DJ Culture
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Watch: Bass Music Artist Figure on How DJing Helped Him Learn How to Produce
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Bass music DJ/producer Figure has gone from the fringes of Indiana to stages worldwide. He started out as a hip-hop DJ in the rave scene before becoming a household name in dubstep.
Figure’s production skills brought him to Skrillex‘s OWSLA label, where he released his Horns of the Apocalypse EP in 2013. He went on to create his own label, DOOM MUSIC, as an outlet to release heavy bass music from himself and other up-and-coming producers.
On this episode of A Moment With, Figure talks about how DJing helped him learn how to produce, how hip-hop and horror movies have influenced his sound, and more.
Watch above.
Follow Figure on Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud, and Twitter.
Follow DJs Are Not Jukeboxes on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.
93-Year-Old DJ Art Laboe Spins Oldies to Connect Inmates and Family
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Art Laboe in his Palm Springs, California studio. (Credit: AP)After 75 years on the air, legendary radio DJ Art Laboe still resonates with listeners. The 93-year-old currently hosts a syndicated oldies show on 93.5 KDAY in Los Angeles.
According to NBC Southern California, Laboe “credits one group of listeners for keeping him on the air after 75 years: family members who want to send messages to loved ones in prison.”
Every Sunday on The Art Laboe Connection Show, the Palm Springs-based DJ asks family members to call in to make dedications to inmates in California, Arizona or Nevada.
“I don’t judge,” Laboe told The Associated Press. “I like people.”
Born Arthur Egnoian in Salt Lake City, Laboe grew in an Armenian American family during the Great Depression. He attended Stanford University and served during World War II. Eventually, he got a job as a radio announcer at KSAN in San Francisco.
However, it Laboe’s tenure as a DJ at KXLA in Los Angeles that gained him fame. NBC writes that “Laboe was one of the first DJs to play R&B and rock ‘n’ roll in California and is credited by scholars for helping integrate dance halls among Latinos, blacks, Asian Americans and whites …” His show became the city’s top radio program.
Laboe has maintained a fan base over the decades, especially among Mexican Americans. In the 1990s, he started getting calls from inmates’ family members. Current and former gang members are some of his most loyal listeners.
In 2015, iHeartMedia’s KHHT-FM (92.3) canceled Laboe’s show after the station switched to a hip-hop format, sparking protest. Laboe later returned to the airwaves on KDAY.
Related: This 82-Year-Old Dumpling Maker Is Now a Professional DJ
Watch: ‘Inside Turntablists’ Puts a Spotlight on DJ Chile
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DJ Chile (Credit: Boom City)British creative collective Boom City has released the latest episode of their documentary series, Inside Turntablists. This episode features DJ Chile, an award-winning UK turntablist based out of Hull.
Chile is a 15-year veteran of the DJ community. He is the 2011 WTK World Freestyle Scratch champion and the 2013 IDA UK Freestyle Scratch champion. In addition to battling, he also produces a series of scratching tutorials which are available on his YouTube channel.
Watch the episode and a routine from DJ Chile below.
Related: Watch: ‘Inside Turntablists’ Puts a Spotlight on DJ Soak
DJcity and DJ Vice Team Up for ‘Beyond the Music Retreat’
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DJcity and genre-bending DJ/producer Vice have teamed up to host the Beyond the Music Retreat, an educational conference dedicated to helping DJs from around the world take their careers to a higher level.
The retreat, which will take place in Denver, Colorado from March 4 to 6, will offer a variety of panel discussions with some of the brightest minds in the industry.
Hotel packages will be available. Sign up here to receive updates.
Related: Win a Trip to the Red Bull Music 3Style IX World Finals
Female DJs Connect at Ladies Linkup in Los Angeles
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In November, more than 100 DJs got together for DJcity’s Ladies Linkup in downtown Los Angeles. The inspiring event featured performances by Syntax, Spinorita, and J Rose, and a talk by Lindsey Williams of brand strategy firm Be Digable. Notable attendees included Lady Sha, Shortee, Javin, Tina T, and Michelle Pesce.
