A-Trak
A-Trak Drops Guest Mix for MistaJam on BBC Radio 1Xtra
A-Trak and MistaJam. (Source: Instagram)
BBC Radio 1Xtra host MistaJam recently invited A-Trak to the studio for his “Traffic Jam” mix series. The Canadian turntablist dropped a half-hour of funky, disco-influenced house tracks including his song “DJs Gotta Dance More” featuring Todd Terry.
Listen here (A-Trak’s mix starts at the 32:18 mark).
A-Trak Announces 3rd Annual Goldie Awards
2018 Goldie Awards DJ Battle winner YUTO competes. (Source: Goldie Awards)
UPDATE: The 3rd Annual Goldie Awards DJ battle champion is DJ ADMC, and the beat battle champion is Lionclad.
A-Trak has announced the return of the Goldie Awards, his annual DJ and beat battle. Hopeful turntablists and producers may enter by uploading a one-minute video to Instagram or Youtube and submitting it via the Goldie Awards website along with a questionnaire.
Eight competitors will be chosen in each category, and are allowed to use whatever equipment they choose. In the past, the battle has been judged by an all-star lineup of artists including Mark Ronson, Just Blaze, Anna Lunoe, and more. The event will be held at Brooklyn Steel in New York City on October 17.
Click here for more info and watch the 3rd Annual Goldie Awards trailer below.
Related Post: YUTO Delivers ‘DJcity Podcast’ Mix
Watch: DJ Jazzy Jeff, A-Trak, and Craze Talk DJing on ‘Drink Champs’ Podcast
From left to right: Craze, DJ EFN, DJ Jazzy Jeff, N.O.R.E., A-Trak (Source: Instagram)
DJ Jazzy Jeff recently sat down with the Drink Champs podcast for a casual yet insightful interview. The Philly legend discussed a variety of topics related to DJing and hip-hop.
Later in the interview, co-host DJ EFN spotted A-Trak and Craze in the audience and invited them to join in. It was a rare discussion with three of the most influential figures in DJing.
Watch the full show below. (A-Trak and Craze come on at the 52-minute mark.)
Related: Watch: DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Q&A at Red Bull Music 3Style IX World Finals
A-Trak and Roctakon Address Twitter Debate on ‘R.O.A.D. Podcast’
Last Friday, A-Trak took to Twitter to share his thoughts about the struggles of open-format DJs in today’s industry. Inspired by his experience at DJcity and DJ Vice’s Beyond the Music Retreat, he commented on the lack of infrastructure in the open-format DJ community.
A-Trak’s tweets received praise from a lot of DJs, however veteran New York club DJ, Roctakon, was not one of them. Roctakon responded with his own series of tweets, starting by saying that A-Trak “should not speak on the issues modern open format DJs face” because “he’s never been one of us.” He went on to explain why he believes A-Trak’s commentary is wrong.
Roctakon’s criticism drew a lot of attention, including none other than Craze, who defended his long-time ally.
The back and forth has sparked a larger discussion in the DJ community, and on Wednesday, A-Trak and Roctakon addressed the exchange during separate interviews on Reflections of a DJ a.k.a. R.O.A.D. Podcast.
To help facilitate the interviews, R.O.A.D. recruited guest co-host Shecky Green, co-founder of the Source Magazine and former talent director at Las Vegas’ XS Nightclub.
Watch excerpts of both interviews below and listen to the entire episode here. A-Trak and Roctakon’s original Twitter threads are also below.
A-Trak’s tweets:
I'm realizing how much of a hole there is in the infrastructure for DJs in North America, specifically for open format DJs.
The whole DJ business changed DRASTICALLY in the last 10 years.. and there's pockets of the DJ scene that kind of got left out. (cont'd)— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
Those changes happened with the explosion of EDM. Money brings change & infrastructure – like in any sector. When DJs started having huge hit records and the event space boomed (festivals, tours hitting ticketed venues), the business became legit.
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
DJs used to get known on the strength of their DJing (duh!). But then DJs started becoming known for their songs and that created serious draw to other markets. That also created a need for proper managers, lawyers etc. The social media boom happened at the same time.
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
The old school model was: most DJs had an agent-slash-manager. Which isn't ideal (church & state!). But most of us didn't need managers before. I was DJing for 10 years – multiple time world champion etc – before hiring my first manager.
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
That model worked all the way up to the DJ AM era, when bottle service clubs became more prominent and Vegas opened up to more DJs. But those types of venues and clubs don't respect DJs. So DJs need representation.
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
After that the music exploded and an entire industry was built… But what about the DJs who weren't producing records? who, truthfully, are better *DJs* than most of those getting known for their hits..? The club scene got caught in a bubble, a time warp.
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
And here's where it gets weird: then the EDM bubble burst. Club talent buyers started saying they were going back to booking open format DJs (for those who don't know that just means multi-genre DJs rooted in hip hop). But most of those DJs don't have modern agents, modern biz.
