As Pioneer becomes Pioneer DJ, it has been marking its two decades in this industry with a series of videos. This last part tracks the evolution of the digital DJ, and features some seriously heavyweight and legendary DJs… and some idiot who runs a DJ gear website too.
A few words of introduction from Pioneer DJ:
The final part of our 20th anniversary documentary series tells the story of the electronic dance music industry through the words of DJs including Carl Cox, Roger Sanchez and James Zabiela. From Arthur Baker’s humble beginnings in a record store to Laidback Luke’s first CDJ and the birth of digital downloads, we hear about the evolution of music technology – and the ways it has changed dance music culture forever.
And the words they sent out to share the video namechecking all those taking part:
The final part of our 20th anniversary documentary series tells the story of the electronic dance music industry. Hear the story told by: Skream, Benga, Arthur Baker, Carl Cox, Roger Sanchez, Tensnake, Paul Oakenfold, DJ Jazzy Jeff, James Zabiela, Laidback Luke, DJ Shadow, Sander Kleinenberg, Mark Lawrence (The Association For Electronic Music), and Mark Settle.
Yeah… that’s me. How did that happen?
A VERY PERSONAL NOTE
For most of you, this will be nothing more than an interesting video that fills a few minutes of your day. But for me, it’s another of those pinch myself moments. When I look at the list of names, I see actual heroes who have shaped who I am today. As a b-boy, I took out fools who dared to step to me to Planet Rock and Breakers Revenge, tracks laced with Arthur Baker’s brilliance. And then as a young scratch DJ, hearing Jazzy Jeff’s Live at Union Square (still goosebumps) was a true WTF moment that saw me break many switches in my old Radio Shack mixer trying to emulate Jeff’s techniques.
And beyond this, the VIPs in this video are legends, whereas 13 years after starting my journey, I still see myself as some bloke who runs a website and not in any way worthy of being in the same video as these guys. So I’m incredibly thankful to Pioneer DJ and humbled for my 30 seconds of fame (starting at 9:24). I guess it’s time for me and the rest of DJWORX to venture in front of the camera a little more now my broadcasting cherry has been properly bust.