smile and pretend it doesn't exist, but it's there, and it's chipping away at you whether you realise it or not, and if you don't let it out to play once in a while, eventually it'll come out when you don't want it to. So, back to what I'd started off with: I AM A DRUM AND BASS DJ. I'm not a dubstep DJ, I'm not a breaks DJ, I'm not an electro DJ, I'm not a fidget DJ. I look at lineups for nights and parties, and all I see anymore week in, week out, is the same DJs playing the same styles of music that everyone else is playing, and I know I'm not getting a booking there; I don't "fit", I'm not "club-friendly", and honestly, that's just the way I like it. Would I love to have more gigs? Fuck yeah. But I see so many DnB and hardcore DJs switching off to dubstep, electro, breaks, fidget, and that's what they're all playing.. and if that's what they're really FEELING (there's that word again), sure, go for it! But let's face it; everyone and their dog is into dubstep, fidget or electro these days. It's what's "expected" at clubs now. It's all about what the blogs are telling you is the Next Hot Thing that you're going to hear at next week's iPod battle, where you can watch people that shouldn't be alowed to go shopping for their own clothes tell you what they think the next hottest tunes are and that if you're not playing their style, you're not cool. Well, fuck that. I'm not cool, and I'm not getting down on my knees just for a few more gigs. I've never been about fame, I've never been about money; I'm all about staying true to yourself and bringing people something they're not going to get from 99% of the other DJs out there; passion. I don't mix with my brain, I mix with my soul, and it's dark and lonely as hell in there. |
| I'm feeling like a drama magnet right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Sickness a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 12:05am |
 Coolness: 140010 | 100% with you bro! think the same, feel the same.... i don't hate dubstep, fidget nor electro but still... thinks like you! |
| I'm feeling partay! right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Screwhead a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 12:07am |
| Coolness: 685545 | yeah, about the only 'exception' to that I can think of is hard acid.. as soon as I get more, I'm going to start playing the fuck out of that, but again that's not something that's "popular" anymore, it's more of a "I fucking love me a distorted 303 and want to hear it out loud".. and most of the stuff is still really dark and fairly aggressive anyways. |
| I'm feeling like a drama magnet right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Rakoon a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 12:21am |
 Coolness: 175395 | there's a DnB subgenre for every feelings
that's why I love DnB |
| I'm feeling toy company right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» nothingnopenope a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 12:35am |
 Coolness: 201180 | stuff I've learnt from making/playing music:
1) if you play or make stuff that you really love, you have to fucking hustle like a mad motherfucker to get out there.. That means going to events, talking to people, promoting online like it were a full time job 2) DJs who play the kind of music people like are the ones that get booked, most people like more accessible music. 3) Not every city is like Montreal, places like Toronto have big breakcore parties and other stuff that is unheard of here If you want to make a 'career' DJ'ing you have to play music that is accessible, gets people in bars, and gets them to buy drinks... Sad as it is, that is the reality. and 4) there are more scenes than the rave/club one, don't rule out hipster parties |
| I'm feeling meow right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» ONE.LAB.RAT a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 12:39am |
 Coolness: 76095 | i don,t know how the do dubstep, i might start dubstep but the end product will be hardcore breakcore.
i want the 1% tiesto's money but i could not live without mixing some hellfish, producer and ect, |
| I'm feeling me,myself and i right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» nothingnopenope a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 12:46am |
| Coolness: 201180 | dubstep is popular because it is a fresh take on dance music, the same way DnB was when it came out. People like new things. |
| I'm feeling meow right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» nodeletesucks a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 12:52am |
 Coolness: 55975 | 100% with Screwhead on this one.
