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Tuesday, 31 May 2005
Turntablism vs. Mash-ups
Just coming off a weekend of four DJ gigs in four days. Whew! All of them were for parties we were hired out to do, rather than our own clubs that we were promoting, so it was a little less stress. The only pressure really was to spin good sets – which we did.
We were asked to play mash-ups at all of these gigs ... in fact, two of them were miniature Bootie parties. I guess we're turning into the "go-to" mash-up DJs in San Francisco ... which I guess we are. We shared three of these gigs with Party Ben, who is sort of our mash-up DJ brotha. Together, we make a pretty decent team.
Too bad only one of the gigs – Pop Rocks at the DNA Lounge – turned out to be successful. All of the other ones were a bit woefully under-attended. Oh well. We'll be back at DNA for their next one, now called "Pop Roxx," to avoid copyright infringement. We always have a really good time there, and the DNA feels a bit like nightclubbing family. I love the idea of them trying to build a nightlife community by involving all of these different DJs and clubs and putting them together. It makes the club scene seem collaborative, rather than competitive, which I like. I'm so sick of DJs and clubs feeling the need to be cut-throat. I mean, we all just really like music, right?
Turntablism vs. Mash-ups
Like this whole thing about using turntables vs. using computers. What the fuck? DJ Z-Trip and his ilk just go on and on about how great it is that they're using turntables to mix "blends" – yet if you craft a mash-up on a computer, it's somehow "cheating," and that mash-up artists suck and are not really DJs. What they're not getting is that we're not trying to MIMIC what they're doing. What we're doing is actually quite different, cutting up and manipulating tracks in a way that can't possibly be done using turntables. So why all the defensiveness?
While I certainly appreciate the art – hip-hop turntablism "mixturbation," basically – it's simply not what most of us bootleggers are about. It's really a case of "apples and oranges," and we're sick of attitudinal vinyl DJs putting down mash-up artists, simply because we create our art in a different way. Turntablism is not the same thing as crafting a mash-up. (And if any of them ever sat down at a computer and attempted to make one, they would understand that.) Simply mixing a hip-hop beat over some cheesy rock song from the '80s may be really cool – but it's not really a mash-up. (Yes, I'm talking to you, Z-Trip.)
There's a really cool, open-minded, inclusive scene of DJs here in San Francisco who make mash-ups. No, it's not turntablism, and no, it's not done live – but it's music that you can't create simply with two vinyl records. Yet for some reason, other DJs feel the need to dis it, because it's different from what they do and they don't understand the principles behind it.
The funny thing is, no one is the bootleg/mash-up community disses what people like Z-Trip are doing. Yet other turntablists feel the need to trash it, like it's not art. Guess what, dude... you're still just playing other people's records – there's certainly no need for the elitist attitude.
We create this stuff, crafting it meticulously -- and then we play it out, beat-mixing when it's appropriate. And seeing as that we don't have cheap access to an acetate pressing plant, yes, it's on CD and not on vinyl. Big fucking deal. That's basically how the mash-up community works – MP3s and CDs. If these vinyl purists opened up their minds to pay attention and take a look, rather than being DJ snobs, they'd understand that. Instead, many of them come off like attitudinal assholes, talking smack about a different scene they don't even know about.
The truth is, I have nothing but respect for the sort of turntablism these guys do. Maybe they're just being defensive and over-protective, worried they're going to be replaced by technology they don't understand, and clinging on for dear life to their Technics 1200s. But they don't need to worry about them being replaced by computers. It's an artform that not going to go away – just like TV didn't replace movies, radio didn't replace live performance, and turntables didn't replace guitars.
CDs did kill off cassettes though ... and turned vinyl into a niche market only for DJs. But hey, digital music files and iPods will probably eventually kill off CDs and turn THEM into a niche market only for DJs. Our Pioneer CDJ decks will end up becoming the next Technics 1200s. Anyway, I'm rambling now.
My point is, music is still music, no matter what it's played on, and as long as the love is there, that's the important thing. I just wish some of those vinyl-purist DJ snobs would remember that.
11:35 Posted in Music | Permalink | Comments (5) | Email this | Tags: Mash-ups and Bootlegs
Comments
Well, I've been 'Mashin-Up' old tracks with new tunes since 1985 as a live party DJ. One of my best moments (1988) was mixing 10 Public Enemy and other rap vocal tracks over P.E.'s Bring The Noise instrumental using three decks - one playing BTN and two for cutting in beats and acapellas - it was LIVE, it was FLAWLESS, it lasted 5 MINUTES and it was "F-IN HARDWORK". It was at a Greek wedding, so the appreciation was limited (ya-unerstand!!!) - but hey, free booze, yeh I was pissed. And that became one of my trade marks... I'd also mix everything 80's Pop/Indie/Acid/Bob Marley with Funky Drummer "LIVE" (and mix tapes) or with a Hip-Hop instrumental (usually Rebel Without A Pause or Street Sounds Electro No.whatever).
