I am the DJ, I am what I play.

[raybear]

What I'm about to write is not false modesty, nor is it an attempt to denigrate myself for the sake of receiving compliments or reassurances.

I am not the music geek/guru/expert that people think I am. Frankly, I don't even know how people come to this conclusion since I don't think I try to portray myself as one. I'm certainly open about being obsessed with music and loving it and constantly wanting to learn more about it, but I don't think I'm nearly as geeky about it as I could be, or even as I want to be.

I may be a DJ, but I can't beatmatch to save my life. Luckily (or because of this fact?), I don't really like how beatmatching sounds -- songs get shortened even more so, phrases get repeatedly excessively for the sake of a transition, limitations get placed on what can be put together if you're willing to have sounds crash into each other. But that doesn't mean I don't wish I could do it. I just haven't invested much time in learning.

I can barely scratch. I can do a couple different types of scratching, but that's only three out of dozens. I occasionally have good instincts about where scratches should go in a song, but I can't in anyway "cut the record up" in an enjoyable fashion. Much less do anything behind the back or whatnot.

I struggle with music theory. I did okay when I was taking piano lessons back in the day, but I seem to have plateaued since the age of ten. I have hope for learning more, but to be real, it's going to take a lot of time because I barely get minor chords, much less sevenths and ninths and whatnot.

Despite taking nearly a decade of piano lesson, I'm quite ignorant about most forms of classical music. I'm still sort of in the "I know what I like" category of learning, but even that's not true because there are many things I like but have NO idea who the composer is or what period or anything. I'm totally the mofo who's like "do you have the CD with the song playing the beef commerical?" or "do you have the song they play during the montage at the end of Wimbledon coverage?"

Another major category of music I'm lacking is rock. Seriously. I don't own every Beatles album. I hate most of Led Zeppelin. I think I have a best-of Doors album. Other "seminal" groups (at least by VH1 standards) I know a little bit about it and even like but have few albums or real understanding of why they're important: Velvet Underground, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Sex Pistols, and many many more. Don't even get me started on my ignorance towards indie rock and it's various incarnations like punk and emo and garage and whatnot.

Even in the genre I probably know best, hip-hop, I would still say I'm always a student. Part of why I love Ego Trip's Big Book of Rap Lists is because when I first bought it, I could open the book to any page and any list, and I would maybe only know one song or artist or album for each ten they named. (Now I can open the books and will maybe know at least two or three!) It made me realize how big the catalog is and how much I had either forgotten or never knew.

I guess my point is, it's all relative. I don't feel like I'm geeky enough and will continue to absorb music voraciously. Or so I hope. I had this theory as a teenager that people turn 30 and start buying one CD a year versus one per week (which I was averaging for awhile) -- my brother became this way, and I became a music junkie because of him. Luckily as I've grown up and actually, you know, met more people over 30, this hasn't been proven true. But even if people only own 15 albums to my 1500, I still have often found they'll have something I don't or will have a passion for an artist or genre that I know nothing about.

And even if you don't, that doesn't mean I won't still think you're cool.

Comments

[zeppo.livejournal.com]

Something important that this forum has taught me is if people dig what you are doing go with it. Only you know that you don't know what you are doing. I have no fucking idea why anyone would want to read my journal. Two years ago I had never written a damn thing in my life - I don't know what I am doing, people are calling me "a writer" what? are they talking about me?
Anyway, I have decided to not to question it, just go with it. I figure very soon I will no longer be the LJ flavor of the month and I will go back to just being an LJ hack.
You keep doing what you are doing. If people are all over it that means they see something you dont and there is value in that knowledge alone.

Keep on keepin' on.

[raybear.livejournal.com]

Does this mean I should take my Zeppo shrine down in my room?

Funny thing about this entry is I wouldn't write one just like it on the topic writing itself -- because I'm at a point where I'm totally sucking up any praise and feedback on that subject, trying to form my own self-confidence in the process. But the music stuff, I feel confident and happy with what I know and don't know, so it seems strange and foreign when people tell me otherwise, even if it's supposedly a compliment.

P.S. I went out and found the Jellyfish album after you mentioned it last week. Thanks for reminding me of its existence. How I forgot in the first place, I'll never know.

Re: Keep on keepin' on.

[zeppo.livejournal.com]

Hell no, you keep your Zeppo shrine up! how else am I going to continue my mind control... er, um, I mean find my spring roll, yeah thats what I meant. I dropped that sucker on the floor and now I can't find it.
Nothing to worry about, no "surveillance" is being performed.
Everything is perfectly normal...

[kaileo.livejournal.com]

You know, I don't feel like we're ever truly "there" as far as musical knowledge goes. At least, I certainly hope we aren't.

