Author: Jim Tremayne

Originating in 2015, the Baltimore Blend Battle requires its DJ-contestants to come up with the best mix of an a cappella and an instrumental track. Baltimore, Md. – Local jock WattyJay won the Baltimore Blend Battle this past Sunday, March 24. Held at the Ikonic Live club, the competition saw WattyJay outduel 13 other jocks and nose out runner-up DJ PoPo to take the title and its $2,500 prize. Originating in 2015, the Baltimore Blend Battle requires its DJ-contestants to come up with the best mix of an a cappella and an instrumental track. The jocks are welcome to be…

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At Le Poisson Rouge for Gimme Gimme Disco, Belesi jumps out from his DJ rig to the edge of the stage and exhorts the partiers with singalongs. New York City – It’s 25-degrees on a late-January night in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, but the kids are lined down Bleecker Street to enter the club. Tonight at Le Poisson Rouge, it’s the wildly popular Gimme Gimme Disco party, so the freezing-ass weather be damned. The kids are getting their groove on, no matter what.  Inside, the dancefloor is already pulsing, and DJ Craig Belesi (aka CBJtheDream) is lifting it higher with his…

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It’s been nearly a decade since he released his first commercial track, but for Kevin Durante, there’s no time like now for another debut.  After a career of releasing singles and EPs on a variety of esteemed labels like Higher Ground/Mad Decent, Armada and Openers, Durante never released a full-length, although he admits that it’s always been an artistic dream of his. Accordingly, he’s has spent the last couple years culling together tracks for Enter, an impressive, first full-length. Set for April release on Anjunadeep, the 13-song effort is filled with diverse, but appropriately deep and groovy dancefloor sounds.   A…

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The 2024 NAMM Show, held this past weekend (Jan. 25-28) at the Anaheim Convention Center, gathered the M.I. industry to see its latest technologies. Anaheim, Calif. – The 2024 NAMM Show, held this past weekend (Jan. 25-28) at the Anaheim Convention Center, gathered the M.I. industry to see its latest technologies. In addition to the DJ-related product debuts announced just before the show (that we reported here), NAMM ’24 saw several more that were announced on the showfloor. Here they are: DJ Sector: AlphaTheta released two new products with mobile DJs in mind. They include the OMNIS-DUO, a battery-powered, all-in-one…

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Running January 25-28, the 2024 NAMM show will gather much of the music-retail industry to see the latest and greatest product debuts in a variety of DJ-related categories. Anaheim, Calif. – After three years of non-traditional events – one virtual, two held in spring months – the NAMM show gets back on its annual winter schedule when it returns to the Anaheim Convention Center today. Running January 25-28, the 2024 NAMM show will gather much of the music-retail industry to see the latest and greatest product debuts in a variety of DJ-related categories, including playback, studio, pro audio, lighting, content…

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As popular as house music may seem to us now, we’re not seeing too many published memoirs from the genre’s influential DJs – not just yet.   However, with “The Beat, The Scene, The Sound: A DJ’s Journey through the Rise, Fall, & Rebirth of House Music in New York City,” DJ Disciple and collaborator Henry Kronk bring a fresh approach to the musical-memoir segment by adding crucial context for the music, its practitioners, and its settings.  The book describes Disciple’s gradual ascent up the genre’s ladder – via radio shows, underground gigs, choice tracks, and clued-in booking agent Kim Benjamin – to the…

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Here we are, finally, where 2023 meets 2024. For the most part, the past year eased further into relative normalcy – whether we’re talking clubs, festivals or the private-party scene.  So, as we wrapped up ’23, we conducted a quickie poll to DJs of all stripes and from all over the world, inquiring about the past year. We asked three simple questions: What’s your top tune of the year? What was your best accomplishment? What was the best DJ/musical moment you experienced?   Here are the first 100 responses we got. Off we go…      1  Wax Motif, Divided Souls Records,…

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DJ LIFE Mag served as an official media partner for the 2023 SKAM Summer Music Summit in Hollywood, California. Hollywood, Calif. – The SKAM Summer Music Summit returned to Hollywood’s Vinyl District this past August 20-22 with a variety of sponsored activations, gear/tech demonstrations, and DJ-led parties.   Presented by SKAM Artist talent agency, the annual conference for DJs, music-industry pros, technology purveyors, and related influencers congregated at The Dream Hollywood Hotel and at a variety of area venues.   Alongside tech- and gear-related sponsors like Tidal and D.A.S. Audio, respectively, DJ LIFE served as the event’s media sponsor.   Despite the near-Biblical…

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DJ LIFE sits down with John Tejada to discuss his latest 7-track Resound release, DJing, vital gear & plugins & more. There’s nothing formulaic about John Tejada or his music. In creating his engaging soundscapes, surprising rhythms, and tasty melodies, Tejada’s approach is wondrously varied. And if you listen to Resound, his new, seven-track full-length, it’s all there for you.  Opening track/initial single, “Simulacrum,” immediately commands attention. A mix of rugged rhythms, analog bassline, and detuned feedback sets you up before a gorgeous melody carries you away. On “Fight or Flight,” Tejada matches ethereal vocals from March Adstrum – his…

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We sit down with rising the talent from NYC for our Sound Bites spotlight with HARBER: Hooks, Melody & More.  Since his 2018 debut, HARBER’s been a talent on the rise. And 2023 has seen the 26-year-old DJ/producer break out in a bigger way with a trio of radio-friendly releases on the Lowly label and high-profile gigs around the country.   After he made waves earlier in the year with “Remedy” (feat. Alex Jones), HARBER hit the charts with the uplifting earworm “Medicine” (feat. Sydtherockerkid). Now he’s back with the emotive “Falling For You,” a collab with the Disco Fries that…

