Seychelles’ digital DJs – the high-tech way to party! |20 May 2011
But in this fast-developing world, a new trend in entertainment is threatening to overthrow the more popular leaders in this field and replace them with a more technologically-advanced solution.
So what’s a deejay then?
A disc jockey or deejay is by general definition is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, disk referred to phonograph records, while disc referred to the compact disc, and has become the more common spelling. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.
Today’s trend leans more to where one uses DJ softwares installed on a laptop or controller to mix existing songs, create remixes or perform at an event, also known as a gig.
In Seychelles, the more popular DDJ softwares are Virtual DJ, Traktor, Serato Scratch, and the controllers include Hercules RMX, Pioneer DDJ S-1, Numark Mixtrack and Vestax series. With these tools at hand, DDJs can cue, equalise, pitch bend, beat-match, scratch music and mix songs, to keep a crowd on their feet (and their hands in the air) for the entire duration of the gig.
Seychelles deejays – from syncing rookies to spinning pros
Amateur DDJ Juan Nourrice says one of the most important parts of performing is to be interactive with his crowd, able to “read” them and know what they want from him, give it to them and in general interact with them through the music he plays.
“It’s important to keep your crowd on the dance floor. No DDJ wants to see an empty dance floor when he is performing. He has to keep the ladies screaming and the guys on their feet,” he said.
“And of course, compared to a radio deejay, who is less likely to focus on music-mixing procedures and techniques than an s club DJ, DDJs have to ensure a smooth transition between songs – the smoother the transition the better the mix.”
In Seychelles DDJs perform for years at various levels – from rookies to pros –using DJ software on laptops to strut their stuff. From the home DJ, who keeps his mixes confined to his bedroom, to the amateur who plays at gigs upon request, to the ‘pros’ who ‘spin’ regularly at nightclubs, everyone can earn a place in this field according to their talent.
La Faya bar resident DJ Johnny Louys – who goes under the stage name Dr J – said the level of the performances every week are quite high in the clubs in Seychelles and the competition is fierce among DDJs who want to be seen as part of the elite DDJs.
“We have got some amazing standards here nowadays and people are constantly pushing each other in terms of skills and technology – from those who specialise in ‘spinning’, using CDJs, softwares or Digital Vinyl systems and so on,” he said.
There are also mobile DDJs who upon request from event organisers transport their sound systems to gigs, play recorded music at a number of events and then leave with their gear in tow.
Should you quit your day job for it?
Lovenut nightclub resident deejay Peter Toule said one could, but with the level of competition nowadays one has to be very proactive to get gigs as there are times during the year when there are not that many events being organised for mobile deejays.
“A lot of guys out there offer low prices for gigs but do not necessarily give what is considered a good performance for that price,” he said.
“Others who ask for what is considered higher prices do so because they know they will perform to the complete satisfaction of their crowd and use better and more professional equipment too. So organisers need to keep that in mind when budgeting for their events.”
Want to learn to ‘spin like a pro’?
It seems like the norm to start deejaying nowadays is to get a sound system, laptop and controller and with the available soft ware it so easy to manipulate songs. It seems then that almost anybody can do it.
But could just any deejay perform to the same level when faced with a set of analogue equipment, no laptop, and has to rely on traditional techniques like cueing, manual beat-matching, equalising and mixing?
Dr J offers the following advice for those wanting to get into DDJing.
“Learn the real skills of DJing like proper and manual beat-matching, phrasing and planning your sets.
“A lot of rookies are more like 'Virtual DJ’ users and they just press a ‘Sync’ button. That’s the easy way to do it, but they do not know how to read the crowd, plan a good two or three-hour set. These are the essential skills for you to be a great DJ. So go out there and learn them, have fun and furthermore make giving your crowd a good time your absolute priority! Good luck!” he said.
By Ivan ‘DJ Dee’ Hollanda