Regular Features

Dance Democracy

Praying the dancefloor moves with you seldom works

Creatively, we live in an interesting time. A wannabe producer can put together a track in five minutes opposed to the team of people and instruments required 20 years ago. Music isn’t played, it’s edited. For example, if a band records a song, and the guitar riff is off, the guitarist doesn’t necessarily play until he gets it right, instead it can be cleaned up in a program.

And, it’s not about just software; artists simply need a broadband connection to make their work public. On the plus side this means that skilled producers can make their music accessible, by-passing the traditional process of going through a label. The downside, however, is that absolutely anyone with big dreams can shop out their musical Frankenstein. There’s no way to filter the good, the bad and the ugly.

Talented and unique EDM acts drown in a scene flooded with commercial noise; an apparent, and topical, side effect of the digital democracy. This may be true, but it’s not particularly new. The masses have always set the agenda for what’s popular, and in turn, what’s mediocre. But what’s worse is that these days the audience also believes they’re the artist; half the punters at a gig have Cubase at home and think they can do a better bass line, or indeed every second person is a blogger, a photographer… you get the picture (uploaded and shared). How are people expected to appreciate talent when, after all, they themselves are the next big thing? The cynical truth is – most people don’t have the talent, and are just in danger of spreading mediocrity.

Veterans of the scene are often guilty of moaning about ‘educating the kids,’ and ‘appreciating the performance of the artist’. Hold it right there. Since when did dance music become a spectator sport? We go to gigs, festivals, and parties because we want to dance, drink, and see our friends, not for a lesson. There is nothing more tedious than being educated on something that’s meant to be fun.

It’s sheer vanity to make music for ‘arts-sake,’ and not for an intended audience. But, if art is the intention, well then, the producer can’t have his bread buttered on both sides: no truly great artist’s ambition is to be popular, that would be oxymoronic.

The real talent, in my eyes, is being skilled enough to play the balancing act; by producing music that not only delivers to a dance floor, and gets it jumping, but being able to do it with an original, cutting-edge sound. There are DJs who do this well, and it’s not easy; they kill their darlings, re-work their tracks – it’s a lot more involved than slapping together a discordant sum of notes and labeling it art.

The producers who complain that ‘the kids just want it hard’, and ‘have no musical taste’ are looking for an excuse. Sure, there are plenty of acts who are doomed to twiddle dials on the fringes of obscurity – but the same can be said for any creative industry. It takes a lot more than simply talent to get noticed. You have to be able to read your audience, and give them what they never knew they wanted.

Dance music, and especially the fringe stuff, is transient; hype today and gone tomorrow. Ground-breaking, scene-changing tracks are enduring, and will live on in the shaping and forming of the EDM scene itself, but never as a sole entity: the technology moves faster than the music.

Yes, we are living in an interesting time, but that doesn’t mean we’ve changed the way we find music: we channel our choices through peers and chosen media. The classic mix tape that exchanged hands is now a YouTube link, but the spirit of sharing and uncovering great music is still very much here, and we ignore the noise – just as we’ve always done.

And the artist? Well, if you’re not getting the props you want – you’re doing it wrong.

2 is company, 25000 is a crowd… of Djs

I first realized I had super powers when I was about 6 years old. I had just finished watching Van Damme in Bloodsport when I noticed I could now defeat any stuffed teddy bear enemy with a simple round house kick to its fluffy temple. Sadly I lost these powers though around about the same time Mr. Van Damme stopped making action movies, although apparently I’m not alone. There have been several cases worldwide of little boys and girls who morphed into Japanese street racers, black guys break dancing in nightclubs or even better yet, white guys who can rap.

And this all happened strangely around the same time Hollywood released a movie with a similar theme. But there is one occurrence that Hollywood can’t claim under its super-power bestowing belt and this is the art of DJ’ing.

It has become increasingly difficult to cast a stone into a crowd and not hit a DJ. Some religious factions even believe there are more DJ’s than there are sinners in the world. And no one can explain why and at what point this sudden surge in disc jockey numbers occurred. But there are a few clues.

Internet and laptops are arguably at the top of the culprit list. The internet and growth in the technological realm has lead to easy and free access to music. Gone are the days where a DJ used to spend his time searching through crates of vinyls at his local music store or ordering the latest 12” EP by Frank Knuckles only to receive it via post 7 to 14 working days later. Now it only takes a Google search and uncapped internet bundle to build a comprehensive music collection in a matter of days if not hours.

