First Impressions (Blog #1)

What am I passionate about? I have no idea... was what first came to mind as I have never really immersed myself in a hobby like growing carnivorous plants, or playing an instrument. Looking at myself, I began to see that I didn't really have a passion, or one that I had ever explored. I knew that I, like most people, liked money (I mean who doesn't like money right), but could I really spend seven weeks making money and creating a business? Probably not. Instead I searched deeper inside myself to find something that I have always wanted to do. Everything from learning how to parkour to making sushi flooded my mind, but I didn't really have the determination and feeling of passion that comes to me when I really enjoy something. Back to square one. 

After days of thinking of topic after topic that didn't interest me, I went to a party to clear my mind. However in the process of taking a break from brainstorming, I had my eureka moment! I was getting ready for the party and blasting trap music, which is a genre similar to dubstep, and I couldn't help throwing my hands in the air and just dancing. I pretty much ended up looking like people from the Harlem Shake videos. However while looking ridiculous, I realized that electronic music similar to that of the Harlem Shake was something that I found very interesting, and exciting. What other music can someone dance however they want, and it still be socially accepted? In the video there is a man punching a rubber giraffe and it doesn't even matter to anyone else. Trap music is something that allows people to express themselves through dancing whichever way they please, and personally I think that being the creator of such expression would be an awesome experience. If I could create music that allows for people to express themselves any way they please, it's simply a win win situation.

Music has always played a prevalent role in my life. Ever since I was a little kid, my parents introduced me to many different kinds of exotic music from their travels around the world. Being brought up in a musically diverse home ranging from lounge music from Thailand to the rapid beats of India, my mind has always enjoyed hearing different kinds of music. Although I had a profound interest in music, anytime I tried playing it, I was unable to create such exotic beats that I had once been accustomed to as in school and in classes I would simply learn how to play, “Hot Crossed Buns” or “Happy Birthday”. As my efforts to learn how to play the clarinet and guitar didn’t translate into the kind of music I enjoyed, I started to become discouraged. Of course at such an impatient age of 10 I really didn’t want to spend hours of practicing music I didn’t enjoy, so I eventually quit playing. I think the reason why I wasn’t immersed in those two instruments was because I didn’t really like the kind of music they produced. However now that I have been introduced to trap, dubstep, and house music, I have found a type of music that I thoroughly enjoy as each DJ's style allows for endless combinations of bass and fast paced beats. Not only are DJ's capable of making whatever kind of music they want, as previously mentioned, more modern DJ's create an environment where people are able to express themselves however they please. Learning how to DJ, and understanding how different genres work with others would finally allow me to express myself through music, and allow others to express themselves through dance.

By the end of the 7 week process, I hope to be able to perform a 1-2 minute live mix in front of the entire class. Using the knowledge I will acquire through my study of how to DJ, I will be able to create a mix that is so exciting that hopefully I will be able to get people to stand up and dance! In order to show how much I have progressed over the course of 7 weeks, I will record a mix when I have no experience and then compare it to the live performance I present in class. In addition, every week I will perform to my partner, Hassan, and we will evaluate each other to see if we have improved our skills. These skills being, volume control, transitioning, effects, cutting, and overall mixing. Each week we will focus on one of these skills, see how they have improved by recording and comparing. At the end of the project, I hope to become a DJ that is able to perform live with proper fading, transitioning, effects, and timing.

In order to build my knowledge of DJing, I will start off by reading the classic to any how to project, DJing for Dummies, as well as research more about different DJing techniques. I have already broken down my next 7 weeks into 6 phases that are as follows:

Phase 1. To obtain and understand equipment
Phase 2. Learning how to fade In/Out (Volume Control)

Phase 3. Successfully transitioning from one song to the next

Phase 4. Understand when to use effects

Phase 5. Learn to cut transition seamlessly

Phase 6. Understand the audience    

After these steps are complete I believe I will be ready to create and perform a 1-2 minute live mix. Let's hope that my newfound passion for music will shine through my DJing, and hopefully you will all want to jump in and dance like you don't care. Oh and from now on, call me DJ Yush. (Pronounced DEE-JAY YOU-SH)

Here is some trap samples if you were wondering what it is. (Turn up the volume for the best effect)

https://soundcloud.com/yellowclaw/major-lazer-jah-no-partial
https://soundcloud.com/nickraymondg/baauer-slip-radio-rip
https://soundcloud.com/nickraymondg/waka-flocka-ft-wale-no-handz