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Part 2

Let’s say you have a gig coming up tonight. What does your approach look like – from selecting the material and preparing for, opening and then building a set?

I update my playlists on a weekly basis and if there’s particular songs or one of my own productions I want to play/test I set that music aside. As for preparing I have specific playlists organized by genre of music and BPM range. For example "Techno 122-124 BPM" or "Melodic Techno 122-126 BPM". Inside each of those lists I arrange from oldest release to newest so I know exactly where my latest downloads are. By using this method I know all the songs in the playlist work well together and have a similar feeling. So during a set if I want to raise the level of the room I move up the play list. The night I try to arrive as early as possible. This gives me a chance to scope out the crowd, listen to the sound system and to get comfortable.

Can you describe your state of mind during a DJ set? What supports this ideal state of mind and what are distractions? Are there strategies to enter into this state more easily?

I follow the motto "One foot in the booth, one foot on the dance floor" when it comes to DJing. I love the music just as much as the people who are there dancing! I have as much fun as possible and this is my ideal state. In order for me to get to this state I will look up into the crowd, make connections by smiling and making eye contact with those on the dance floor. I want to say that there's a strategy to enter this state more easily but for me it's just being confident in my music.
 
What are some of the considerations that go into deciding which track to play next? What makes two tracks a good fit? How far do you tend to plan ahead during a set?

I always look at the whole dance floor as one big life form. I take into consideration the space, what are those people there for? What are they trying to get out of this club experience? From there I can play a few  tracks that are a bit different from each other and read how the audience absorbs that frequency I'm sending out. Musical breaks are important if you’re playing an extended set. Not every song should be a hand up in the air kind of tune. As for how far I plan ahead during the set it varies. When I'm scrolling through the CDJs I will see a song and just know it will go. Sometimes it's more intuitive and the best dance floor moments come from mixing with unexpected results giving a human experience to a technological way of performing.

Would you say you see DJing as improvisation? As composition in the moment? Or as something entirely different from these terms?

Understanding what emotions each track in your playlist can elicit on a person is of great importance. Being fully aware of your track selections allows the DJ to improvise and gives the performer confidence to play in the moment.

How do playing music at home and  presenting it in the club compare and relate? What can be achieved through them, respectively, and what do you personally draw from both?

DJing in the studio is an optimal time to understand your music. When I have a jam session I discover songs that work well together. As for playing a gig, this is the time to share those discoveries you’ve made in the studio. This process excites me and I can't wait to play those tracks. Upon seeing everyone go off it makes me excited to go back and discover more music to share. It's a cycle feeding into one another.

How would you describe the relationship between your choices and goals as a DJ and the expectations, desires and feedback of the audience? How does this relationship manifest itself during a performance and how do you concretely tap into it?

At a party everyone works towards the same goal and that is to have fun. DJs want to give an authentic performance and dancers want you to play well too! Feedback from the audience is essential and by listening you earn their trust to take them on a journey with you. Once I gain that back and forth dynamic, I can test tracks that I'm working on and watch for the crowd's reaction. By doing this I'm not only providing them an exclusive listening experience, but I'm having a conversation with them through the music. "Hey, here is a new sound, what do you guys think?". Their reaction is a response and depending on that response, I can fine tune the song. As a result I bring better music to the dance floor that was inspired by my listeners.

Especially thanks to the storage facilities of digital media, DJ sets could potentially go on forever. Other than closing time, what marks the end of a DJ performance for you? What are the most satisfying conclusions to a set?

I bring around 3000 songs to a gig. It’s nice to know you have a lot of music to choose from. And yes, DJ sets could go on forever, especially when you get into the groove of things! For me closing time is the only feat that marks the end of a performance. But the most satisfying conclusion to a set is when the lights spark on and everybody chants “One more song!” It puts a smile on my face.

Art can be a purpose in its own right, but it can also directly feed back into everyday life, take on a social and political role and lead to more engagement. Can you describe your approach to art and being an artist?

My approach is seeing my life as living in art. I pull inspiration from the time of day, nature, weather, colours and emotions. I want to make music that reflects these things. Music helps me discover who I am and what I'm feeling inside and being a producer is the perfect way to share those discoveries.


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