DJ Dain

I DJ with mashups almost exclusively and have been producing my own since 2008. I consider them a sub-style of remixing since there’s usually a fair bit of a production process involved. I love playing them out because of the reactions I often get. People think they’re about to hear one song, but when they hear another vocal the also recognize they usually freak out in a good way. There’s always that moment of audible confusion, which can be really tense and can go either way, but usually there’s a group of people to lead off with a sing-a-long. Hearing people switch between singing Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” is always a fun sight to see. 🙂

I used to consider Girl Talk’s work “hyper-sampling” or a “hyper-mashup” but then I discovered Madeon:

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This kid is only 17! Sometimes it makes me rethink what I’ve been doing. 😛

I’m actually thinking about starting a more advanced mashup project in the vein of Girl Talk that will allow me perform more as an electronic artist than a DJ – that is, most if not the entire performance would be prepared in advance, like a rock band plans a set. There would be some breathing-room to improvise or change if nessasary, but ideally it will follow a predetermined plan. This will allow me to (eventually) build and add-on a programmed light show, which is not something I can currently achieve just through DJ-ing.

For me, the core job is constantly asking myself “What is the right song for this moment, right now?”

Then you play the song (provided you have it with you!) – It’s about a very Zen way of thinking.

Everything else is just style and polish.

Mashups you say?

For websites that aggregate and filter mashup content try Bootie and Mashup Town. Most of mashup producers I follow post most of their own content online, including Party Ben and DJ Lobsterdust.

Then there’s my stuff (shameless self promotion link).

I won’t claim to play anything in a professional capacity – I prefer to self-teach/learn by ear. I started out with piano/keys when I really young (with private lessons), drums (the full kit) in band class in grade five, alto saxophone in my High School’s band class (plus private lessons), plus electric/acoustic guitar, ocarina, and harmonica. Sometimes I’ll also beat-box and/or hambone a beat to myself.

Phil Morse, post: 506 wrote: I don’t mind this type, I enjoy sharing info about my set-up etc

Seconding this.

The first thing that comes to mind as “annoying” are the times someone places a request and then proceeds to hang around the booth waiting for me to play it. It creates a really uncomfortable atmosphere – as if their entitled to whatever they requested to be played right away (or at all for that matter). Next to that would be people who return to the booth and ask why their request hasn’t been played yet, and/or when I’m going to play it. I really want to tell these people to just chill-out, go get another drink and find someone to dance with in the meantime. I don’t mind requests too much because it’s valuable info for reading the crowd, but I hate being treated like a jukebox.