Bum day... turned to learning

Today was a day filled with mixed emotions. Originally, Hassan and I had planned to meet at his house after school to work on our mix, tackle BPM(beats per minute), and perfecting our transitioning. Throughout the day I was really excited to get back on the turntables and see how my research may have helped my understanding of music. Unfortunately, Hassan and I were unable to meet due to a family conflict... UGH. So instead of DJing for the majority of my afternoon, what did I do? I slept.... (which was really needed as this week of school was brutal) However once I woke up, I didn't know what to do with myself. I could either parooze Youtube for a bunch of cool videos, I could start Les Miserables (Once again, UGH), OR I could combine homework and videos into researching DJing techniques and styles. So for the about three hours, I spent flipping through "How to DJ" videos, and seemed like the information was pretty dry and overall very generic. The standard, "Get your equipment, cue up music, and practice" was said in almost every video and I felt like I wasn't really learning anything. I didn't have the equipment because it was at Hassan's house, which means I couldn't cue up music and practice. Although I have the software, Virtual DJ, it is extremely difficult to mix without the correct setup and equipment. So that was my struggle of the evening...

However after about an hour of aimlessly roaming Youtube in search of an informative guide, I finally found one! It was essentially a video about how to transition from a fast paced song (High BPM) to a slower song (Low BPM) in a way that doesn't simply fade in and fade out of a song. Instead of just turning off the volume of one song in order to transition into a slower song, which doesn't really work because the BPM doesn't match, the video essentially loops the slower song so that it seems to have a higher BPM. Once the slower song is looped really quickly, it seems to have a faster BPM, and then you can just turn off the loop, and that way you can make transitions from high BPM to low BPM very seamlessly. Previously in the original mix Hassan and I made, we had a lot of awkward mixes mainly due to different song tempos. By using this mixing style, I think we can eliminate the awkward transitions and instead go from high to low BPM seamlessly.

Here's the video, and although he messes up at the end, this tactic can be really useful for DJing. Unfortunately I couldn't find this on Vimeo, so if you are in school be sure to go home and watch this because it is really interesting.

The reason why I have done most of my research so far through video is that it is very difficult to understand DJing without actually seeing it happen. There are a lot of moving parts, and jargon that I find it easier to watch videos and then replicate it in practice than to read an article where I don't know exactly what to do. 

After my long day of DJ researching, I was craving to mix some music, so I busted out Virtual DJ and just started fiddling around with the software, getting to know it, and discovering some features. I now understand effects like BeatGrid where essentially you can create a beat and then press the effect, and the beat will play through the music. (Once again explaining music through writing is very difficult and next time I film I will be sure to have a video of that) However once I was DJing on my computer, which is once again a frustrating and difficult task, I realized that I REALLY wanted my own set of turntables so that I could practice, and hopefully use my DJ skills in the future. After doing a bunch of research on different DJ sets that were below $200, I narrowed it down to two that really interested me. 

1. Numark Mixtrack PRO - $164.99... Probably my top choice as it is cheap, is compatible with Virtual DJ and it is the same as Hassan's so I am already familiar with the equipment. 

2. Hercules DJ Controller with "Touch" and "Air" Controls- $149.59... Cheaper of the two, not compatible with Virtual DJ so I would have to reteach myself the equipment, but the looping and effects on it are much better as there is "Magic Looping" which automatically creates looping effects for you to use. Also there is an effect that you can place your hand on a sensor and move your hand away or towards it in order to control effects, however this only works with the program it comes with, DJUICED, and I don't think I want to backtrack and relearn a DJing software. 