Once the aspiring DJ has acquired this music all they then have to do is then acquire Virtual DJ [software], which is also usually free, and they are almost ready to play. DJ software comes with sync buttons, so the first step to being a DJ which is beat-matching is already eliminated. Some even go to the extent of performing a smooth cross-fade on your behalf, all the DJ has to do is click and their will is done.

Now in all honestly, technological advances are the norm in modern day society. Cars can now park themselves and iPhones talk back to you, but the question is, what is the effect on the DJ industry? Although anyone is free to choose their own career or hobby path, the large amount of overnight DJs has had a hugely negative effect on the culture. Firstly, DJs have never been up there with chartered accounts and lawyers when it comes to moral high ground. We aren’t quite the black sheep in the family but we are pretty close to being the drunk uncle… but the caring drunk uncle, not a great amount of respect but still get invited to family dinners. So with this surge in numbers, of which in all honesty most of the new DJs tend to be below average when it comes to skill set, our credibility has been compromised further. We are taken less and less seriously as those on the outside view it as, “anyone can be a DJ”.

Furthermore the issue of supply and demand then comes into play. Supply and talent has become heavily diluted, which in turn has resulted in a significant reduction in the earnings of the regular DJ. For someone that simply downloads his or her music via Google searches and acquired their laptop through parents for school purposes, this doesn’t affect them much. But there are DJs out there who still purchase all their music [online or otherwise] and call the craft their bread and butter; those are the DJs who have been hit the hardest. These overnight wannabes are usually more than willing to play for such paltry fees [if any fee at all] that a seasoned spinner who is accustomed to a set sustainable amount, can no longer compete.

The scarier reality is that there is no clear end in sight. Every day a new star is discovered and 3 DJs are born. We can only hope that the fad and apparent star appeal of being a DJ blows over, hopefully leaving behind those whose hearts beat to the rhythm of the speakers.

5 Mins with… DJ Cndo

1. If you could be any super hero character, you would be…

Shera

2. Your worst habit is…

Being late always, I’m never punctual.

3. What do you think is the most overrated virtue?

Patience; if you want to make it no one will hand it to you. You have to hustle hard.

4. If you were an MC what would your aka name be?

Miss Thang

5. You enjoy it most when people…

Appreciate my work.

6. Your favourite thing to do when you know nobody’s watching…

Clean my nose.

7. The first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning?

I need to pee.

8. What is the single piece of advice your parents gave you that has never left you?

Pray before you do anything, and be thankful for every result.

9. What was your part time job while you were in high school/ college?

While at college, I used to be a waiter at Spur.

10. You take approximately how long to get ready in the morning?

Two hours or maybe three.

11. One thing you have learnt about yourself recently that has surprised you?

I am so impatient and I panic if things don’t go my way.

12. In one sentence describe the experience of being part of the Durban’s Finest Family.

One of best highlights of my life.

13. Your definition of House is…

It’s food for life.

14. What makes a man sexy in your opinion?

His confidence, being smart and a little bit of ego will do.

15. What is the one thing you love most about being a female DJ in SA?

You get more attention, and you are always the centre of attraction!

16. Being natural means…

Being unique and being you, living you, not trying to impersonate someone else.

17. What has been your most absolute favourite place to gig at?

Zimbabwe, 2011 New Years Eve. It was my first time spending New Years Eve away from home; I played for four hours. Twelve thousand people in a packed stadium. Best experience ever. I would do it again!

18. The best thing someone has ever come up to you and said at a gig?

You’re my inspiration.

19. Your biggest regret purchase ever?

A pair of Louis Vuitton sunglasses for R6,200

20. Being a DJ in modern society is like…

In modern SA it’s getting better all the time, it’s reached celebrity status which makes it a viable career if you willing to put the work in.

21. The one song on your iPod that would surprise friends if they found it while scrolling through your playlist?

Oliver Mtukudzi – Neria

22. Describe the Jika Majika set in three words.

Fun, Funky, Fabulous.

23. What does the rest of SA not yet know about Durban House?

It has an element of the Durban Kwaito sound and it rocks like Durban.

24. The South African Dance scene needs more…

Originality, passionate and persistent artists proving that our SA guys rock!