Are popular EDM DJ's really talented? Do underground DJ's deserve more credit?

Look at David Morales’s Facebook page for an interesting opinion on this today.

Look at David Morales’s Facebook page for an interesting opinion on this today.

Couldn’t find what you’re getting at. Any idea of what I should look for on his page?

Ross, you pretty much stated the sentiment of many who simply are not fans of pop music and/or “EDM”. I will admit in the 90s and 00s I carried that chip on my shoulder as well, and while in 2015 I’m still not a fan of pop music, I don’t carry the angst I used to hold on it all.

There’s a reason the underground is the underground. It’s not out of some conspiracy to hold back “talent” or “good music”. I use those in quotes because they are both SUBJECTIVE. In any case, the “underground” is merely the circle of music, art, talent, and creativity that isn’t widely embraced by the mass majority of society. That’s the simple viewpoint. In all this, it’s music and art that isn’t loved by the majority of consumers.

When I hear DJs and producers complain about what seems to be a lack of “talent” in the mainstream circle, I again try to reiterate that “talent” is subjective. However, I also like to point out two other factors:

1. If their beloved “underground” superstar suddenly was embraced by the mainstream masses, guaranteed a chunk of his/her fans would abandon him/her. They’ll claim how he “sold out”, even if he didn’t. What they’re really complaining about is how their “special thing” is now not their “special thing” anymore. They’re upset to see the office receptionist who listens to Justin Bieber suddenly dancing to the music said “underground people” embraced. It more shows how much they loved the perception of exclusivity as opposed to the music.

2. Most people do not go out to clubs or events for the same reason. So maybe the music nerd will go out to hear innovative stuff from what he sees as “talented performers”, but many more might want easily digestible music, funky costumes, massive crowd, loads of drugs, and a big light/pyrotechnic show. They want the EXPERIENCE over the music.

When I see the music of the top “EDM” acts, it is easily digestible, but that’s because they wanted it to be. When David Guetta was releasing his 2009 album One Love, he stated in interviews that he wanted to somehow bring dance music into mainstream America. He wanted it on Top-40 radio and in our lives as opposed to just in the clubs. I can’t blame him if he succeeded in that because it’s not like he hid that goal. He knew he had to combine the ideas of what he saw as dance music with what kinds of sounds and voices he knew mainstream America would get into. It’s why he went to the big pop/R&B singers and some rappers to make new tunes, and the people who normally never go into all this suddenly got into EDM.

Now as for the factors of pre-recorded DJ sets, faking it on stage, throwing cakes, big light/pyro shows trumping the DJ set, etc…that’s the music industry. I used to hear stories of 10,000-person events in Europe where they were playing minimal tech house on vinyl. I could buy it, but I don’t think that was as common as many want to believe. I’ll see video of events in the 90s and 00s and still see mainly poppy dance music played for crowds who didn’t make it as big a priority as the music nerds did.

In the end, DJs and producers need to realize that average people really aren’t as “into it” as they are. You could take the most talented techno DJ who can do 4-deck live mixing and remixing, and watch him struggle to get a decent crowd next to the kid with the top 100 pop tunes and a laptop. It’s mainly because the crowd liked the kid with his pop music. Now imagine if that techno DJ came in to play pop music in his more creative sense? Even then the crowd might prefer “easily digestible” over “wildly creative”.

I’ve been known as an underrated by many in my home town, but it doesn’t mean I “deserved” to play anywhere. It just meant that the community thought I was talented in my sets, but the hard reality was I didn’t have a big enough following to drive myself into bigger endeavors.

I’ll wrap up my rambling here. I think one should realize what “underground” really means as opposed to what they perceive it to be, and to be careful what they wish for in terms of mainstream popularity. I also think one should decide what they want out of DJing and producing when they embark. If they want to be a wealthy superstar, then they might have to pander to the marketing machine and water down their sound for people to digest. If they want to be an underground superstar, then be prepared to work even harder to go there. If they want to be “underground” and not work insanely hard, then accept you might not play the big events.

No one “deserves” or “doesn’t deserve” fame…but it’s not always going to come from what we think is “talent” or “creativity”. It comes from gaining a large fan base and audience. That’s the music business.

David Morales’s Facebook post:

“Why are NON PRODUCER DJ’s forcing themselves to make records? Why??? It’s the reason why there’s so much mediocre crap out there! It’s funny how a new DJ calls himself a remixer/producer w/o even making a record. But unfortunately DJ’s are “required” to have a record charting in order to get recognized and get gigs. WHAT A FARCE! There’s so many nn DJ’s getting paid just bc they made a record. NOT bc their a good DJ. The majority are crap! Can’t play beyond their programmed set. DUH!! And the REAL DJ that doesn’t care or doesn’t need to make a record is the one suffering. What has happened to THE ART???!!!! Does anyone care? Obviously NOT! Shame.”

At first I would like to know who do you mean with “Underground DJs”? The term “underground” has been used so losely recently, that it became just another anti-EDM catchphrase. For me, a REAL underground DJ, is someone who spins at (more or less) illegal parties, is probably known by a small part of their local scene and who plays sounds that are so far out that Beatport wouldn’t even touch them with a 10 1/2 foot pole.

Of course within the Disco Sucks Anti-EDM movement, super popular DJs and Producer like Green Velvet or DJ Sneak, who are in the biz for decades, are huge household names, release their tracks as Beatport or iTunes exclusive and play on every mainfloor from Berlin to Ibiza, wave the underground banner, simply because they don’t play EDM. Which is Bullshit, IMO.

Are popular EDM DJs talented: Some of them definitely are! Guetta started out when there was nothing else than Vinyl, so did Laidback Luke. A-Trak is one the most talented scratch DJs ever and Deadmau5 does some pretty innovative things. Basically what I’m saying is: Just because it’s EDM, it’s not automatically bad. There are super talented DJs who just happen to like and play this kind of music, just like there are boring and untalented “underground” DJs en masse.