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
The DJ explosion that happened earlier in the decade created fast growth but now I find the scene needs some nurturing. And there's a lot of excellent DJs who still need representation.
It's wild: a celebrity DJ is more likely to have a legit agent than a GOOD open format DJ.— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
I think part of the problem is also because of the handful of people in a position of power in that club scene, that open format scene: it's very clicky which imo hindered it from riding the big wave a few years ago. Some ppl were too self-content to even SEE the wave…
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
The end result is a bunch of very very good skilled DJs who don't have an infrastructure.
I went to the #BeyondTheMusic retreat last week, organized by @DJcity & @djvice. It's clear that there's a big demand for mentorship, leadership, guidance in the scene.— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
It's a great start. We need more though. I don't understand why the main booking agencies aren't picking up more of these DJs. There has to still be a viable lane for DJs whose main focus isn't to produce music or be an Instagram personality, but just to be a great reliable DJ!!
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
Roctakon’s tweets:
A Trak should not speak on the issues modern open format DJs face.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
That thread makes 0 sense. He doesn't speak for any of us. He's never been one of us.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
there's no problem, if you can't put bodies in the club or sell tables you're a working stiff. That's fine, it's a respectable thing to be and you can earn a good living, but being good at DJing has NEVER been enough.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
Enough to get you to the next level. Make great music, run a promotions company, be an instagram star, date a reality TV star, do whatever you gotta do to put bodies in the club, but if you can't sell tickets or create the illusion of selling ticks, shit, be happy you even work.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
I've watched so many guys my age and a little older/younger struggle so fucking hard with 'why isn't being good enough' IT'S JUST NOT. NOT IN FUCKING VEGAS, NOT IN BOTTLE SERVICE LAND OF ILLUSION. YOU NEED A HOOK, A STORY, SOME BULLSHIT TO DRAW BECKY IN. HUSTLE. BULLSHIT.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
People out here wishing clubs would start really caring about good DJing, wish in one hand and shit in the other, see which ones fills up first. Half these DJs people act like are good can't even fucking play.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
Nobody is ever gonna give a fuck that you're good, nobody is ever gonna understand the craft for real. A few experienced club managers, a few DJs, a few fans, that's it.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
You have to make them understand but doing stuff that has nothing to do with being a good DJ. It's a nightmare but it is what it is man.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
If you're willing to do the work all the infrastructure is in place for you to succeed. If you can get bodies through the door you will win, I 100% guarantee it. Look at Harvey, he is one of the ultimate working DJ success stories. It took a long time and a lot of work, but…
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
…Harvey found a way to put bodies through the door all over the world. Yea some of it was being good, but some of it was his consistency, throwing his own parties, story telling, branding, etc.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
Buncha babies out here mad cause they can play a couple records together and the clubs don't respect them. Yawn. Been there bro. Good luck to you. End Rant.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
Well, one more thing, I will say you can totally build your core following around being a good DJ, a lot of people have done it, and I think it's a great place to start, but combining good with other salable concepts is where the rain comes.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
tubby lil AM was doing well in LA before Nicole Richie, and if he had only been mediocre he still woulda had steam off her, but being dope and dating her changed everything. He used to act like he got booked cause he was good, but he was good and he was shrouded in celebrity.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
Good is the foundation and mortar you can build a career with but it's not the entire house. Ok I'm done now for real.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
Via @DjSalParadise "Other thing is a great DJ never gets mediocre crowds going. They murder a good night but a name with clout will make a mid room happen better almost always
Just because the crowd feels some pull to like oh yeah I’m here for this"— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
I love my working DJs and want everybody to get money, but if we gonna get more out of these clubs we need hard evidence, clients that know our names, people that pay to see us, not some theoretical idea about who’s a good dj or what real DJing is.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
honestly iconic: https://t.co/Hydx497F60
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
the fucked up shit is in the world i’m speaking on, i’m the OG and trailblazer. These guys were chasing dwindling dnb and turntablisim showcase money when I was 10-4 in NYC. Then bouncing around the hollerboard world while I was in NY, LA, Miami and Vegas getting money.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
I forgotten about more residencies than they prolly ever had combined.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
“I never wanted to be a good nightclub dj” end thread. https://t.co/7FFcAHJGut
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
he’s got me here y’all. I def haven’t learned anything from my mistakes, or 23 years in this thing. Not anything that could benefit an up and coming open format DJ. I am poor. Do not listen to me! https://t.co/VXtaEd57I8
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
today was fun y’all. My door is always open to up and coming dudes who want to talk about their future and place in this business. I’m not here to tear anyone down or keep anybody from getting money, but I will be realistic. roctakon at gmail anytime.