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The Audio Engineering Society (AES) celebrated its 75th anniversary and held its 155th convention on Oct. 25-27 at Jacob Javits Center in NYC.  New York City – Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Audio Engineering Society (AES) held its 155th convention this past Oct. 25-27 at Manhattan’s Jacob Javits Convention Center. Running alongside the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show, which announced that it drew over 12,000 professionals, AES offered studio-centric attendees the latest products for the recording and content-creation worlds. DJ LIFE was there, and here’s some of the notable, mostly studio-related products for DJ/producers displayed at the show. Avid…

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Amsterdam, Netherlands – The 28th edition of Amsterdam Dance Event delivered big again with its impressive range of club and festival parties, music-industry seminars/keynotes, sponsored activations, and pro-gear exhibitions. Held this past Oct. 18-22 at a variety of venues all over Holland’s largest city, ADE ’23 hosted more than 2,900 DJ/artists at over 1,000 events and welcomed over 500,000 global visitors, according to organizers. Additionally, ADE Pro Conference at the Felix Meritis Centre presented seminars that tackled issues like A.I. in dance music and keynotes that featured icons and notables like Grandmaster Flash, Claptone, A-Trak, and The Blessed Madonna. At…

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Battle of the DJs: DJ Baby J’s Picture Book Takes a Nostalgic Look Back at NYC’s Old-School DJ Scene.  Like a lot of jocks, Victor “Baby J” Rodriguez got bitten by the DJ bug as an early teen. Properly inspired by a much older jock spinning a New York City college party in 1973, the Queens-based DJ Baby J pursued an eventful career doing mobile and club work – DJing and promoting – that brought plenty of genuine highlights.   Unlike a lot of DJs, however, he kept everything… every promo poster, every contract, every business card, every Polaroid picture, every…

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We caught up with Jolene Sound Room programmer Will Buck, who is also a DJ/producer and owner of NYC house label Off Track, to discuss the venue.  Brooklyn. N.Y. – In a city that never seems to slow down when it comes to club openings, Jolene Sound Room is a new venue that’s already standing out. Opening this past March, Williamsburg’s Jolene offers a cozy dance environment that includes top-notch sound and lighting, plus clued-in DJ bookings.   Situated next to the trendy Moxy Hotel, the Jolene vibe is classy, but not stuffy. For those who remember Cielo – the popular club…

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We recently caught up with Mell Starr – aka Leugene Jamel Simpson, 48 – to look back at his career and look forward to the DJX party.  With a musically attuned family, DJ Mell Starr was fortunate to have plenty of inspiration at a young age. Lucky for him (and us), all that musical direction paid off and he’s made a career as a big-time party jock and more.  Starting on the turntables as a third-grader, Starr moved his way up the ladder. It’s a journey that’s included plenty of high points, including playing private events for major celebrities and even…

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Off the back of the remix, the two New York area DJ/producers met in person for the first time to discuss the making of the legendary track. Not every producer gets to remix a classic track that helped shape his sound. But this very thing happened for rising DJ/producer Charles D, who recently added a modern techno touch to Mike Macaluso’s 1999 underground smash, “Final Chapter,” and released it on the prestigious Drumcode label.  Considered to be one of the greatest New York City club anthems of all time, “The Final Chapter” helped define an era in Gotham clubland when…

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Alex Neuhausen & Lilly Wolfson became known for running Secret Loft, which led them to opening SILO, Brooklyn’s latest underground club, which opened in February.   Brooklyn, N.Y. – In New York’s after-hours world, Alex Neuhausen and Lilly Wolfson became known for running Secret Loft, an underground party series that kept growing in popularity. Eventually, it led them to opening SILO, Brooklyn’s latest underground club, which debuted this past February. But SILO’s not just the latest cool hipster haunt – it’s different in a variety of ways.   Located in East Williamsburg, not far from the massive Avant Gardner event complex, SILO sits…

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EchoStorms is comprised of Katya Fadeeva and Ben Locke, a Russian/Brit pair who have been on a hitting streak since their formation in 2020.  Bali, Indonesia – Given their different backgrounds, Katya Fadeeva and Ben Locke might make a somewhat odd professional couple, but the Russian/Brit combo have been on quite a hitting streak since their 2020 formation. As EchoStorms, the multi-instrumentalist/DJ/production team broke out in 2021 with “Tidal Wave,” a shimmering, urgent, and trancey tune that benefitted from Chapter & Verse’s propulsive, techy remix. Successful follow-ups included 2021’s roaring earworm “Delirious” (a collab with R3WIRE), 2022’s frenetic, piano-house rouser…

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Situated in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan’s Musica nightclub was formerly known as Space Ibiza New York, then FREQ NYC. New York City – Situated in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan’s Musica nightclub inhabits a building that has already seen plenty of high-end DJ action. Formerly known as Space Ibiza New York, then FREQ NYC, the building became Musica in May 2022. Originally brought to West 50th Street by an Italian group, Musica has transitioned into a NYC-run operation – but with the same superb light-and-sound system and a music-booking policy that runs the gamut of popular electronic…

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L.A. Life: For Noizu, it’s house music & hot sauce as we caught up with the tastemaker ahead of our last DJ LIFE issue.  Honolulu – Hawaiian Brian’s is an unlikely spot to hear the latest tech-house grooves. The multi-purpose entertainment venue sits next to a car park just off a main Ala Moana thoroughfare and it mostly features pool tables, dart boards, and arcade games. It’s more Dave & Buster’s than Ministry of Sound.  But tucked inside, slightly away from the booze-fueled gaming areas, sits HB Social Club, a black-box “concert hall” that has become a venue of choice…

