GEARED UP 06 - A BRIEF HISTORY OF SCRATCHING

GEARED UP 06

Now then Leeds, hope you're good. My name's Dj Wax On (no connection to the record label or the night), Wakefield's premier turntablist (by default, at least until I learn of another Wakefield turntablist anyway), and in this column i'm gonna be dropping knowledge on Djing, and Dj equipment, kind of like the Trevor McDonald of the DJ world.  This week I'm going to scratch the surface (pun intended) of one of the fundamental aspects of turntablism. 

Turntablism refers to using the turntable as a musical instrument (scratching) or remixing device (beat juggling).  This term was coined by DJ Babu (Beat Junkies & Dilated Peoples) in the mid 90's, but scratching was "invented" way back when by Grand Wizzard Thoedore.  Scratching was a technique which, like a lot of things, was discovered by accident when he left the needle on the record, and moved the record back and forth.  This became something which was done in time to the beat, and through the 80's this was slowly evolved, with using the volume control for the turntable to bring the scratching in and out. 

It was in 1983 when the Herbie Hancock song "Rockit" brought scratching to the masses, with Grand Mixer DXT scratching the word "Fresh" and altering the pitch by pushing the record at varying speeds. (check it on youtube) 

It wasn't until the late 80s that scratching started to evolve more quickly, with Jazzy Jeff (of Fresh Prince Fame) and other Philadelphia based DJs Spinbad and Ca$h Money inventing the transform scratch, and then the chirp scratch (name so by Will Smith on the track "The Magnificent), and then in the 90's things got pushed to the next level.  Crews which started off on the mobile Dj circuit in the 80's from the Bay Area of California, and New York started to dominate the Dj Battle Scene, in particular one crew known as the Invizible Skratch Piklz (AKA FM20 & The Rock Stready DJ's) wow one the World DJ Championships 3 years in a row.  The difference with this crew to others historically, was that they helped the artform progress further than before, by showing people the records, and the techniques they employed, so people could learn these things and develop new techniques.  And with sponsorships from Vestax amongst other companies, they became the first DJ crew to make some decent money from their art. 

Since then, the world of turntablism has exploded, and there's far too much to mention for this week, but I'd recommend anyone to get hold of the film "SCRATCH" by Doug Prey, and it'll give you an in-depth insight into scratching and hip hop, with some awesome footage.

Don't forget to check out my mixes at www.djwaxon.com and www.myspace.com/djwaxon

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GEARED UP 05 - DRUNK PEOPLE
Current mood: relaxed
Category: Music

GEARED UP 05

Now then Leeds, hope you're good. My name's Dj Wax On (no connection to the record label or the night), Wakefield's premier turntablist (by default, at least until I learn of another Wakefield turntablist anyway), and in this column i'm gonna be dropping knowledge on Djing, and Dj equipment, kind of like the Richard Hammond of the wheels of steel.  This week it's all about piss heads.

Alcohol is a funny thing.  You go out on the pop with your mates, go to some lively places and generally have a good time.  The thing is though, if you're out and you're not drinking, you tend to see people in a slightly different way, i.e you notice how drunk they are.  And as a DJ (mainly at bar gigs), you are in a situation where these drunk people will come and say things to you in a variety of ways.

Because you're there DJing, some people often view you as their bitch.  They also tend to assume you have every record that they've ever heard.  So it's not uncommon for you to be asked for a tune that you don't have, and people handle the bad news in different ways; Some people will tell you you're shit, and these people will often be asking for something which couldn't be any more different to what you're currently playing (i.e. you're laying down some disco bangers and get asked for the latest 50 cent).  And you have the option of agreeing with them so that they leave you to it ASAP, or you can point out to them that you're not shit just because you don't own the record, the latter being an uphill struggle. Then, you get the people who, when you don't have the record they request, will just keep thinking of more records you don't have, and don't seem to relent even though you point out to them each time that you don't play that genre whatsoever.  And if you have a request for a record you do have, but it' a banger that's being reserved for the right time, there's a good chance you'll get bugged about it every 5 or 10 minutes until it drops.

You do, however, get drunk people who come and say nice things, and start a conversation with you, which isn't all that bad IN THEORY…but unfortunately, they don't seem to realise you're busy trying to get the next tune lined up ready to drop/mix.  And so your options here are either focus on the records and give a periodic nod or "uh-huh" based on what actually creeps into your ears of what they say, or just to tell them you're too busy and need to get concentrating on the task in hand.