— Roctakon (@Roctakon) March 9, 2019
Related: Laidback Luke and A-Trak Talk Heart Hands, Jumping on DJ Booth
A-Trak on the Challenges That Open-Format DJs Face and How to Overcome Them
A-Trak speaks at the Beyond the Music Retreat in Black Hawk, Colorado. (Credit: Julian Melanson)
DJcity and DJ Vice‘s inaugural Beyond the Music Retreat went down in Black Hawk, Colorado this week. The conference brought together DJs from around the world, including A-Trak, who spoke on the “$kills vs Bills” panel alongside Miles Medina, Kayper, and DJcity National Director, Styles Davis.
With such a long history in the DJ business, A-Trak had plenty of experience to pull from. He, along with the other panelists, spoke on topics like playing for crowds that may not understand the technical aspects of DJing, losing gigs to celebrity DJs, and more.
After speaking at the conference, the Fool’s Gold boss took to Twitter on Friday to share more thoughts about the challenges that open-format DJs face and how they can overcome them.
Read what he said below.
I'm realizing how much of a hole there is in the infrastructure for DJs in North America, specifically for open format DJs.
The whole DJ business changed DRASTICALLY in the last 10 years.. and there's pockets of the DJ scene that kind of got left out. (cont'd)— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
Those changes happened with the explosion of EDM. Money brings change & infrastructure – like in any sector. When DJs started having huge hit records and the event space boomed (festivals, tours hitting ticketed venues), the business became legit.
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
DJs used to get known on the strength of their DJing (duh!). But then DJs started becoming known for their songs and that created serious draw to other markets. That also created a need for proper managers, lawyers etc. The social media boom happened at the same time.
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
The old school model was: most DJs had an agent-slash-manager. Which isn't ideal (church & state!). But most of us didn't need managers before. I was DJing for 10 years – multiple time world champion etc – before hiring my first manager.
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
That model worked all the way up to the DJ AM era, when bottle service clubs became more prominent and Vegas opened up to more DJs. But those types of venues and clubs don't respect DJs. So DJs need representation.
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
After that the music exploded and an entire industry was built… But what about the DJs who weren't producing records? who, truthfully, are better *DJs* than most of those getting known for their hits..? The club scene got caught in a bubble, a time warp.
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
And here's where it gets weird: then the EDM bubble burst. Club talent buyers started saying they were going back to booking open format DJs (for those who don't know that just means multi-genre DJs rooted in hip hop). But most of those DJs don't have modern agents, modern biz.
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
The DJ explosion that happened earlier in the decade created fast growth but now I find the scene needs some nurturing. And there's a lot of excellent DJs who still need representation.
It's wild: a celebrity DJ is more likely to have a legit agent than a GOOD open format DJ.— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
I think part of the problem is also because of the handful of people in a position of power in that club scene, that open format scene: it's very clicky which imo hindered it from riding the big wave a few years ago. Some ppl were too self-content to even SEE the wave…
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
The end result is a bunch of very very good skilled DJs who don't have an infrastructure.
I went to the #BeyondTheMusic retreat last week, organized by @DJcity & @djvice. It's clear that there's a big demand for mentorship, leadership, guidance in the scene.— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
It's a great start. We need more though. I don't understand why the main booking agencies aren't picking up more of these DJs. There has to still be a viable lane for DJs whose main focus isn't to produce music or be an Instagram personality, but just to be a great reliable DJ!!
— Basement Jacques (@atrak) March 8, 2019
Related: Laidback Luke and A-Trak Talk Heart Hands, Jumping on DJ Booth
Laidback Luke and A-Trak Talk Heart Hands, Jumping on DJ Booth
While in Washington D.C. for an event last week, Laidback Luke sat down with A-Trak for a candid conversation. The two discussed topics such as A-Trak’s start as a club DJ, how French music influenced his career, and how Fool’s Gold became more than a record label.
The focus of the convo centered around the topic of real DJing, however, and some of the controversial antics DJs do on stage. Specifically, they talk DJs throwing up heart hands and standing on the DJ booth. A-Trak tells Luke why it looks bad when certain DJs throw up the heart symbol then explains why he jumps on the DJ table during his shows.
On DJs throwing up heart hands:
“I don’t hate it, but you know what it is? I think, you know, in some cases it can be, it can look like a bit of a caricature of certain kinds of DJs who aren’t actually doing much mixing and who do more of like the theater.”
Why he jumps on the DJ booth:
“That’s just an energy thing. You know, sometimes I think that my approach to DJing is, there’s a certain amount of showmanship to it. If you were to see Slash do a concert, you expect Slash to just be a showman … in a sense, my approach to DJing is comparable to that. … and sometimes I’ll get up on a table, especially at a bigger festival where it’s just a way to feel a connection with the crowd.”
On balancing DJing and antics:
“The reach of DJing has gotten so big, I think, inevitably there’s a certain amount of antics that come with just trying to make sure that the crowd feels your presence in certain ways. But I think the important thing is that the actual DJing part of the set is still, you know, the majority of the time. And that the jumping around is kind of a little spice on top. Not the other way around.”
Watch the conversation above (starts at the 2:46 mark).
Related: Watch A-Trak’s ‘MikiDz Show’ Set
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