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The annual trade show, NAMM ’23, has begun and will run through Saturday, April 15 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Anaheim, Calif. – Show attendees, get your comfy walking shoes ready because the 2023 NAMM Show opens today. Running through Saturday, April 15, at the Anaheim Convention Center, the annual trade show will gather much of the music-retail industry to see the latest and greatest product debuts in a variety of categories, including DJ, musical instrument, studio, pro audio, lighting and accessories. Of course, DJ LIFE will be there to take it all in and report on the latest DJ-related…

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New York City – For more than three decades, Danny Tenaglia has been one of America’s most-treasured DJs. His extended stints in Manhattan spots like Vinyl/Arc, Tunnel, and Twilo were among the most influential open-to-close residencies in New York City nightclub history. Not only would he spin multi-genre, marathon sets – often 11 p.m. until noon – but he’d play through some of the city’s greatest sound systems. And now, he’s bringing that vibe back to NYC – this time in Brooklyn. Set for Saturday, April 15 in a recently discovered Sunset Park warehouse, Tenaglia will present STAX, a party…

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By now, a peek at Dave Audé’s burly bio is like looking at a Baseball Reference page for a still-active Hall of Famer. The boldfaced listings of accomplishments can overwhelm you.    A few examples… By his own estimation, he’s made more than 1,500 remixes. He’s created 135 No. 1 Billboard Dance tracks – more than any remixer in history. He’s worked on songs from the very biggest acts in the pop, rock, country, dance, R&B, and hip-hop genres – from Madonna to U2 and everyone in between. In addition to several Grammy Award nominations, he earned his award in 2016…

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Any DJ with a love for soulful house music will know Ultra Naté as a genre legend. Scoring with evergreen hits like “Free,” “Found a Cure,” “Automatic,” and “Unconditional,” she has one of dance music’s most stirring and recognizable voices.  But for the past two decades, she’s also been a very busy DJ. Running the Deep Sugar events in her native Baltimore and beyond, she’s kept the party soulful and maintained her support for all things underground.  In late 2022, she released her eighth album, ULTRA, which includes recent singles “RICH M’FKs,” an electro-jam collab with Henrik Schwarz, and “Survivor,”…

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Here we are, finally, where 2022 meets 2023. Luckily, the past year saw a return to relative normalcy in the DJ world – parties, clubs and festivals came back in a big way.  So, as we wrapped up ’22, we conducted a quickie poll to DJs of all stripes and from all over the world, inquiring about the past year. We asked three simple questions: What’s your top tune of the year? What was your best accomplishment? What was the best DJ/musical moment you experienced?   Here are the first 100 responses we got. Off we go…    1 Purple Disco Machine,…

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According to its charter, Give a Beat’s mission “is to use the power of music as a pathway to healing and opportunity for those impacted by the criminal justice system.” Indeed, since its founding in 2014, the L.A.-based, nonprofit organization has offered DJ, music-production, and educational programs inside and outside youth and adult correctional facilities. In 2019, it launched the Prison Electronic Music Program at two California State Prisons. In 2021, it began its “On a New Track” Re-Entry Mentoring Program, which paired formerly incarcerated persons with mentors in the music industry. This past year, in order to support people post-incarceration, Give…

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Whether you know him as Paul Blair or DJ White Shadow, this Grammy Award-winning producer, musician, songwriter, and DJ has been crafting your favorite earworms for more than a decade. From Lady Gaga’s Artpop to captivating remixes for the likes of Pitbull, Ne-Yo, and Estelle, Blair knows the secret sauce to creating tracks that you just can’t help loving.  It’s been nine years since DJ Times – the mag I ran until 2021 – sat down with Blair, and it’s safe to say that the music industry looks a bit different now than it did then. We saw a worldwide pandemic…

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The 2022 DMC Technics USA DJ Finals are set for Saturday, December 17, and will be hosted by DJ Qbert. Bonus Segment: Scratch Origins: Bay Area with DJ QBert & DJ Quest 2pm EST on facebook.com/dmcdjchamps 4pm EST on youtube.com/theOfficialDMCUSA Finalists include: DJ Perly Mista B Toltech Dayvers DJ Ragoza DJ Spare Change Axis Pro Magic Mally Xist Lamp Shady To check out more events, click here.

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Amsterdam Dance Event ’22 returned to Holland’s capital this past Oct. 19-23. More than 450,000 visitors came to town throughout A.D.E.’s festival and conference programs, which featured more than 1,000 events over 200 locations, hosting more than 2,500 DJ/artists and speakers. It all looked like this: To check out more events, click here.

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Austin, Texas – As the United States Grand Prix Formula 1 motor racing event returned to Texas this past Oct. 22-23 weekend, the corporate-sponsored nightlife cranked back up in the well-known music town as well. For the Cash App & Visa Presents Bootsy Bellows x Sports Illustrated Circuit Series After Parties held at the Austin-American Statesman, top-shelf talent hit the stage, including Friday night performances by Zedd, The Kid Laroi, and an opening DJ set by Irie. Saturday night performances included sets by Post Malone, Zack Bia and Chantel Jeffries. It all looked like this: To check out more events,…

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Back in October 2017, during Amsterdam Dance Event week, I set out one night with the idea that I’d make several club stops. As is my nightly routine, I tried to hear as many different DJs as I could by popping into as many spots as the night would allow – with the expectation of including the musical highlights in my DJ Times Mag wrap-up story. Lucky for me, things didn’t go according to plan.  Typically, at A.D.E., I’d hit at least three venues in the bustling Rembrandtplein square near the Amstel River. That night, after popping into the Air and…