Watch the recap above.
Watch: Japanese DJs Connect at DJcity Linkup in Osaka
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In November, dozens of DJs met up at the DJcity Linkup in Osaka. The event, which took place at Club Joule, featured former Red Bull Music 3Style Japan champions B=BALL and IKU. It was the second linkup in Japan in 2018, the first being in Tokyo.
Watch the recap above.
Follow DJcity Japan on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Related: Watch: Watch: Japanese DJs Connect at DJcity Linkup in Tokyo
Win a Trip to the Red Bull Music 3Style IX World Finals
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Do you know someone who would love to attend the Red Bull Music 3Style IX World Finals in Taipei, Taiwan? Nominate them for a chance to win a paid trip with a guest courtesy of DJcity!
The winner will receive two airline tickets and two hotel rooms at the W Taipei from January 25 to 28. They will also receive VIP access to all world finals events.
Here’s how it works: upload a photo or video of the nominee on Instagram and explain in the caption why they should attend the world finals. You must include the following in your caption: @DJcity’s account, the nominee’s account, and the hashtag #TakeMeToTaiwan. The contest is open worldwide. Entries are due by 11:59 p.m. PT on Dec. 15 and the winner will be announced on Dec. 17.
Terms and conditions:
Nominee and guest must be at least 18 years old. Only one nomination per account, and multiple nominations for the same person will not increase the chances of winning. Prize is non-transferrable. In the case that the winner is unable to travel on the listed dates, all reasonable attempts will be made to accommodate for travel on other dates. Valid passport is required, and the winner is responsible for satisfying any visa requirements within their country, if applicable. Once airline tickets have been issued, any changes become the responsibility of the ticket holder. No purchase necessary. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. A subscription to the DJcity Record Pool is not required to enter the contest. If for any reason listed prize is unavailable, a prize of equal or greater value will be awarded as a substitute. Prize is not redeemable for cash. DJcity and its affiliates take no ownership or responsibility for content uploaded by contestant to Instagram, Facebook or any other third party platforms. This contest is not sponsored by the W Hotel.
Related: Watch: Red Bull 3Style World Finals VIII Mini-Documentary
Travel Tips for DJs Visiting Taipei, Taiwan
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DJ VicarDJs may not know where to eat, stay, and play when they get booked in cities they’ve never been to before. To help them get the most out of their visit, DJcity launched a series called DJ Travel Tips. The series highlights some of the best things to do in some of the most popular destinations around the world.
Where to Stay
“Getting some rest in a city that never sleeps is essential. If you are a straight baller, The W Taipei is where it’s at. There is even a special for people attending the Red Bull Music 3Style World Finals in January. The W is located in the heart of the XinYi area, which has shopping, food, and nightlife around every corner. Also, nearby is the Grand Hyatt for those that are just medium pimpin’.
One of the greatest things about Taipei is its Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system. Clean, fast, and orderly, visitors can get everywhere in the city and the suburbs within an hour. This means you can stay just about anywhere. Amba in the Ximending district is a boutique hotel with lots of flair and is located in the best people-watching part of the city. Ximending also has record stores, vintage shops with crazy sneakers at crazy prices, and a gay area that goes all night long.
Getting out of the hubbub of the city is the Fullon Hotel in Danshui. It’s walking distance from the Fisherman’s Wharf, a great place to YouBike around, and about a 20-minute cab ride to Baishawan Beach. It’s at the end of an MRT line, too, so you can get back to business very quickly.”
Where to Eat
“Taipei is known for two things when it comes to food: Din Tai Fung for dumplings and night markets. Ningxia Night Market 寧夏夜市 is my favorite for just about any street food like stinky tofu or duck’s blood popsicles.