How I dreamed of a way to capture polished, sample accurate, release quality Mash-ups.... And then along came the Apple Mac in all its finery around the mid-'90s - with decent/reliable audio converters and cheap-ish Hard Disk recording.
Stopped DJ'ing (vinyl/CDs) around 1996 - took up HD mixing all the stuff I used to do - just for personal pleasure. However, I lost all inspiration for completing mixes - you know how it gets sometimes (due to a frickin day job and bills to pay). But guess what...? All my old shit is still on Hard Disk as I left it, waiting for my return. My inspiration for getting back into mixing is my recent discovery of a number of like minded UK/Worldwide 'artists' doing the same thing, mixing the old with the new - and for money (and... it's all about the money!!!)
Hendrix, Led Zep, Stones, The Doors, Floyd, Small Faces, Donovan, CSN+Y, Punk, etc-etc, produced some of the greatest tracks ever. I used to throw some of the originals into my Acid/Trance DJ sets (late '80s-early '90s) - didn't always work - but now properly Mashed-Up, they can, and can appeal to new generations of clubbers who might get into the original recordings - and ya never know... go out and buy Axis - Bold As Love or Zep's I-IV = get educated in sound and emotion and quality production, and start the whole mixing/DJ process off again on its next level.
So, Turntablism vs. Mash-ups... I say, the barstards (producer speak) can't live without each other. And I, like many others, can see it from both sides. You cut your teeth on vinyl - dig CD-mixing for a while cos it comes with some wacky FX board - and then want to do your own thing - Mash-it-Up.
And hey, if it gets you cash-money/played and layed - everyones happy.
Now stay cool won't you
...And I'm gone...
Posted by: Wavey Dave D | Friday, 03 June 2005
Great comments. Came across your site by accident. I'm a producer who actually writes my own material and I don't use samples at all, but I respect every different approach to making music as long as it's original and interesting. Personally, a lot of mashups are lame along with a lot of DJ music as well... but while we're on the topic, so is a lot of guitar rock. I'm not splitting hairs here. The idea that DJs would be defensive about people making mashups on computers is silly - the only thing that matters is the art, whether it's good, interesting, relevant, makes your ass move, whatever. People shouldn't waste their time criticizing what other people do because ultimately it takes away from the good vibes of doing something you love. Just STFU and get back to work, I say.. Peace
Posted by: dsr | Friday, 03 June 2005
AMEN ....to that . music is music :) just keep making what you do and I'll be happy :)
Posted by: Brendan | Sunday, 05 June 2005
awesome, I get bored with reading alot of articles on the net. This one was different.
I am a "turntablist" myself, Im not out playing im still learning and loving it. Problem may be that alot of producers DO emulate scratching, they also do it quite bad too. It makes me cringe, and many others im sure when you hear a poorly produced "scratch" sounding mess, yuck! Vinyl purists, well unfortunatly for the turntablism scene its pretty much about vinyl because emulation just doesnt really cut it (ive heard good stuff about serato scratch live, not used it myself).
hip hop djs took what was available at the time and did something creative with it. They made an artform that, in essence you guys are doing the same but with different tools. I guess its hard to imagine the hard work you guys put in to your mixes, from the side im looking at it i know that turntablism is quiet bloody hard to get into. Alot of work and dedication and when looking at alot of these programs on the market for remixing they make it seem like childsplay, no brain needed (tm).
I have heard some amazing ones in the past, that go through just dozens and dozens of tracks, mixed time stretched layered many times, etc. Making a completly enjoyable experience.
I have never heard your work, accidently found your blog here and well, wanted to post ;)
if you wanted to give me a link to some of your work so i can enjoy it too, that would be cool.. ill send you some stuff i have made if your at all interested, i produce tracks for fun ;)
take it easy!
Posted by: morris | Thursday, 09 June 2005
Its funny, its like Turntableism grew up or something and now the old style is dissing the new style. There was a similar feeling around in the 80s when sampling was new. DJs complained that it was cheating, they hated the idea, now everyone uses the tool. Im sure mashups will be embraced as the style grows. I just sit back and enjoy it whatever :o)
To be honest who really gives a f*** just enjoy the ride
Posted by: AceOvArts | Monday, 13 June 2005
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