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Since the world opened back up in 2021, Tobtok has been on a roll. With a slew of catchy dancefloor singles, the Swedish DJ/producer has scored with original productions, remixes and collaborations that has kept his name at the forefront of the Nu Disco scene.  Most recently, his rollicking remake (with fellow countryman Oliver Nelson) of The Flirtations’ Northern Soul classic “Nothing But A Heartache” perked up summer dancefloors. But pop-dance cut “Better Day” (another Nelson collab) and pumping house track “My Carousel” (featuring Jem Cooke) also won over plenty DJs and listeners. Expect similar reactions with melodic mover “Overnight,”…

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Los Angeles – BPM Music has announced two all-new platforms with a slew of added features and a new look for its subscription-based music tools, BPM Supreme and BPM Create. According to the BPM Music, the upgraded platforms, alongside a refreshed logo and brand design, push the company and the BPM brand into the future with a clear goal to encourage music discovery, provide solutions for music organization, and improve the overall experience for users while helping them excel in their music careers. Says Angel “AROCK” Castillo, CEO of BPM Music: “Our goal is to bridge the gap between the…

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For DJX’23, it’s back to The Boardwalk. Drawing on its successful shows at the venue in 2021-22, DJX will return to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City for the 2023 event. Set for August 7-10, DJX’23 – presented by DJ LIFE Magazine and its parent company Hazan Media Group – will feature its winning combo of technology exhibits, educational seminars, and After Dark events – plus, prizes and giveaways galore. Launched in 1990, DJX is the DJ industry’s longest-running and most-impactful trade show/exhibition. For the past three-plus decades, DJX has been the Largest Gathering of DJs in the…

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Atlantic City, N.J. – Continuing its focus on community, DJX energized its industry once again this past week with the Largest Gathering of DJs in the Americas. Held this past Aug. 8-11 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Atlantic City’s famous Boardwalk, DJX – a trade show/exhibition now in its 33rd year – presented another winning combo of technology exhibits, educational seminars, and sponsored parties. Produced by DJ LIFE mag and its publisher Hazan Media Group, DJX filled the Hard Rock’s Mark Etess Arena with a deep roster of brands and provided a more experiential offering than past…

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If DJ Shadow was the artist who took sample-driven, instrumental hip-hop to the masses with 1996’s Endtroducing…, then RJD2 has carried it further to an even more musical place.  With eight full-length albums to his credit, RJD2 – aka RJ Krohn, 46 – has given us two decades’ worth of MPC-anchored jams craftily infused with rock-solid funk and dashes of melody from a variety of instruments and influences.  His 2002 debut, Deadringer, featured a pair of evergreen cuts – the simmering, melancholic “Smoke & Mirrors” and the oft-licensed genre classic, “Ghostwriter,” which found its way into films and advertisements. Other…

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Boston’s Joe Bermudez hasn’t yet accomplished everything he wants in his DJ career, but he’s gotten off to a pretty good start.  After launching his journey in the early 2000s by spinning events and clubs in the New England area, the Maine native began to make big waves on the radio and from the studio. Beginning with his syndicated “Open House Party,” Bermudez later hit with his long-running “Mass Movement” mixshow, which spread his brand and helped increase his gig opportunities. Abroad, he did dates in Europe with Avicii and David Guetta; at home, he opened for Madonna on her…

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Anybody who works in clubland knows that when a venue can mark a decade of operation, it’s quite an accomplishment – indeed, it’s the very definition of success.    This past spring, Boogie Nights – the retro-themed disco inside The Tropicana Atlantic City – celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a big weekend bash that filled the house and kept it shaking until closing time.  At Boogie Nights, it’s a concept that works in a big way. Not only do its DJs spin the most-loved dance music from the past, but its patrons can enjoy a spacious layout with a variety of…

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On Aug. 5, 2017, at New York’s Highline Ballroom, DJ Perly made history by becoming the very first female DMC U.S. champion.  After a controversial ending to the previous year’s U.S. Final saw Perly come up just short, the Poughkeepsie, N.Y.-based battle jock stood tall that night, taking the generous prize package, and accepting the responsibility (and the plane ticket) to represent her country at the DMC World Finals in London later that year. She would finish fourth there, but she’ll tell you that the entire experience was a life-changer.  Post-lockdown, Perly (aka Natalia Perlz) has continued to thrive as…

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At this point in his career, there’s very little that Markus Schulz hasn’t done – or hasn’t been recognized for.  From the outset, he worked his way up the DJ ladder, going from mobile work to global notoriety. He made a name with his diverse studio output and his Coldharbour Recordings. He’s won awards – indeed, he’s the only jock to be voted America’s Best DJ thrice. With Schulz Music Group, he’s taken on artist management. As it stands, he’s the trance genre’s most-popular, most-successful, U.S.-based DJ/producer.   However, things change, life gets altered, the career takes unforeseen turns. Lucky for…

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They don’t call him The DJ Coach for nothing.  The fact is, Hapa Perdue (aka DJ HAPA) has blended his 20-plus years of experience as a DJ with a deep passion for teaching its craft. In addition to sharing stages with artists like Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars and Drake, his clients include Microsoft, ESPN, and The Grammys – so his impressive list of accomplishments gives him a unique standing in the DJ space as a mentor.   HAPA’s DJ-class teachings (online or in-person) are informed by the fact that he’s always been on the cutting-edge of music, education and technology and…

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Many of you know Chris Atwood as a talented New Jersey-based DJ/MC, someone who has entertained many at a variety of events – weddings, parties, clubs, etc. Over the years, he’s also always been a friend of and frequent contributor to DJX in Atlantic City. On this past July 13, Chris suffered a massive stroke. He is showing signs of improvement, but has a long road to recovery and with surgeries pending. Unfortunately, he does not have medical insurance and, as of this date, he is still currently in the ICU. If at all possible, please consider donating what you…

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Multi-Op Mobile Mike Walter of Elite Entertainment in Tinton Falls, N.J., explains how he finds new DJ/MC talent for his entertainment company. Using some excerpts from his book, “Running Your Multi-Op,” Walter details the traits he seeks in potential hires for his company and explains how he can take a person with little to no DJ/MC experience and turn them into a “superstar.” To check out more business tips, click here.

