Trayze

Trayze in Las Vegas (Source: Instagram)

Trayze is best known for competing in the Red Bull Music 3Style, but the two-time world finalist also produces DJ tools. His remixes, bootlegs, edits, and blends have been supported by heavyweights like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Skratch Bastid, and Chuckie.

Recognizing his skills, DJcity has recruited Trayze as a contributor to its music team. To kick off his role, Trayze has dropped an exclusive pack of blends that combine acapellas of current hits with instrumentals of ’90s classics.

He also put together a mix that’s comprised entirely of his blends, including those in the pack.

Download the blends and listen to the mix below.

Blends

DJ Snake – Taki Taki – Trayze Macarena Blend
Drake – I’m Upset – Trayze Street Sweeper Riddim Blend
Maroon 5 – Girls Like You – Trayze Rhythm Is A Dancer Blend
Silk City & Dua Lipa – Electricity – Trayze Ride On Time Blend

Mix

Also available on iTunes, Mixcloud, and Spotify.

Tracklist:

1. Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – One Kiss – Trayze Show Me Love Blend
2. Tiesto & Dzeko ft. Preme & Post Malone – Jackie Chan – Trayze Lick It Blend
3. Selena Gomez & Marshmello – Wolves – Trayze Good Life Blend
4. Maroon 5 – Girls Like You – Trayze Snap Blend
5. Dua Lipa – New Rules – Trayze Gypsy Woman Blend
6. Silk City & Dua Lipa – Electricity – Trayze Ride On Time Blend
7. Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – Finesse Remix – Trayze Guy Blend
8. DJ Snake – Taki Taki – Trayze Macarena Blend
9. Liam Payne ft. Quavo – Strip That Down – Trayze You Can Do It Blend
10. DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – Wild Thoughts – Trayze Fu-Gee-La Blend
11. The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – Closer – Trayze Genie Blend
12. G-Eazy ft. Halsey – Him & I – Trayze Sky’s The Limit Blend
13. The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk – I Feel It Coming – Trayze Usher Blend
14. Drake – I’m Upset – Trayze Street Sweeper Riddim
15. DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper, & Lil Wayne – I’m The One – Trayze Big Poppa Blend
16. Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – rockstar – Trayze Wonderwall Blend
17. Lil Jon ft. Offset & 2 Chainz – Alive – Trayze Prodigy-Kernkraft Blend
18. Cardi B – Bodak Yellow – Trayze Down Bottom Blend
19. Gucci Mane ft. Migos – I Get The Bag – Trayze Love Of Money Blend

Follow Trayze on Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, and Twitter.

Related: Le Boeuf Remixes Ashanti’s ‘Rock Wit U’: DJcity Exclusive

At this year’s PLAYLIST Retreat, six of the attendees were selected to compete in an impromptu DJ battle. Nick Bike, EASE, DJ Jaycee, Trayze, DJ BYTE, and Damianito competed to win a pair of Rane TWELVE controllers and a Rane SEVENTY-TWO mixer. The battle was hosted by DJ Zimmie, and the judges chose EASE as the winner.

Each contestant was given a USB drive with a selection of songs from which they had to build their sets. This meant that the DJs had to come up with new routines, as opposed to relying on material from previous battles.

DJ set times:

Nick Bike: 1:40
EASE: 5:48
DJ Jaycee: 11:17
Trayze: 17:28
DJ BYTE: 23:35
Damianito: 29:12

Watch above.

Related: Watch: DJ Day’s Set at PLAYLIST Retreat

On this episode of DJcityTV and Beat Refinery​’s Turntable Techniques, Trayze​ explains how to do live redrums with Roland’s DJ-808 controller using its TR-S drum machine and sounds. The technique can be used to beef up sections of tracks that don’t have drums (e.g.: the breakdown).

Related: Review: Roland DJ-808 Controller

Serato DJ’s Pitch ‘n Time plugin enables DJs to shift and sync the key of a track. It improves your ability to mix harmonically, helping to make your blends and transitions sound cleaner.

On this episode of Turntable Techniques, Beat Refinery instructor and 2016 Red Bull 3style U.S. Champion Trayze breaks down how to use Pitch ‘n Time’s key sync feature.

Watch the tutorial above.

Related: Turntable Techniques: Asymmetrical Looping

Trazy performs at NAMM 2017. (Photo credit: Taylor Lewis)

Trayze, the 2016 Red Bull 3style US Champion, has thrown down a half-hour mix for the DJcity Podcast. The Washington, D.C. native’s set features 32 tracks, mostly of the hip-hop and house variety. It includes three of his own remixes, along with scratching and live blends.

@redbull3style US champ @trayze has put down a mix for the #DJcityPodcast. (link in bio)

A post shared by DJcity (@djcity) on Jun 9, 2017 at 10:23am PDT

Tracklist:

