Throughout this year I have become more and more passionate about my music production skills. Whenever I listen to a film or dance piece I am listening for the overall production, the creation of mood, the use of instruments and synths. I have been looking at music making, producing and links with my passion for photography and design in general more and more over the past months.
To make some money I have also been taking my mixes to the pubs. Not the best audience you may think, but it has given me the opportunity to try out few things, although to reach the masses in this situation I have found that I have almost sold my musical soul to the devil by having to play safer tracks with more recognisable production. This is not necessarily a bad thing as I realise that some DJs love playing out this kind of standard of music. We all have our own likes and opinions when it comes to anything but i feel that my musical taste is very particular. Consciously judging the moods, efforts of instrument choice and finally how well each sound has been delivered to me.
At the Slug and Lettuce I didn't have to take my own decks. The sets were from 10pm to 12 midnight. I took my own headphones and CDs.
The evenings went well with few requests. This meant that the audience were satisfied with what music I chose to mix. When selecting tracks from my case I always keep in mind how it would be received by the audience. Judging an audience especially when working in small bars, is paramount.
Although this type of work brings in some money I feel that I would like to develop my music production more at home before returning to playing out at bars that just need a DJ to play music for the sake of playing 'music'. I am keen to explore more cutting edge tracks (in terms of production sound and instrument and effect choice) and use of my music for film and photographic projects.