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When mobile DJs have consultations/sales calls with prospective clients, how do they deal with these clients’ objections? How do DJs turn the conversation into an advantageous experience for them? What are the turnaround responses? What essential info do you want to draw from the prospective client? What essential info do you want the prospective client to latch onto and remember? Veteran mobile entertainer Mike Walter of New Jersey’s Elite Entertainment has the answers, and in this episode of DJ LIFE Lessons he offers some vital sales tips for DJs in client consultation. To check out more business tips, click here.

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Eric Sharp has been a tastemaking DJ on the West Coast for more than a decade. Playing clubs, festivals, raves, and other one-off events, the Cali-based talent has earned a devoted fanbase in the underground and has served as a resident at Sound, Hollywood’s top nightspot. But his evolution as a music-making artist has been no less impressive.  After making a slew of remixes, Sharp began releasing original productions in 2013. Starting out with ethereal groovers on his Sharp Cuts EP, Sharp began to create tracks with wider ranging sounds. He also launched the Rock It Science Laboratories (RIS Labs)…

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Athens, Ga. – Outside of the Classic City, Athens, Ga., is well-known for three main exports: a live-band/club scene that has produced influential rock acts like The B-52’s and R.E.M.; the University of Georgia and its massive alumni base; and UGA’s wildly popular football team, the Bulldogs – 2021’s National Champs.  So, in a college market of 125,000 that loves its live bands, what opportunities remain for a mobile-DJ/entertainment service? If you’re David Osborne, a longtime Athens resident, 2004 UGA grad, and multi-op mobile, there are plenty.  Not only does Osborne run Sound Insight, a premium outfit for higher-end events,…

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For DJ Ruckus, big events and big venues are no big deal – after all, he’s been spinning them most of his professional life.  In addition to playing big clubs like Miami’s Crobar as a teenager and spinning Vegas hotpots like Hakkasan and Zouk (where he recently became a resident), he’s worked a slew of major fashion events, for clients ranging from Louis Vuitton to The Gap.   And the private celeb parties? The client list is long – from his cousin Lenny Kravitz to P.Diddy, from Oprah to Spielberg, J.Lo to Kanye – and tough to top. He’s also enjoyed…

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Presented by David Lee of BASSBOSS, this video briefly offers DJs some studio set-up tips, then more specifically addresses the set-up of subwoofers in a relatively small studio environment. Topics include: Recognizing reflection points in a studio, like a desk, wall or ceiling; How acoustical treatments can help minimize problems; The phenomenon known as “cabin gain,” and how it impacts frequency response; The use of “bass traps”; How to maximize sound through the placement of subwoofers; and Why reflection is the biggest issue in a small studio, and how to best mitigate it. To check out more tech, click here.

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The Movement Music Festival, one of America’s best electronic-music events, returns from a three-year hiatus to the Motor City this Memorial Day weekend. Presented by Paxahau, the festival will run Saturday, May 28, thru Monday night, May 30, at Hart Plaza and will feature some of the globe’s top electronic talents. Saturday, May 28 performers include: Richie Hawtin; 2 Chainz; Carl Craig; Derrick Carter; Seth Troxler; and Claud VonStroke. Sunday, May 29 performers include: Adam Beyer; James Murphy b2b Carl Craig; Juan Atkins; Loco Dice; 2manydjs; and MK. Monday, May 30 performers include: Jeff Mills; Chris Lake; The Martinez Brothers;…

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Presented by David Lee of BASSBOSS, this video – the second in a three-part series – explains to DJs the variety of crucial factors that go into making a good subwoofer-system purchase. Topics include: How to understand your needs, as it relates to sound, transportation and price; Which genres most require subwoofers & why; The choice of Low Vs. Loud; Why continuous power is more important than peak power with subwoofers; Why you want a flat frequency response; How to fill the space with bass; and How to plan for your use-case scenario and avoid companies selling “magic specs.” Curated…

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Popular global DJ/producer Markus Schulz will spice up the action at DJX ’22 this August with an opening-night performance and a “Keynote Q&A” session where he’ll share his success story with DJX attendees. Set for Aug. 8-11 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., DJX ’22 will present: three days of exhibits featuring the latest DJ-related technologies; 30 seminars, panels, and keynotes; and three nights of After Dark events featuring top DJ talents. Produced by DJ LIFE mag and its publisher Hazan Media Group, DJX is the DJ industry’s longest-running and most successful trade show/exhibition. Opening…

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In the ongoing effort to bring the DJ community its best-possible show experience, DJ LIFE magazine and DJX ’22 are announcing an exciting new partnership in the Monopoly City. DJX will kick off its After Dark series with an opening-night party (Aug. 8) that will also serve as the closing event for a new Atlantic City music festival, Lucy The Elephant, a four-day/night event that will present some of the globe’s top DJs, including renowned talents like Tiësto, DJ Snake and more. (Full details here.) DJX’s opening-night attraction, set to play the HQ2 Nightclub at the Ocean Casino Resort, will…