My favorite restaurant in Taipei must be TangKung/唐宮. Located on the second floor of an old apartment, TangKung is a kind of old-style Taiwanese restaurant, featuring all-you-can-eat Mongolian Barbecue and authentic meat with pickled cabbage hot pot. Never underrate TangKung because of its shabby design or reasonable price! The hot pot here is definitely the best in Taipei City. The side dish bar here is impressive, too, because it serves boiled grass jelly (燒仙草) and shaved ice (挫冰).”
What to Do
“Diggin’ diggin’ diggin’ is what I love to do every day.
I love collecting DVD, Vinyl, CDs, cassettes, and even VHS tapes. Everything about sounds, I’ll get it! My one favorite spot is a basement in a personal old apartment in the Kuting area of Taipei, but I can’t tell people where that is or it will be ruined! After digging, I’ll go to Ximending, which has a traditional restaurant I recommend to anyone called 黔園川菜 for lunch. After that, I’ll go to pick up some clothing at a shop called DSSENT, which really supports Taiwan street culture! Around the shop, there are a lot of really dope graffiti parks for people to chill out in and see some interesting art.
After lunch, I head back to my record store, Soul Amazin’ Music. There, I will clean and check the condition of the things that I found, as well as listen to music, practice deejaying, and have fun with my cat. For dinner, I frequent a Japanese restaurant called 赤綠/Taiwanippon. The owner is a chef and DJ, too, so I’ll spend a lot of time at his restaurant talking about different music and cultures. Later on, I spin jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop, and R&B at two luxury bars, KOR Taipei or Barcode. The next day I do it all again.”
Where to Party
“Taipei has a little something for everyone when it comes to partying, just hold on to your liver. If you are looking to bang it out, tables filled with champagne, and lasers and smoke cannons, then you should definitely head to either OMNI or AI. Both venues look amazing and have a long list of International guest DJs spinning every week. At Triangle, mingling, dancing till dawn, and vibing out to more diversified music genres such as hip-hop, 80s/90s/2000s parties, house music, and funk nights on Wednesdays and weekends is a must.
The XinYi district is home to numerous clubs offering open bar nights, which attract a younger crowd in top-notch venues that play EDM, hard trap and hip-hop. IKON, WAVE, Klash, and Franny are all located next to each other and therefore makes it easy to hop from one venue to another.
The house, techno, and underground electronic music scenes are very much alive in Taipei with Korner, PIPE and 23 Music Room showcasing new DJs every weekend. “
Related: Travel Tips for DJs Visiting Chicago
Watch: James Hype Breaks Down His Craig David-Assisted Single ‘No Drama’
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In September, U.K. DJ/producer James Hype connected with R&B legend Craig David for a feel-good house single, “No Drama.” The track, which reached No. 8 on DJcity UK’s monthly top 20 chart, has gone on to amass 15 million streams. It has also been named a “Future Dance Anthem” by BBC Radio 1’s MistaJam.
We recently stopped by James’ studio in London to see how he made the track. The Liverpool native explained how the song came together and broke down each layer in Ableton Live. He also discussed his creative process and the role that DJcity has played in his career.
Watch above and download “No Drama” on DJcity.
Follow James Hype on on Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, and Twitter.
4KORNERS Talks DJing for Toronto Raptors, Offers Business Advice to DJs
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4KORNERS holds it down during a Toronto Raptors game at Scotiabank Arena4KORNERS, the official DJ for the Toronto Raptors and director of DJcity Canada, was recently interviewed by Canadian DJ podcast, THE FIX.
The Toronto native discussed a number of topics, including what it’s like DJing for the Raptors and the development of his career. 4KORNERS also offered business advice to DJs.
“Networking is not just shooting out a bunch of DMs on Instagram and expecting the world to bow at your feet. Networking is going out and actually meeting people, humans, and not asking for stuff all the time but making legitimate relationships, building friendships, offering things.”Listen to the interview below.