I've often looked up in awe (eyes wide open, complete adoration... you get the idea!) to a good deejay who can mix well. I've heard my fair share of these doctors of spin and sometimes I just wonder, where does the inspiration come from? Is spinning a good track the same as writing a story with a plot? Or is it just random inspiration? Or do you start with a basic theme and improvise as you go along? What gets the best mix going?
Through a highly methodical and thorough research method (read as talking to my club-hopping friends), I came to form a divide in my mind - the kind of DJs that spin tracks with tricks to wow the crowd, and the kind that are almost invisible in their booth but can get the crowd dancing all night long. There are times where I've heard the coolest guys and gals blow me away with some wickedly creative mixing and then there are times where I've been thankful for a DJ who can just keep me dancing, song after song, all night long.
There are clubs a dime a dozen in our fair city and there are a bazillion DJs who claim to have the perfect mix. But at the end of it all, what differentiates a great DJ from an average one? In my humble opinion, I think it's the ability to feed off the vibes that the crowd gives out at any given night. I've seen Dj's play on oblivious to the thinning crowd on the floor. For some unknown reason, they are on their own trip and fail to see that they just can't get it on that night. Then there is the other kind that eggs the crowd on towards some kind of bliss with pulsating mixes, a divine beat and some sweet music. That's my kind of DJ, who can read his or her crowd and get them groovin'.
When it comes to desi Djs, I think the biggest challenge is to find a balance between playing just Bollywood tracks all night and other non-film music. It's a toughie all right. Track after track of just Himesh Reshammiya's latest doesn't work for me. Asking for too much? I don't think so! In any case, it's time to LISTEN UP to those doctors of spin...
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