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Curated by the DJ Life Mag’s award-winning team, DJ Life Lessons will tap into its network of industry thought-leaders to provide learning modules on a broad array of topics. DJ Life Lessons is designed to educate, inspire, and positively impact all segments of the DJ community through online education. “With the DJ LIFE Lessons series, we’re bringing solutions on a number of DJ-related topics from a variety of experts in those fields,” says Jim Tremayne, Editor of DJ Life Mag. “Whether it’s centering on technology, business or performance, DJ LIFE Lessons will bring useful information to DJs of all stripes…

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DJ Life Mag today announces the launch of DJ LIFE Lessons, an online video-learning series that will be housed on djlifemag.com. Curated by the DJ Life Mag’s award-winning team, DJ Life Lessons will leverage its network of the industry thought-leaders to provide learning modules on a broad array of topics. DJ Life Lessons is designed to educate, inspire, and positively impact all segments of the DJ community through online education. “With the DJ LIFE Lessons series, we’re bringing solutions on a number of DJ-related topics from a variety of experts in those fields,” says Jim Tremayne, Editor of DJ Life…

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In Monday night’s “In The Cue” podcast, DJ LIFE editor Jim Tremayne and Hazan Media Group CEO/President Shawn Hazan discuss the evolution of DJX, its re-branding, its history and its future. In their visit with podcast hosts David Hanscom and Greg Curran, Tremayne and Hazan explain how DJ Expo became DJX and how DJ LIFE magazine supports the long-running trade show. Since its 1990 inception, the show has become the premier event for the DJ industry. Set for Aug. 8-11 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., DJX will present the industry’s largest exhibit floor, 30…

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This week, Jim Tremayne (DJ Life Magazine Editor) and Shawn Hazan (DJ Life Mag Publisher/DJX Organizer) visited with DJ-industry thought-leaders Joe Bunn and Mike Walter on the PhDJ Podcast to discuss the upcoming DJX show. Set for Aug. 8-11 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., DJX is set to bring a packed exhibit floor full of the latest DJ-related products and technologies, 30 educational seminars/panels/keynotes touching on the DJ industries hottest topics, and sponsored After Dark parties. In the podcast, the foursome discusses the show’s 32-year history, its purpose and some new moves, like its…

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So far, Ryan Swain has led an interesting and blessed life. In the U.K., the 32-year-old Yorkshireman is a well-known radio/TV presenter and DJ whose career remains on the ascent. Among other professional pursuits in media, Swain currently presents his Party Mix show each Saturday night on YorkMix Radio, and he spins anthemic tunes regularly in clubs and festivals around Britain. But, because he underwent life-saving surgery as a toddler for a heart condition, Swain never forgets those less fortunate and is always one to use his celebrity to benefit a variety of charities. With his humanitarianism in mind, not…

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Certain terms gets tossed around all too loosely in dance-music circles – but legend is one that genuinely fits “Little” Louie Vega.  A DJ’s DJ and a producer of diverse sounds, Vega, 56, has been a staple of New York City’s rich club-music scene and an in-demand, global jock for four-plus decades now. The Bronx native’s list of accomplishments is long, but a short version includes: his influential collabs with Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez as Masters At Work and Nuyorican Soul; his 2006 Grammy Award for his remix of Curtis Mayfield’s “Superfly”; his performance with Cirque du Soleil and his Elements…

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For the past six-plus years, Gryffin has been one of electronic dance music’s more consistent hitmakers. With a slew of club and radio smashes like “Tie Me Down” with Elley Duhé, “OMG” with Carly Rae Jepsen, and “Safe With Me” with Illenium featuring Daya, the Las Vegas-based DJ/producer/multi-instrumentalist has become a favorite headlining clubs and festivals.    And now he’s back with another irresistible single, “You Were Loved,” a soaring, carefully crafted collab with platinum pop-rock band OneRepublic. After catching his DJ set at Las Vegas’ XS Nightclub, where he’s a resident, we connected with the 34-year-old Gryffin (aka Dan Griffith)…

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For many DJ/producers, 2020-21 presented a period of unfettered artistic opportunity – with no gigs, it was free time to make their best music. But for Mister Lady, the L.A.-based talent came out of the lockdown with musical evolution on her mind. Known for harder-edged techno like 2021’s “The Feeling” EP, she began the new year by mixing her tougher musical instincts with more melodic flavors to create “Close to Me,” a superb tech-house cut. Still, never too far from more bracing sounds, she recently followed that up with “metalKlangen,” a raging six-song techno EP. Call it balance. Born in…

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As a genuine fan of many genres, Alfie Cridland prefers to spin sets that aren’t so easily slotted. So, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that his latest release, “It Was All a Dream” – a collab with U.K. duo Covenants and Micapoan on Perfect Havoc – finds hip-hop icon Biggie Smalls in the midst of a rousing tech-house track. But that’s just his taste. From Cridland’s 2020 debut, the pop-dancey Paul Kay collab “Last Day in Paradise,” to his more recent material like “New Levels,” a bangin’ house collab with Tobtok and Milwin featuring Mila Falls, the U.K.-based DJ/producer…