So today's lesson is basically, you can't win.  So take a deep breath and deal with it!

Speaking of bangers, there's a new mix with DJ Hudson of Off The Hook, of heavyweight funk and disco for you to check out at www.djwaxon.com and www.myspace.com/djwaxon

Currently listening : Mountain Dance By Dave Grusin Release date: 1990-10-25

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GEARED UP 04 - MIXING

GEARED UP 04

Now then Leeds, hope you're good. My name's Dj Wax On (no connection to the record label or the night), Wakefield's premier turntablist (by default, at least until I learn of another Wakefield turntablist anyway), and in this column i'm gonna be dropping knowledge on Djing, and Dj equipment, kind of like the Jeremy Kyle of the Dj world.  This week we're covering fundamentals of mixing.

Mixing, in a nutshell, is the transition from one record to another.  This can be done in many different ways, and is regarded as the fundamental skill involved in DJing. Mixing is done differently depending on the music being mixed.  For instance, in hip hop, there is often only a short introduction before the lyrics kick in, so the tunes are often mixed quickly.  With electronic dance music such as house and drum n bass, on the other hand, the tunes are typically arranged with longer intros and breakdowns, which enable longer mixes.

The first this to do to enable a smooth mix is to beat match the 2 records.  Music is divided up into bars and beats, and the speed is measured in beats per minute (BPM).  You need to match the bpm of the 2 records, and line them up so that they are playing at the same time, i.e. the first beat of the bar playing at the same time on both.  Once this is done the 2 records are beat matched. With older music such as funk and disco, this wasn't recorded to a metronome or click track, so quite often speeds up or slows down, which makes it more difficult to beat match.

Once the beat matching has been done, there are different ways to mix the tracks.  For a smooth mix you need to consider bringing in the next track, but also taking out the current one.  The most basic way to do this is just to bring the track straight in at full volume, and take the other track out when the mixed track kicks in or changes, i.e. when vocals kick in.  To make this transition smoother, you can fade the track in gradually, or even use EQ/ filters to take the bass or treble out of one of the tracks.  If doing this, it is paramount that you remember to bring the bass/treble back up when the other track has been mixed out.

There are other ways to do this, such as going straight from one track to the other, scratching in, and some DJs don't even mix at all.  You need to be aware that the most important skill in DJing is the tune selection.

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GEARED UP 03

Now then ..Leeds.., hope you're good. My name's Dj Wax On (no connection to the record label or the night), Wakefield's premier turntablist (by default, at least until I learn of another Wakefield turntablist anyway), and in this column i'm gonna be dropping knowledge on Djing, and Dj equipment, kind of like the Claire Rayner of the Dj world.....

After writing my "Do's and Don'ts of DJing, I realised there are some terms in there which not everyone will be familiar with.  So this week I'm going to be explaining some of the terms I'll be using frequently in future articles.....

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MIXING: The transition between 2 songs, done mostly by matching the beats up, and fading one song out whilst fading the next one in.  There are other ways to do this though.  Mixing is more emphasised in genres such as house and drum n bass.....

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BREAKS: Generally breakdowns in songs where it will reduce to one or two instruments playing.  This is often a drum breakdown.  A break in a song can also happen at the start.  A good example is the introduction to "Apache" by the Incredible Bongo Band.....

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BEAT JUGGLING: This is the art of taking 2 copies of the same break, and when the break on one copy ends, playing the break on the other record, to loop the break.  This has been developed into using 2 different records, or using the 2 copies to do "live remixes" of the breaks.  Check out dj's like "J-Rocc" and "Babu" for good examples.....

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SCRATCHING: Taking a sound on a record, and moving it back and forth in an expressive way, whilst cutting the sound in and out.  Check out DJ's like "Q-Bert" and "D-Styles" to see this at top level.....

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DIGGING: Searching for rare breakbeats and tunes, which can be a very tiring and laborious affair, but worthwhile when you find some gems.  Some notable diggers (dj's who play GOOD rare tunes) are DJ Muro, Paul Nice, DJ Shadow and DJ Format.....

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SAMPLING: This is using part of a song (usually old) and creating a beat/tune around it.  This has been done in various genres (check the break in Amen Brother by The Winstons – this is basically the backbone of Jungle) but is predominantly associated with hip hop.  Some current producers who sample are Kanye West, DJ Premier and Just Blaze.....