Do you feel that not knowing rock genres (or classical music) affects your musicianship or DJness? I grew up playing guitar and was pretty fully immersed in what we now call "classic rock" (as well as 70's funk and soul), and I haven't fully figured out how to fully integrate that knowledge into my new life as a DJ/musician. (Well, aside from the obvious value of knowing the funk/soul genre.)

Your thoughts?

[thedemonnemo.livejournal.com]

you wrote: ... pretty fully immersed in what we now call "classic rock" (as well as 70's funk and soul), and I haven't fully figured out how to fully integrate that knowledge into my new life as a DJ/musician. (Well, aside from the obvious value of knowing the funk/soul genre.)

I wrote: If you come from Bristol, UK or if your name is Sean Combs you could make a whole career out of knowing nothing but '70s funk and soul.

Cheers, Nemo

[raybear.livejournal.com]

I definitely think rock can have a positive influence on DJing, in part because an instrument is an instrument is an instrument, and for me, my rhythm guitar skills have helped greatly in the physical techinique of spinning (i.e. actually manipulating the record). But I also think there could be more rock songs used for sampling purposes -- more guitar licks chopped up and rearranged the way producers have been doing it to James Brown horns.

I think rock had started to get some play in DJing, like Puffy using a Zeppelin song and Eminem using an Aerosmith song, just as turntables have started making their way into rock bands, like Linkin Park. My complaint in most of these examples is that I wish the forms were better integrated, playing off of each other and intertwining, so it's less like one genre being slapped onto another like a gimmick.

To be honest, I thought Rage Against the Machine did a good job of blending genres and they didn't even use a turntable -- I wish they had. Also, I think Cypress Hill has done a good job with "rock-rap", but most folks don't give them the props that Limp Bizkit gets. If you get a chance, check out their lastest album, Stoned Raiders, particularly the single "Trouble".

[cruelnails.livejournal.com]

I don't even know how people come to this conclusion ... I think that's just a preconceived notion about dj's born of too many films set in raves ...

I agree kaileo. I don't think you ever become an expert at music, at least I hope not. The best thing about music is it's potential to sneak up and surprise you - whether it's classic rock, new hip hop shit or (for me) the realization that cole porter is kinda' cool ...

I think if you become an expert in something that subject almostimmediately becomes dull to you ...

[julitabonita.livejournal.com]

dude. yes. this is so how I feel about music a lot of the time. I'm always learning, and there's always more to learn. Except you are a DJ, and I've always wanted to be a DJ, so there's that. Anyways, it's cool because those are definitely thoughts and feelings that have crossed my mind before.

[limenal.livejournal.com]

As you say, it's all relative. If you ever want a classic rock tutorial, I can offer a mediocre one, as you know!

Also, and I'm not sure I can announce this officially yet, but I've heard rumors that apparently (and it's not certain), there may or may not be a birthday collage in the works at a noted artist's studio, and this alleged birthday collage may or may not be addressed to...you! As I said, though, this is all strictly in the development stage and should be kept under wraps.

[misterbz.livejournal.com]

You are right on the money when you say that it's all relative. I feel almost exactly the same way about my photography. On the one hand I know I'm a solid photographer. On the other hand I am no where near as good as most veteran photojournalists out there, not to mention a good number of crazy-talented young upstarts. So when people tell me what a great photographer I am my first response is usually "Not really. You don't know what you are talking about." instead of just thanking them. It's an attitude that has its good side because it drives you to learn more and improve. It's also an attitude that can have a very negative side because nobody wants to hire someone that lacks confidence. This is actually a big deal for me and something I'm working on. When I interview for jobs I have a very bad habit of saying "Yea, I just think I have so much more to learn. I feel like a total hack sometimes." It makes sense to me, but it's just not the attitude people are looking for.

I've always thought being a DJ would be cool, but I'm a TOTAL music moron and have always bought about one CD a year. But talking about classic rock and DJs, you should check out DJ P who is from my home town of Springfield, MO. An unlikely place for a DJ, but his CD made a Village Voice critic's top 10 list in 2000.

bz

[raybear.livejournal.com]

Good points, and I definitely agree. It's a fine line between wanting to be a humble as well as being open to always being a student and striving to get better, while also having confidence in current abilities. And when it comes to projects people offer me, I try to be honest about my capabilites while also showing enthusiasm and talent so that I'll get the gig.

In this case, I think I get annoyed when just friends and acquaintances go on about my supposed music guru-ness in a way where it's an excuse for not thinking they can talk to me about music, or making me a mix, or suggesting an album, etc.

I'll check your friend's website out!

No...

[brothernumber3.livejournal.com]

i think you are The Music Guru
and you must just deal with that.


love always,
your (pretend) boyfriend