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Miami Beach, Fla. – As always, this year’s Miami Music Week offers a star-studded lineup of DJ/producers headlining a variety of much-hyped club, hotel, and festival events. But it’s also an opportunity for up-and-coming jocks to take their place in the spotlight. One of these rising talents is DJ HoneyLuv, a house spinner/producer who’ll be supporting top jocks like MK (at The National Hotel March 25) and Chris Lake (at Space Park Miami March 27) this week. The former U.S. Navy aviation mechanic and college-basketball player (at the University of La Verne) has recently released “Your Tongue,” a tasty banger…

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Illexxandra and DJ Shakey are a pair of Brooklyn-based jocks who’ve rocked America’s underground party scene for years. Spinning at clubs, festivals, one-offs – even some mobiles and roller discos – they’ve mastered a variety of dancefloor genres and built their individual profiles nicely. But more recently, they joined forces in the studio create a superb debut EP, “Bass Arithmetic,” on ill.Gates’ Producer Dojo imprint. Filled with quirky, funky flavors, like the title track, “Nutty Queen” and “Bubble Rap,” the EP drops twisted synth basslines and head-bobbing breaks with ease. It’s quite a joy ride. But getting to a point…

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Today, Andrea Oliva is one of Europe’s more prominent underground DJ/producers. His often melodic, but tough-edged techno sounds have earned him nearly every opportunity a DJ can enjoy.  In fact, with major slots in Ibiza (Space, Pacha, Ushuaia), a deep discography of productions (“Scream”) and remixes (Luciano’s “Rise of Angel”) on a variety of impressive labels (Cadenza, Defected, Desolat), and gigs at top festivals (Coachella, Glastonbury, Sonus), Oliva’s bio is on par with the Continent’s best electronic talents.  But, like many DJs on the ascension, the Swiss-born talent wanted more. So, he recently launched All I Need, an Ibiza-focused music-label…

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Looking for a change-up to an overstuffed diet of EDM or hip-hop? Give a listen to DJ Samantha Michelle, who offers a slightly different range of musical flavors, including a tasty serving of rock-n-roll. Folk, funk, glam, psychedelia, blues or R&B, Michelle is open to a broad range of genres – from classics to deep cuts – as long as it rocks the party. Spinning since 2012, the Canadian-born, NYC-based jock has made her mark in playing special events (fashion, arts, film fests, charity) and members clubs (like the London-based Soho House, which has 28 worldwide clubs), plus the occasional…

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New York City – Sitting smack in the middle of Manhattan’s famed Times Square district, Nebula is perhaps an unlikely place to find top-shelf tastes mixing with underground grooves. But, since the club’s opening this past fall, Nebula has done just that by booking top global-DJ talent to match its state-of-the-art light, sound and video systems.  Filling out an 11,000-square-foot, dual-level room, Nebula has brought in some of the world’s best tech-house, deep house and techno DJ/producers. Recent bookings have included MK, Purple Disco Machine, CamelPhat, Damian Lazarus, Carnage, Duck Sauce and Lee Burridge. And, most recently, Diplo, who’s supporting…

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Like all gigging DJs, Nicole Moudaber was blindsided by the pandemic in 2020. Not only were her touring opportunities put on pause, but with the global virus taking its tragic toll, creative motivation was at an all-time low. For “The Queen of Techno,” playing or producing music wasn’t her top priority. Nonetheless, as the lockdown moved on, DJs re-adjusted to the new normal. And DJs, being the hustlers they are, found new ways to remain noticed, if not fully active. Many took to Twitch and began live-streaming – some creating new profiles, some simply renewing their brands. Others, embracing the…

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Sometimes, versatility pays off. Case in point: DJ E-Clyps, who has successfully turned his many passions and talents into a life of art and community advocacy.  Hailing from Fort Wayne, Ind., E-Clyps is equally adept at scratching classic hip-hop vinyl or mixing soulful house tracks on CDJs. And when he’s in the studio, he’s not sure what’s going to come out of “his lab.” But it’s always quality.   Just check out his most recent releases on his Blacklight Music imprint, “Basement Bounce” and “Walk Away,” a pair of old-school house tracks that’ll warm up the dancefloor. And don’t sleep on…

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From his light-hearted videos and streams, one can see that French DJ/producer Myd has always been a bit of a goofball, someone who didn’t mind skewering our modern conventions while providing a backdrop of irresistible grooves. To get the picture, just check out these lockdown-era gems – “Together We Stand,” which pointedly lampoons our social-media/influencer culture, and “Moving Men” featuring Mac DeMarco, which puts Myd and Mac in cartoonland for some seriously stoned hijinks. In 2021, the frivolity continued, as Myd earned accolades for his dreamy-fun debut album, Born A Loser (Ed Banger/Because), which brought a tasty mix of house…

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Berlin, Germany – DJ/producer Wankelmut initially caught the global dance community’s attention in 2012 with his stirring remix Asaf Avidan’s “One Day/Reckoning Song.” Then, his profile rose further the next year with his earworm track “My Head Is a Jungle” (with Emma Louise). The iconic MK remix of the latter tune brought even more attention and that led to high-profile DJ gigs and a slew of remix opportunities. Since then, he’s released a steady stream of productions and remixes, some leaning toward the deeper side of house, but always maintaining a uniquely catchy flavor. In fact, since the pandemic, he’s…

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Manchester, U.K. – Across the pond, there’s the original dubstep sound with its wubs, wobbles and 2-step rhythms – and then there’s riddim, its dirtier, wonkier, more minimal subgenre. Confused? Well, don’t be. Just give a listen to massive Subfiltronik tracks like “Subminus,” “Demon Master” and the more recent “Vendetta,” and you’ll get properly sorted on what makes riddim. But… prepare for a rather visceral experience. As one of riddim’s main practitioners, the Manchester-based Subfiltronik (aka Corey Smith) has been flying the flag for dubstep and related bass-bombing genres for more than a decade. We recently caught up with the…

