TECH VS TECHNIQUE

TECH vs. TECHNIQUE

An up and coming DJ came to me and asked for lessons. I arrived at his house, walked in his “studio” where he had computers, effect boards, mixing programs, cdjs (DJ cd players)....just a techie’s dream. He goes, “Ok, teach me how to DJ.” So I unplugged his computer, his effect board, mixing programs, I took 2 cd’s, handed him headphones and said let’s begin. DJn is about music. Listening to the music. Finding out where you want to take the crowd with that music. Scratching is cool, mixing is key. Learn the beats, learn the breaks. Understand why you’re choosing the next song. What is this song going to do for the crowd? Does is blend smoothly? Do the songs make sense going into one another?

Technology is great. Years ago I traveled with cases and cases of records, then moved to cd's, and now I carry a backpack with a laptop. It’s changed the way DJ’s can do business being more accessible to travel. It’s also made it more affordable for DJ’s to create their own remixes without having to find an actual studio. But, there’s one thing that is sometimes forgotten and that’s the music. Believe me, I even get caught sometimes staring at the laptop screen...feeling like I’m playing DJ Hero or a video game. Yes, technology has been a part of music forever and does nothing but open doors and creativity. On the other end, it can also take you away from the actual activity and in a sense give a false hope of the skill level required for the job. Think about it...hitting home runs on Wii baseball doesn’t really qualify you for the major leagues. The problem with technology is that we get comfortable. I always say if you're given a crate of records, or a stack of cd's, you should be able to rock the party just the same...and sometimes that’s not the case.  Pre-mixes, automatic mixing, is like painting with numbers to me. Ever wonder why there are DJ’s that have been doing it for 20+ years and they’re still around? Cause if you use records, cd's, turntables, laptops, or big touch screens..the reality is that the skill is not mastering the technology...it’s mastering the technique. The technique is in the music. It’s in mastering the crowd. It’s taking different music and making it into your art. Personally, the way I look at sets are I try to make it sound like one continuos track. Blending and mixing are important to me..the flow. Now some DJ’s have different styles. Some might scratch and go back n forth, some might be on the mic and drop a song, the list can go on and on. Bottom line, is we are there for one purpose and that is to make people dance or take them on a musical journey. Relying on technology is not a smart move. I suggest to work on the music and go back to the roots. Think about working out. With all the technology and machines...some of the best ways to get in shape are to do push ups, pull ups, and sit ups. Get back to basics first, then use the technology to enhance your skills not replace them. I say this because I’ve seen time and time again, new DJ’s that have “their setup” with effects on their mixer or certain programs, and then they get to the club, realize that 95% of the DJ booths out there aren’t setup correctly and look nothing like your home setup, and they get stuck because they’ve practiced on the learning the technology and not the technic. Listen, technology is not going to stop and I think the music and DJ world are going to see some amazing innovations over the next 10 years, just watch the video above. But  rocking a party is rocking a party and no matter what buttons you press, to rock a party in the DJ world there’s only one way to do it and that’s with the music. So my suggestions to DJ’s or to anyone that’s looking to get into art or business or whatever it maybe, is try to understand what it really takes to do something. Get back to the roots. Technology will always change and will be available to everyone, but technique is something that needs to be learned, practiced, perfected, and shared.