1. Trayze – Intro
2. Drake ft. Skepta – Skepta Interlude
3. Ape Drums – Ghost – Trayze Remix
4. EDX – All I Know – Trayze Bounce Edit
5. Chris Lake – I Want You
6. Daft Punk – One More Time – Ricky West Remix
7. Valentino Khan – Pump
8. Born Dirty ft. Sirah – Daddy
9. Alex Guesta – Cumbia Cienaguera
10. Kehlani – Undercover – Panic City & Miles Medina Remix
11. Anna Lunoe & Sleepy Tom – Stay Awake – Trayze Remix
12. Merk Kremont ft. Kris Kris – GANG
13. Naughty By Nature – Uptown Anthem
14. French Montana ft. Swae Lee – Unforgettable
15. Junior M.A.F.I.A. ft. The Notorious B.I.G. – Player’s Anthem
16. Wale feat G-Eazy – Fashion Week
17. Wreckx N Effect – Rumpshaker – Teddy’s No.2 12” Remix
18. Sean Paul ft. Migos – Body
19. Liam Payne ft. Quavo – Strip That Down
20. Kanye West ft. Post Malone & Ty Dolla $ign – Fade – Pickster Deep Inside Edit
21. Wizkid ft. Drake – Come Closer
22. Calvin Harris ft. Migos & Frank Ocean – Slide – Jabair Remix
23. DJ Snake ft. Young Thug, Jeremih, & Swizz Beatz – The Half – TWRK & Graves Remix
24. Chace ft. Yade Lauren – Something About You
25. Lil Uzi Vert – XO TOUR Llif3
26. 2Pac ft. The Outlawz & Prince Ital Joe – Hail Mary
27. French Montana ft. Future – No Pressure
28. CCIV & Sofocle – Candyflip
29. Teff Hinkson – Headshot
30. DJ Puffy ft. Teff – BANGALANG
31. Jay-Z – La La La (Excuse Me Miss Again) Remix
32. Jarreau Vandal ft. Olivia Nelson – Someone That You Love – Trayze Remix

Follow Trayze on Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, and Twitter.

Related: Trayze Performs With Roland and Serato’s DJ-808 Controller, Part 2

This year’s Red Bull Thre3style US Champion Trayze has returned with part two of his demo of Roland and Serato’s DJ-808 controller. The Washington, D.C. native originally performed the routine on “909 Day” in September, a 24-hour live stream hosted by Roland and Serato.

Tracklist:

1. AlunaGeorge – You Know You Like It – DJ Snake Remix
2. Cajmere – Percolator – Zagam 2K14 Remix – Trayze 909 Day Edit
3. Inner City – Good Life – Matt Smallwood Remix
4. AlunaGeorge – I’m In Control – Matthew Law & Jabair Remix – Trayze 909 Day Edit
5. Stevie Nicks – Stand Back – Trayze 909 Day Live Remix

Related: Trayze Performs With Roland and Serato’s DJ-808 Controller, Part 1

In September, Roland and Serato unveiled their new DJ-808 controller during a special 24-hour live stream event. To showcase the device, the companies called on Red Bull Thre3style US Champion Trayze to throw down a set.

Thankfully, those who missed the stream can watch Trayze perform the same routine in a new video filmed at Serato’s New York studio. Check it out above and stay tuned for part two.

Tracklist:

1. Eddie Kendricks – Day By Day
2. Lil Wayne – Let The Beat Build
3. Lil Wayne ft. Mannie Fresh – Go DJ
4. Mssingno – XE3 (Wheathin Turn)
5. Bassnectar ft. Mighty High Coup – The 808 Track
6. Clipse ft. Kelis & Pharrell – When the Last Time
7. Tropkillaz & Buku – Follow The Beat – Trayze 909 Day Edit
8. Faith Evans – Love Like This
9. Beyonce ft. Sean Paul – Baby Boy – Trayze 909 Day Edit
10. AlunaGeorge – You Know You Like It – DJ Snake Remix

Related: Serato Releases Serato DJ 1.9.5

Trayze at the Red Bull Thre3style US Finals in Philadelphia on Aug. 11, 2016. (Tim Blackwell/Red Bull)

The USA’s Matthew Alexander, a.k.a. Trayze, will compete in the Red Bull Thre3style World Finals in Santiago, Chile between December 11 and 18. Here are some facts about him. (To see all of our contender profiles, click here.)

Trayze competes at the Red Bull Thre3style US Finals in Philadelphia on Aug. 11, 2016. (Tim Blackwell)

If you follow the Red Bull Thre3style DJ competition, you’ve most likely heard of Trayze. The Washington, D.C. native is this year’s US champ and was a wild card finalist in the 2014 world championship. He’s also an instructor at the Beat Refinery DJ and production school, which has partnered with DJcityTV for a series called Turntable Techniques. And when Trayze isn’t competing in battles or teaching folks how to use Ableton Live, he can be found rocking clubs around the US. Below are five must-have items that he always carries in his DJ bag.

SubPac M2 wearable subwoofer

“This may be my favorite piece of mobile studio gear. Paired with my Ultimate Ears UE-7 in-ear monitors, it’s the most incredible listening experience ever. It’s battery-powered and wireless with Bluetooth!”

Lucky stones

“I carry small pieces of jade, turquoise, and moonstone. They’re gifts from my wife; you never know when you’ll need energy or extra good luck!”

Huawei E5770 mobile Wi-Fi hotspot

“The E5770 provides LTE speed anywhere in the world. It works with all SIM card sizes, and I can charge my iPhone with it for like five times. It supports 10 devices at once!”

Colgate Wisp mini-toothbrushes

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve brushed my teeth in the back of an Uber. Maybe my wife is trying to tell me something…”

OWC Thunderbolt 2 Dock

“Since I travel with a pretty small laptop, it’s essential that I have more USB ports and other inputs and outputs, especially if I want to use HID mode with CDJs or use multiple MIDI controllers. It has video in/out and a sound card!”

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Follow Trayze on Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, Twitter, and YouTube.

Related: DJ Scene: 5 Must-Have Items in My DJ Bag

 
DJcityTV and Beat Refinery have returned with a new episode of Turntable Techniques, this time focusing on the “silent cue point start” in Serato DJ. The technique enables DJs to keep their crossfaders and upfaders open while mixing in new tracks. It is essential for certain kinds of routines, especially those that require DJs to have both hands on one deck. Watch above to see instructor DJ Trayze, a former Red Bull Thre3style USA finalist, demonstrate the technique with two examples.
 
Related: Using Acapella Edits to Enhance Your DJ Sets, Part 2