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I love to create a long ass list of mixes to listen to on YouTube (and pray that an angel has put the tracklist in the comments)
One thing I have noticed in the comments of DJ mixes, is people's pure amazement that a DJ has mixed a wide range of genres together.
I picked up DJ'ing two years ago and with that, a keen interest in the history of genres and where they originated. To be fr, the majority of music we listen to today was created by black people who were innovative against all odds. I truly believe that rhythm is intrinsic to that creative process and the reason why a lot of these genres blend so well is because of common drum patterns and melodies.
For example, I went to a salsa night and felt moved by the drum patterns of the songs being played, as they were reminiscent of the music I grew up on (Highlife, Ghana). This can be traced back to the slave trade, where Africans were enslaved and transported from Africa across to the Caribbean, taking those rhythms with them and creating new sounds that established this tangible sonic connection.
So when we witness DJ's mix Jersey Club, with Reggaeton, to Baltimore Club to Grime, to Jungle, Baile funk and back again... that's lightwork! Black people pioneered all these genres, infusing those intrinsic rhythms and unknowingly creating a formula that makes all these musical genres blend so perfectly.
So the next time you listen to a multi-genre DJ set (I'd recommend Zack Fox's Boiler Room to start) just know you are getting schooled in BLACK HISTORY!
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I prefer to work while listening to music, but I get distracted if there are too many lyrics. As a result, I listen to a lot of electronic music, and SoundCloud (and sometimes Mixcloud) is the best platform to hear a DJ set. I made a few mixes during the pandemic, which you can listen to here. I’m not great at physically mixing records — CDJs are easy enough, but beatmatching on wax is a truly difficult craft I respect! — so I often sample a movie quote or YouTube deep cut to transition between tunes. If you want to hear real DJs, below is a collection of sets, mixes, and a couple radio shows I’ve been hitting as of late. Vibe-wise, they lean towards 303s, Drexciya-era electro, early UK dubstep/bass, and film score gems — in other words, downright slappers left and right.
Sep 8, 2022
I’ve always been a massive fan of whatever Zack Fox does and he has been blessing us with a bunch of DJ sets this summer that are on Youtube. I crank them all day long and feel like I can do anything. He introduced me to the song “Bi-Racial” by Sean Fury on the album “Ladies of Color” and for that I am forever grateful.
Dec 6, 2024
last night, I went to see my favorite DJ, Green Velvet, in DC. he was pretty huge in Chicago when house music was starting to become more known in the 90s, and he has a very distinct style.
seeing him reminded me that i wanted to share this video with you all. the history of house music is rich & is based on bringing people together which i find so beautiful. please give this a watch if you're interested in learning about the history of house music <3
Jan 26, 2025
Top Recs from @caffy
a myth dating from the victorian period, these tiny, decorative glass bottles were wept into by those mourning their loved ones. once the tears collected eventually evaporated, this marked the end of their mourning period.
this myth has been debunked by scientists, with others saying that these bottles were in fact used to store perfumes, but i'm very obsessed with this romantic notion and will be sticking to it!
Feb 18, 2025
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i see solitude as metamorphosis. you need that time in the cocoon to really check in with yourself and the joy of that comes from how you'll gain a deeper understanding of yourself.
sometimes i spend SO much time with myself that i get SO BORED that I HAVE to venture outside of myself. when i say venture, i mean challenging myself in how i self- express which will in turn, nourish my interactions with others when i choose to seek company.
proceeding to create art, but trying new methods. going down youtube rabbit holes of things i am interested in so i can discover new references. cooking a meal without following a recipe and surprising myself. making the space i am in super cosy (candles, snacks on deck, music, blankets) going on long walks and picking up conversations with strangers through shared observations of life around us. watching music festivals/boiler rooms and dancing around my room like a mad man.
once you feel comfortable in being by yourself, you'll be more aware of what you need from your company and when you seek it, you'll be a lot more intentional about it and cherish it even more.
Oct 7, 2024
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*shines bright light in your face*
But WHY do you like what you like?!
Echoing a sentiment from Tyler, the Creator, where he tweeted for people to expand on what they liked about his songs and delve into the WHY (i.e the bridge, chords, riffs)
Truly believe it’s so so important to be able to articulate why things bring us enjoyment, pleasure and giddiness, because that just makes way for one to obsess/ research and learn more about said thing!
This is basically a gratitude post for PI, I just love blagging about what makes this Little Life of Mine more bearable !!!
Sep 27, 2024