Tips for Younger DJs and Producers

The tips I would give to younger DJs or producers are to really be curious about the different styles. Personally, I learned from challenging myself to understand the differences between various artists and styles.

Understanding Influences

For instance, in the late 80s, if you listen to Derek May and his DJing style, it was really wild.

"The guy was like a tiger jumping from one record to the other, always creating energy and always going from one style to the other."

When I read about the history or had the chance to meet Derek and speak to other DJs, they often shared insights. For example, Derek mentioned the influence Ron Hardy had on him:

"I would drive to Chicago and hear him play. He was playing the records real fast and mixing them in a way that gave electricity to the room."

So, what I'm trying to tell you is that I learned from Derek, who learned from Ron Hardy. We're all learning from one another.

The Importance of Studying

However, it's not only about learning; it's about studying. There is:

• What the artist gives you
• What you go and get

It may sound obvious, but it's a good tip. For instance, if you look through records in New York, consider how the Barel On New Groove produced music. Ask yourself:

• How did it sound?
• Why was it jazz-infused?

They also created tracks that have a very Chicago or electronic influence. It's interesting to always be curious.

"There is this big flavor this artist is doing, but he's also doing this. Why?"

That's the best tip I could give to someone wanting to discover music: go to the end of it and understand why it sounds the way it does.

Explore Online Resources

To listen to older mixes or those from DJs who have passed away, you can explore amazing resources like Mixes DB, which is a huge catalog of DJ mixes.

There are many websites where you can navigate these mixes. But you really have to dig deep to understand the differences.

Studying Production Techniques

When it comes to producing, I've been studying records from artists like Totteri and Masters at Work from New York, as well as Chicago artists like Armando and Tyree Cooper.

"The more you study, the more you understand how the artists work."

For example, with Masters at Work and Totteri, they used drum machine samplers such as the MPC 3000 or SP1200. Those machines had a specific sound and groove that shaped their music.

• Armando or Mike Dunn were using 909 or 808 drum machines with TB303, which created the sounds they loved.

The more you understand the techniques, the more it helps you focus on the music and its classification.

Vintage Equipment Insights

To illustrate, I realized that Derek May or even Carl Craig initially used older samplers, like:

• Ensoniq Mirage sampler

This sampler had a very specific grain and texture that gave their music its charm.

Mentorship through Observation

What I'm saying is similar to having mentors or virtual mentors as teachers. You might say:

"Okay, I'm in love with the way Little Wee Vega mixes. I'm going to learn as much as I can from watching him, listening to him, and understanding the equipment he uses and why."

The same applies to producing. All producers know that:

"The more you know about the instruments that people use, the better you can analyze their music and understand why it moves you in a particular way."

Conclusion

This was a quick summary of how you can learn by researching artists and DJs to gain insights into their influences and equipment.

Of course, online, there are countless resources that outline what sounds or machines help shape music styles in various cities. Every producer or music fan can tell you how significant certain machines were.

For instance, Totteri is a prime example. The early Totteri productions heavily featured the MPC SP1200, a legendary drum machine also prevalent in hip-hop.

This machine had such grain and character that it made his music truly stand out.

In my opinion, the genius works both ways:

"The machine is amazing, the producer is amazing. Combined together, it's magic."