You know how it goes: the end of summer rolls round, festival season becomes a fading memory and the dreaded ‘Top 100 DJs’ competition starts appearing across social media. Inevitably, the list will come out, and we all stare at the top 10 and think “Ugh, is that what people think DJing is?”
Artists like David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia or Steve Aoki are undeniably cornerstones of the Dance Music scene, and they are extremely popular, regularly filling stadiums, headlining festivals and pushing the boundaries of what an EDM live show can do, but when you get a headline like this one about Guetta, it makes you think about what they’re actually doing up there. Is it really newsworthy that someone we call a DJ has had to improvise their set?
Festival headliners like these have rabid fans. They’re basically playing huge gigs to people who expect to hear certain music produced by the artist, maybe with a few tracks from known collaborators, and all tied together with a big ‘wow-factor’ light show. They’re basically just a less original version of a one-man-band playing a concert. That’s not to say that these guys never do a DJ gig, just that it’s no longer what they’re known for.
A good example of how a producer who performs live is Paul Van Dyk. For a long time, he would DJ just like any other producer might: vinyl, decks and a mixer. When the digital revolution (and it was a revolution) arrived, Van Dyk embraced it, bringing as much of his production into his live performances as possible. An interview from askaudio.com back in 2012 gives some insight:
On stage I have two 25-key keyboards, two 17” MacBook Pro computers, a custom-made Allen & Heath Mixer based on the 4D, a custom-made that has a different routing inside. I have another Akai controller and two smaller ones. That enables me to be really all over the place creatively! I switch between programs a lot. On the right machine is my audio material, and on the left machine I have most of my sequencers and soft synths there. I sync these elements with each other which gives me the freedom to do different things and switch back and forth and re-create and re-produce something from scratch while I’m playing.
Deadmau5 said it best in one of his many ‘calls it like I sees it’ moments about EDM live acts. The man who famously denied being a DJ has been brutally honest about what exactly he does up on stage. And he’s right. You may not always like what Joel says or how he says it, but more often than not, he has a bloody good point!
.@notalent__ nah, I’m not a DJ. I don’t bother with that shit.
— deadmau5 (@deadmau5) April 25, 2015
The bottom line, is that these hugely popular artists aren’t really DJing anymore. They’re just that: artists. They’re performers.
It’s never been about the equipment
It’s about the intent. These guys at the top are there because their music has become popular. They’re recognised for that music, so of course their live performances are going to focus on that, and their budgets can afford the huge, completely-in-sync, cake-and-reach-for-the-holographic-lasers stage shows they’re also known for. They perform the way they do so that it can be portable. The crowd at that trendy pool party in Miami will get to have exactly the same experience as the kids at this year’s Creamfields or city stadium performance.
Let me make something clear: there’s nothing wrong with being a performer rather than a DJ. Seeing Deadmau5 live was one of those moments to remember for me. This debate isn’t about the value of these artists to Dance Music, or about their skill and hard work. But if we continue to call them DJs, it dilutes the definition of what you all do. The more that definition is diluted, the less value will be placed on your skills, the less the industry are willing to pay DJs. We should be standing together to reinforce the importance of what a DJ does in a club.
Whether you’re working some scummy club using their battered CDJs and club mixer, playing classic 45s to a bunch of Northern Soul fans or sat in front of what looks like a space shuttle cockpit dashboard like Ray tends to be, you’re not just there to spoon feed a set list of bangers. You’re curators. You’re a spirit guide for everyone in front of you to make sure they have a great time. You’re not bigger than the music, but just a conduit based on your experience, and understanding of both the technology and the crowd.
So let’s take back what it means to be a DJ. Let’s start calling them EDM performers.
I like to call them entertainers.
The likes of Avicii and Guetta use DJ gear because they’re useful from a visual performance perspective. The reality is that do accurately relay what they’re famous for, they should use keyboards and sequencers, not DJ gear. But a mixing desk doesn’t look as cool on stage at a festival I guess.
So it would of course be better to call them performers or artists.
well, not if they don’t…ahem…perform ;P
The Chemical Brothers might disagree with you. :-P
Labels labels labels labels… Trying to organize desesperately the flowing river of life.
I keep myself with Deamouse. This kind of discussion only matters to those who, instead of “live” the music, are worried about who are they (self concept).
Crowd didn’t worried about the “performer” (it is a dj or not? Never cared them…) but we still carry the “scratch factor” heredated from DMC era.
We should separate music from show business from our taste and “realdijing” hastags because these never were the same (only seemed when we where at “fashion” momentum) and these will not be never the same.
Accepting this make oneself a bit freedom from oneself (wishes and frustrations) meanwhile… Why not continue scratching? To me, like piano playing, is stress therapy.
Just saying…
They are Artists that use DJ equipment.
Everybody knows they are not actual DJs.
Punters aren’t as stupid as you make them out to be.
And a lot do care, despite the tired cliché, they don’t care it’s all about the music bullshit.
People do care about integrity, but that won’t stop them having a good time. They will dance for 45mins when Guetta plays a set, or for 4hrs in a dingy club when a real DJ takes them on a journey.
Both are fun.
I think the only people who care about integrity are other DJs. The crowd wants to be entertained.
We (the royal DJ we) care about how that entertainment happens. The crowd sees turntables and some might get excited, but they won’t know whether or not those turntables are actually doing anything.
It’s not about stupid (and I don’t think Dan is calling them stupid). It’s about priorities. The crowd wants to be entertained, we want to be impressed.
