Ugh

Posted By: Shagz
Date:

With the news about Panasonic discontinuing production on one of it's flagship Technics models, there's been lots of commentary and discussion about these iconic devices. Many stand on the corpse of vinyl and declare midi-controllers king while others shed a tear for the long lived dj standard. (Note: it's still unclear as to whether or not all Technics models are being discontinued or just the one)

One post in particular really got me down.

It was pretty depressing, reading this author's opinions. That beatmatching will no longer be an important skill, that software would do it all for us. How turntablism will be relegated to a niche where die hard but irrelevant enthusiasts use the turntable as a "kitsch novelty". That a whole bunch of djs will retire from the scene.

It got me to thinking, "am I one of those djs?" Is this the turning point for me, where I stop looking forward to new music and stay put in a particular genre or time period, or am I near that point? I don't think I am...I definitely keep up on top of the trends (even if I don't like them), how the profession's evolving, new breaking music. But I definitely still think there's a distinction between the art of djing and the art of production and performing. I think they're two separate things and require a different set of skills. The thing I'm wrestling with is whether I need to move forward into where djing is going, or...I dunno, stay put? Doesn't sound very exciting...

To give you an idea of what djs could be doing in the future, check out Ean Golden using a custom guitar hero controller to fire off samples from Guns 'n Roses' Sweet Child of Mine, over top of Bob Sinclair's "Love Generation".

So I ask you...is that still "djing"?

I think I gotta get off my butt and pick up a pair of those Dicers soon.

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