Overall today was a bum day that turned into a learning day I finally understand BPM and transitioning. Hopefully tomorrow Hassan and I will meet up, or I will order my own turntables so that I can practice. Other than that, here is some more music that I have been listening to these past few days:

TURN UP THE VOLUME AND MAKE WAY FOR SOME CRIZZLY

Way We Ball- Crizzly
https://soundcloud.com/crizzly/way-we-ball-crizzly-remix-by

Snap Back Swag- Aj-Hernz (Crizzly Remix)
https://soundcloud.com/crizzly/aj-hernz-snap-back-swag

Lost Woods- Crizzly Remix --- This is basically the Zelda theme song remixed, it's pretty cool!
https://soundcloud.com/crizzly/lost-woods-crizzly-remix

COOL BLOGS

If you have the time you should definitely check these blogs out.

iPhoneFanboyBlog.blogspot.com (Iphone App Development)

brofesttrickshots.blogspot.com (Trick Shot Blog)

peartisapunkpalmerisagod.blogspot.com (Album Collab Blog)                                                                                           http://radishgrowinggenius.blogspot.com (RADISH GROWIN' Blog) http://sundrew.blogspot.com/ (Carnivorous Plant Registering Blog) http://pressforpaint.blogspot.com/ (Spray Painting Blog)                                                                                           http://equestri-anne.blogspot.com/ (Horse Riding Blog) http://streetdancein7weeks.blogspot.com/ (Street Dancing Blog) http://sebastianm-gifted-genius-project.blogspot.com/ (Glasses Blog)                                                                                           http://calmbone.blogspot.com/ (EP making) http://jennamakesfood.blogspot.com/ (Cake Baking) http://quadroflcopter.blogspot.com/ (QUAD) While you guys are reading these great blogs I suggest listening to a music producer by the name of SPVCE. SPVCE plays really chill music that are all pretty much instrumentals with some background vocals. Overall great contemporary beats that are solid reading music. Check him out too! http://spvcebeats.com/ I suggest scrolling down to all the albums and checking out those and not the top albums because the top ones have raps over the beats. My favorite albums are, Trees, Basement Files, Progress, and Baasic. Enjoy!

Raw Film

Inexperienced mix link (<---CLICK)

Today Hassan and I met up to work on our genius project. However in order to track ourselves over the course of the project, we decided to first take a video of our skills, or lack thereof to see where we needed improvement. It turns out that we need improvement everywhere! As you can see, Hassan and I lacked the knowledge of how to transition properly, use effects, scratch, and use the volume to our advantage. At times we were behind on cut transitions, and overall the mix seemed very forced and unnatural. Although Hassan and I were pretty much awful at mixing, as you can see from our hand throwing, and leg movement, we were having a great time.

Being that this was the first time I have DJed, I decided to forget about the fact that I was messing up, but to just enjoy it. As DJ Iceman once said, "The bottom line from all of this is, I don't care if it's Digital, I don't care if it's Vinyl...Our goal as DJs is to rock a _____ crowd. Period!" Taking this advice to heart, I believe that if the DJ isn't having fun, then neither is the crowd. I have been to parties where the DJ simply sits there and doesn't engage with the crowd, and those parties are usually the ones that nobody has fun at. When Hassan and I were DJing we were having a blast. There was nobody else we were playing for, but it didn't matter, as we were jumping around, and just having a great time. This just shows that both of us have such a love for music, and a passion for it that will hopefully fuel this project and allow us to improve from this mix. At the end of the day, although I may have done a terrible job DJing, it was my first time, and that simply means that there is a lot of room for improvement. 

Also if you were wondering what songs we used in this mix here they are!

1. Shot Yourself in the Foot Again By Skream
2. Kraken By Skepp x Hawk x Waino
3. Mercy By Kanye West (RL Grime Remix)
4. I Can't Stop By Flux Pavilion 
5. Up (Earthquake) By DJ Fresh and Diplo
6. Lobster Beat By JWLO
7. Pursuit of Happiness By Kid Cudi (Steve Aoki Remix)
8. Slip By Baauer
9. First Aid Kit By Winter is All Over You (Baauer Remix)

Once again for the best effect turn up the speakers and enjoy!

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