I just feel like reading myself except for the DnB and the chrons part. |
| I'm feeling horny right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Sickness a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 1:13am |
| Coolness: 140010 | Originally Posted By SCREWHEAD
yeah, about the only 'exception' to that I can think of is hard acid.. as soon as I get more, I'm going to start playing the fuck out of that, but again that's not something that's "popular" anymore, it's more of a "I fucking love me a distorted 303 and want to hear it out loud".. and most of the stuff is still really dark and fairly aggressive anyways. i started as a Acid dj. like the oldschool london acid and still am playing some like at Rainbow trip. i don't think ill ever get over that style..... Originally Posted By one.lab.rat
i don,t know how the do dubstep, i might start dubstep but the end product will be hardcore breakcore. i want the 1% tiesto's money but i could not live without mixing some hellfish, producer and ect, i totally understand you... it's hard to do something that you're not used to... i tried to produce some other style but it always ended up being hardcore.... |
| I'm feeling partay! right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» ONE.LAB.RAT a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 1:19am |
| Coolness: 76095 | i started as a house dj. |
| I'm feeling me,myself and i right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» greatjob a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 1:39am |
 Coolness: 282410 | I was a barmitzva dj |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Sickness a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 1:42am |
| Coolness: 140010 | nice! |
| I'm feeling partay! right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» crimson a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 2:25am |
 Coolness: 66380 | I don't dj, but will happily round up some chickens and virgins to sacrafice if it gets some dnb people proper dnb gigs.
Moar dnb plz. |
| I'm feeling a monkey right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Sickness a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 2:33am |
| Coolness: 140010 | wish i had more d&b gig :( but for alot of people, im only an hardcore dj .... sucks! |
| I'm feeling partay! right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» LeChat a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 7:52am |
 Coolness: 115490 | moi jaime le dnb et le dubstep
mais jdois avouer que jaime mieux danser sur du dnb parce que tu peux faire plus que juste bounce <3dnb |
| I'm feeling double this drink up right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» mAd-kiloZ a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 9:39am |
 Coolness: 91120 | MAJOR RESPECTS TO YOU Screwhead!!!!
I could'nt agree woit you more! I mixed dnb 4 years & had a similar experience. I won't name names but they know who they are with thier weekly/montly events to which I particpated on the dance floor each week! They NEVER booked me! They rebooked the same dj's over & over minus us harder dnb dj's! Greatfully people like Stalker had his Bass Invaders night's at Fouf's where he included me every night! Otherwise us NTK wankers had our nights etc... so i had gigs.. but it sucked not being able to mix for other crowds! Entk this summer we'll book you for sure.. I'll talk to NTK.. You should send us demo's at dreamteam@no-log.org =) You are good buddies with Bassic who is ntk & respects u alot too! We love the harder dnb & hard acid too!! See you this summer behind the decks buddy! If other people wont book/support us they don't know what they are missing! my 23 cents =p |
| I'm feeling i love my r0bot !_! right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» ONE.LAB.RAT a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 9:56am |
| Coolness: 76095 | ntk ;)
first crew to book me was ntk. 100% good time! |
| I'm feeling me,myself and i right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» mAd-kiloZ a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 10:19am |
| Coolness: 91120 | Thanx Jean =)) |
| I'm feeling i love my r0bot !_! right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» qwertyu a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 10:29am |
 Coolness: 72835 | Dont worry man, soon enough people will have headaches as soon as they'll hear a wooble bass.
Each time i hear the fan on the ceiling of my bathroom, i freak out and i think it's some wooble or something. I mean i cant take it anymore, i wasnt into it from the start, it's been going on for 2-3yrs or soemthing, as soon as you go out to hit the bar, there's some dubstep, shit fuck, i'll go to a pop top 40 themed night just to not hear this again. Ok, maybe not... And yeah, the brand of my ceiling fan is called '' nu-tone '' lol cool huh? But anyway, you guys missed the point, dubstep is artsy, it's cool, it's underground and makes you special. You'll be so above all the other college kid if you put dubstep in your ears. lol. I wanna hear some motorhead ;) |
| I'm feeling like a superhero right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» nothingnopenope a répondu le Thu 11 Mar, 2010 @ 11:03am |
| Coolness: 201180 | either you pander to the crowd or hustle your ass off and defy the odds.
I remember when the dubstep scene sucked ass but a bunch of people kept it going and it got more popular... |
| I'm feeling meow right now.. | |
I Am A Drum And Bass Dj (rant/imminent Drama)
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