SoulGood.com
SoulGood · House Charts . SG Set Lists/Downloads · News · Reviews . Podcast
Display: Sort:
Soul Good Top 10 (November 2004) | 24 comments (24 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
My thoughts.... (none / 0) (#1)
by Ben James on Fri Dec 3rd, 2004 at 02:29:05 AM CST
(User Info)

I thought I'd post my comments here Bill rather than discuss via Soul Good Live Chat so others can post their thoughts if they feel so inclined...

Guess I'd like to preface my comments by saying this my take on the situation at present, my attitude has changed over the past years and is likely to change in the future I suppose - in response to feedback to my post perhaps.

First of all I'd like to reiterate two comments I think I've made earlier.

  1. The SG collective has an extremely unselfish view toward promoting house. I'm extremely grateful for the website and the show in assisting my train spotting.

  2. I think I place more importance on the skill in track selection than you Bill. I believe you underestimate your tune watching/hunting/collecting skill, and I think it goes a long way in making up the worth of a DJ, especially in this Adelaide scene.

Moving on from that, I'd like to comment re: "some (DJs) don't like to tell others info regarding tracks (maybe it's ... taking away their "identity")". I think that's definitely the major reason. If you don't excel in set construction or direction, what more do you have than track selection?  It may not be in the best interest of the house movement to be secretive, but it's quite understandably a human trait. Even you commented "After all, the tracks that a certain DJ plays are how we identify them and how we identify with them."

The most interesting point I'd like to discuss from your post Bill is re: "The only negative comment that I would make is that playing "older" and "safer" sometimes reflects a general disrespect for the intelligence and tastes of an audience."

Are we not in danger of over estimating the intelligence of our audiences?

I'd have little hesitation in suggesting your knowledge of house far exceeds any one else on the dance floor... I feel that we should play above the level of the audience in an attempt to educate them and open their eyes and ears to new sounds, but at what level? We don't chuck a 5 year old into year 12... who are we to say crowds are ready for the quantity of new music you are in tune with?
As for the `tastes' of the audience - is it just me getting nagged for `Chicken Lips' `I am Tha 1' and `Four to the Floor' every week?'

I'd also like to bring up the point of whether residents have different (more or less) responsibility or power in promoting new house than you. Your sets Bill are less frequent, and I think people see them more as `events', and come with higher expectations of newer tunes and upfront styles. Does a resident have more responsibility to promote new tunes, having the privilege of having the crowd every week, or do they have less right to do so, as more people who come across their sets will be there mostly because of the venue, not going to see a DJ who plays once a month in an event style setting?

I'd like to hear other's thoughts...

Ben James.




Soul Good Top 10 (November 2004) | 24 comments (24 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
Display: Sort:

Login
**HI THERE**

Before you can post comments or stories, you'll need a user account!

You can start one very easily by clicking on the link below. This requires a valid email address, so that we can email you a password. Click Below to...
Make a new account

If you have problems setting up your account, take a quick look at the help page. If you still have trouble, please email admin

..or if you already have a user account, put in your username and password below, so we know who you are...
Username:
Password:

Powered by Scoop
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Comments are owned by the Poster. The rest © 2006-2011 SoulGood.com

create account | faq | search