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After enjoying one of her most prolific periods in the studio, Romanian techno DJ/producer Simina Grigoriu steams into 2022 with continued vigor, as she unveils her next EP, “Rooftop Ballerina / Pirouette.” The brooding “Rooftop Ballerina” pulses with a booming kick and swirling keys for a wonderfully disorienting result. Meanwhile, the even-darker “Pirouette” works a snaky synth line over a rumbling rhythm accented with tasty effects. Out now via her beloved Kuukou Records imprint, it’s quite a pair of techno tracks. DJ LIFE MAG recently caught up with the Berlin-based talent. Creatively, how did you approach “Rooftop Ballerina/Pirouette”? They’re two…

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By his own admission, Lubelski is a bit of a modular-synth maniac. And if you listen to tracks like “Asylum” from Happy Accidents, his recent album on Dirtybird, you’ll quickly get the picture. It’s a manic tech-house excursion that fires you thru a gauntlet of compelling club sounds – nervy bassline, commanding kick drum, acid squiggles, the lot. It’s a thrilling ride that, according to his studio approach, resulted from the “conversations” he had with his synths. Quite a diverse outing, Happy Accidents is one of electronic music’s best recent full-lengths, and “All This Technology,” his recent tech-house collab with…

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ZIPDJ has launched ZIPDJ PRO, an entirely rebuilt version of the subscription-based, music-discovery platform that’s been around for nearly 15 years. ZIPDJ PRO offers major core updates with new features, improved application speed/stability, and a new look to enhance up the v3 update of 2020. New features include a software overhaul, bringing a new music-discovery experience; advanced search and filtering for easier and faster discovery; Favorite & Follows, which provides valuable feedback for record labels; Playlists, which allows DJs to organize music into lists; and Advanced Mobile Optimization. President of ZIPDJ, Nick Fiorucci, has long led the industry with a…

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As a late-teen, Kenneth Hyman entered NYU with the hopes of becoming a psychiatrist because, he says, he wanted to make people happy. But after getting exposed to NYC’s rich, mid-’90s club scene, he reconsidered his path and took to the DJ decks.   As Herbert Holler – his new DJ handle – he found a better method to infuse happiness to the masses. He worked smaller parties, handed out flyers for promoters and learned nearly every angle of putting on events that left customers satisfied. His hustle and perseverance set him up for good things to come.  In 2003, The Freedom Party – an egalitarian club event that plays all forms of classic party music – was born. Nearly 19 years and 800 events later, Holler’s hoedown remains the longest-running club party in New York City. Currently set up on the regular at downtown Manhattan’s Le…

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Here we are, finally, where 2021 meets 2022… and, hopefully, a little more normalcy is just around the corner (variants be damned). So, as we wrapped up ’21, we fired off a quickie poll to DJs of all stripes, asking how 2021 looked to them in the rear-view. We asked three simple questions: What’s your top tune of the year (one that’s not yours)? What was your best accomplishment of 2021? What was the best DJ/musical moment (live, streaming, or studio)? Here are the first 100 responses we got. Ready, steady, go… 1. Anabel Englund, Ultra Music, L.A.  Tune: “What You…

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Join DJ LIFE editor Jim Tremayne and Hazan Media Group President/CEO Shawn Hazan on Twitch as they visit with NYC DJ/Twitch personality Mike Marquez at 5 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Dec. 7. In addition to examining the latest developments in the DJ world, the three will discuss the recently launched DJ LIFE digizine and website, plus some exciting new moves at DJX, the trade show/exhibition that’s set for Aug. 8-11 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. Since the lockdown, Marquez has delivered plenty of useful and entertaining content, plus some serious house jams, for Twitchers the world over.…

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SoundSwitch, a leading manufacturer of DJ-lighting control software and hardware, has released Control One, a professional lighting controller and dual-universe DMX interface. Control One provides dedicated, tactile control over light-fixture color, intensity, movement, automated light shows, and FX. SoundSwitch + Control One bring music-synchronized light shows and the power of on-the-fly visual effect to the DJ’s fingertips. Control One is compatible with Engine DJ, Serato DJ Pro, Virtual DJ, and Ableton Link. Says SoundSwitchʼs Product Owner, Matt Watkins: “The Control One adds new functionally and improves the overall experience of controlling lighting while DJing. Following on from the release of…

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The beat-mad throngs returned to the East Coast this past Labor Day Weekend, as the Electric Zoo: Supernaturals festival rocked Randall’s Island with a slew of top DJ/artists. Running on five stages from Sept. 3-5, Electric Zoo 2021 brought headliners like Tiësto, Alesso, Zeds Dead, Seven Lions, Kaskade, Illenium, and Steve Aoki, plus genre faves like Claptone, Andrew Rayel, Rezz, and Duke Dumont. Though the festival grounds remained only a tad wet from the week’s record rainfall – the remnants of Hurricane Ida, which took dozens of lives in the tri-state area – the kids poured in for New York’s…

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After nearly 19 months of industry uncertainty, the DJ market returned in a big way as DJ Expo 2021 brought jocks of all stripes back into its community. Rebranded as DJX, the DJ Life-produced trade-show/exhibition filled the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City this past Aug. 9-12 with mobile entertainers, club DJs, streaming jocks and home-studio hounds. After missing its 2020 incarnation due to the pandemic, the show on AC’s famed Boardwalk delivered three days of exhibits featuring some of the industry’s latest technologies, four days of seminars, workshops and keynotes, and three nights of sponsored After Dark events.…

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