The lines between DJing and live performance are blurring, especially for artists who, at their core, identify as producers. For this DJ, the thrill lies in constructing a set piece by piece, much like building a track in the studio. Imagine a hi-hat loop established on one Pioneer CDJ, drums layered in from another, and then an acapella deftly woven in before seamlessly transitioning into the next track. This isn’t just mixing songs; it’s a dynamic, evolving performance built on loops, hot cues, and transformative breakdowns. Having even experimented with setups involving six CDJs, this approach is driven by a “performance-producer ego”—a desire to inject fun and spontaneity into every show, moving beyond pre-programmed sets, even on the biggest stages.
This philosophy positions DJ sets closer to live performances, a shift that began around 2016 or 2017. Having tasted the freedom of live performance setups, a standard two-deck mix simply became too restrictive. The catalyst was a festival run where live elements were introduced. This expansion opened up new creative avenues, making traditional mixing feel less engaging.
While the core style remains rooted in vinyl mixing techniques, the modern approach is undeniably more performance-oriented. The emphasis is on looping, live bootlegging, and incorporating edits to create a unique vibe. This DJ embodies two sides: the love for intimate, dark clubs – the foundation of DJ culture – and the exhilaration of massive stages. Although larger crowds bring bigger nerves, a deep familiarity with the music being played – often 90% original productions, Swedish House Mafia tracks, or label releases – fosters a natural playground for improvisation. This comfort allows for extensive preparation, going far beyond simply selecting tracks.
Festival sets are meticulously crafted, rarely relying on generic top 10 charts. Instead, the focus is on bespoke edits, stem removals to prevent vocal clashes, and personalized arrangements. Pioneer DJ’s Rekordbox software is instrumental in this process, offering unparalleled organization and workflow efficiency. Ideas sparked mid-flight can be quickly realized: envisioning a specific bassline layered with another track leads to on-the-go edits, bassline removal, and seamless integration into Rekordbox.
This level of preparation provides the freedom to manipulate tracks in real-time. Keys can be switched on synths and songs, chords can be borrowed from different tracks – approximately 80% of each festival set comprises custom edits. Vocal snippets are surgically removed to make way for others, all possible thanks to the intuitive nature of Rekordbox. However, spontaneity still has its place. A seven-hour back-to-back set in Ibiza alongside Solomon demanded improvisation, a departure from pre-edited perfection. Yet, for large-scale festivals, the groundwork laid with Pioneer Dj Gear and Rekordbox unlocks complete creative liberty.
The demand for these exclusive edits is constant after each performance. However, these personalized versions remain unique to each show, a testament to the live, moment-driven nature of this producer-DJ’s art, all facilitated by the power and flexibility of Pioneer DJ equipment.