Jared, I would have to disagree.
Most people that go to Hip-Hop concerts know what good rapping is.
Most people that go to raves know what good DJing is.
This is the Information Age, people are well informed about the things they are passionate about, they know the ins and outs of their tribe.
When we were growing up there was no internet, things were more mysterious. Not anymore.
To think that only DJs care about integrity is pretty self righteous.
To be entertained is to leave an impression, they are not mutually exclusive.
These aren’t not mutually exclusive by definition but they are by fact if you discount the minority… because the majority only care about “get good time (usually drugs involved) and good music (when bad music is transformed into good music thanks to these drugs or environment comunal feeling at raves).
Sometimes be informed isn’t equal to enjoy your time, usually goes the opposite direction with people ranting near the booth (almost in my country where envy is a national sport like soccer: spain)
Don’t get me wrong… knowledge is a great internet win but which people need is not knowledge… it must be understanding (deeper knowledge associated with heart feeling) to enjoy their present and left others enjoy their owns and that’s the center of discussion… why to discuss? (once you have understanding and respect for the “performer”, dj or not…) why to worry about anything that “good times”?
NotA: Read the last question and start hearing the chic theme in your mind… ;)
<3
I don’t think it’s self-righteous. I mean, maybe short-sighted or defeatist, but it’s not that I think our perspectives are better.
And yes, people care what good DJing SOUNDS like. But DJing is not analogous to rapping. They want to hear music that makes them want to dance, definitely. But do they, generally, care how that music gets from the DJ booth/stage to their ears? Do they care whether it’s turntables, or CDJs, or controllers, or an iPod, if it is going to sound the same?
For example, assume a DJ spins three cities in a row, three different nights. They go on stage in front of a large crowd of people and spin the same set on turntables (using real vinyl even), CDJs and then a controller, three different nights. Do you think the different crowds will care, or respond differently, based on the medium of their performance?
I never brought up the actual equipment, all I said was people know what good DJing sounds like and know the difference between 45mins of Jesus posing and real DJing. But they will have a good time no matter what. But they can tell the difference.
I’m a turntablist but for 2 of my residencies I bring my NS6 and for another I use the in house CDJs. I used to DJ with 2 tape decks and a mixer when I was a kid at my local roller skating rink. Gear aint shit, I can rock on anything. Always have, always will, cos I’m a real DJ ;)
And that’s the thing. I don’t think people can tell the difference, and I don’t think they care. We care, cause we see this as our a direct assault on our skills and passion, but the crowd doesn’t. The crowd knows what bad DJing is, maybe, but if they hear music they like they don’t care.
That’s the mainstream, though. The underground is a completely different, and far more fun, beast, and where I spend all of my time.
This article sparked my interest and was a great read. I’m trying to find my voice over at aaronslatton.com, and this really help me with some ideas. Thanks!
I just thought of something – us old school dis use to say we spin. Does that mean the digital revolution ‘bit’ :D ….. I may have to patent that…
We’re all BJs
Been using “Bit Jockey” for a while, also used the term “Digital Manipulator” while I went through the Ableton days from Live 4 to 7.
Hooray! Finally! You put your finger on something that’s been bugging me about DJMag over the last few years – increasingly the people on the cover are portrayed as DJ’s when they’re really creative artists – some who play records (often their own) but a lot of them are doing live (and here’s the catch) SOLO performance (unless it’s the Martinez Bros, etc), the vocalist is usually pre-recorded and there’s no “band” per se.
Scratch DJ’s in particular are probably the ones that for me really cross the boundaries in the most profound way in that they combine the idea of playing someone else’s records but use the individual elements as the basis for creativity.
Conclusion – it’s a wonderful time to be creative and never easier to be a charlatan!
Combine Dj and Producer into Deducer
Projay?
I like it. Maybe I’ll change my name to “Projay Deduce”
Why can we just not be considered artist if you are creative and multitalented with the ability to execute your self expression? DJing is what I do not who I am. The creative process when I make tracks is my way of expressing emotions that require sound to be released. My graphics and videos are visual representation of images to add to the whole aspect of what’s going on in my mind. People say I’m talented or whatever. I’m just being me and using the resources available to expression myself. I don’t do any of it with the intentions of anything more than just being heard. Maybe my creation inspires others or whatever. Maybe it’s never seen or heard. But not matter what it exist and wouldn’t without me the artist who put it together. Just sayin’
Smokinj.net
I love this discussion because its been heavy on my mind since the technology is finally catching up.
I believe what we have in front of us are instruments. How you use them is up to you, but one factor is ever present which is “I NEED TO GET BOOKED” (that is if you do this professionally)
Since I am a musican/producer/dj I’m always trying to stand out from the rest and get booked. I love doing what I do and it so happens that the trend is moving ever more toward performance as apposed to just Club DJing. Whether I’m scratching a or making beats on stage its my chance to leave an impression. Even if i’m spinning hits or niche funk I want them to remember me.
I aim to separate art from entertainment and make people understand that you came here to hear this and I’m going to always create to keep you coming back, keep you dancing and keep you discovering something new. That’s how I approach this thing that we love so much.
I think these instruments allow you to be more original with how you play as apposed to what you play. You can give me a classic record and I may just turn it into something else completely. I can speak from experience when I say, Boy do people love to hear something old become new! The top Djs just realized they can make way more money playing original tunes and touring as artists by playing their own stuff. Its smart and it makes a heck of a lot more money. See Forbes, they will remind you. ;)