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CLASH: When mixing 2 songs which don't leave enough space for one another, the sounds will often clash.  Another way this can happen, particularly in hip hop, is when 2 songs are playing together, and one has vocals going, then the vocals also come in on the other song.....

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Check my stuff at www.myspace.com/djwaxon and www.djwaxon.com and let me know what you think.....

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GEARED UP 02
Category: Music

Now then Leeds, hope you're good. My name's Dj Wax On (no connection to the record label or the night), Wakefield's premier turntablist (by default, at least until I learn of another Wakefield turntablist anyway), and in this column i'm gonna be dropping knowledge on Djing, and Dj equipment, kind of like the Claire Rayner of the Dj world.

This week I'm going to be pointing out what are, in my opinion, some of the big do's and don'ts of DJing.

DO'S AND DON'TS OF DJING:

DO: Play to the audience.  When choosing your tunes, think about what they what to hear, not what you think's a good tune if you know it's gonna go down like a sack of shit.  There's nothing wrong with slipping in the odd lesser known tune if you're confident that it'll go down well, but I've cleared a dance floor with a tune I thought would be a killer, and it's not a nice feeling.

DON'T:  Go to a funk night and start playing slow, dark, smoking hip hop beats when you get on the decks and you're playing to a packed dance floor.  Likewise, don't play gabber techno in a posh wine bar.

DO: Try and put on a bit of a show as and when you can, it's good to do things that make people remember your set.

DON'T: Try to scratch over every tune just because you can, and don't try and beat juggle or blend tunes if they clash.  For all your effort you'll come off sounding wack.

DO: Learn your tunes, and learn when to mix them.  This is very important, particularly with older music such as funk and disco, as the musicians often waver in and out of time, and with hip hop, as it often only has short introductions. 

DON'T: Panic if you f**k up.  If you mess up a mix, or a track skips when you're beat juggling, there's a 90% chance that the only people who will notice this are other DJ's, and these mistakes are forgotten in a matter of seconds.

DO: Pace yourself.  If you've got, say a 90 record bag with you for a 5 hour set, don't try and quick mix everything after one verse and one chorus.  Unless all your 90 records are compilations where every tune's a banger, it'll be getting tough to find the right tunes after 2 or 3 hours.

DON'T: Feel like every record you play has to be a huge classic.  The key is knowing when to play what.

DO: Check my stuff at www.myspace.com/djwaxon and www.djwaxon.com and let me know what you think.

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GEARED UP 01
Category: Music

So i've started writing a column for Leeds Guide, and i thought this would be a good place to share it...here's the first one:

Now then, Leeds, hope you're good. My name's DJ Wax On — no connection to the record label or the night — and I'm Wakefield's premier turntablist (by default, at least until I learn of another Wakefield turntablist anyway).
In this column, I'm gonna be dropping knowledge on DJing and DJ equipment — kind of like the Claire Rayner of the DJ world. To get things underway, we're gonna start with some hard facts about DJing.

1. DJs aren't cool:
DJs are anoraks,up there with trainspotters — and arguably worse when it comes to the time spent on cultivating an encyclopaedic knowledge of their subject.

2. DJing is expensive:
Spending an arm and a leg on a decent DJ setup, which can cost up to and over a grand, is just the start. To get a decent record collection costs a LOT, unless you're an iPod DJ. But that's a rant for another day...

3. DJing isn't an instant in with the opposite sex:
If you've got no skills in that area, they aren't instantly enhanced because you can mix and/or scratch. Realising this is like being told Santa doesn't exist.

4. DJing is rarely well paid:
These days, you've got to be seriously lucky to get well-paid gigs, particularly when you're starting out. And most well-paid gigs I've had have been lame.

5. DJing is hard work:
It generally involves sweating your nads (or tits) off for anything up to five hours solid, being asked for music nothing like what you're playing and being told you're shit because you don't have it.

6. Some gigs make DJing worthwhile:
Just as you get really bad gigs, you still get some brilliant gigs that take away any doubts about why you started. Honest.

Next issue we'll be taking a look at some of the dos and, if we have enough space, the don'ts of DJing. Thanks, Leeds. You've been a wonderful
audience.

1:14 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

EARWAX VOL. I REVIEWS
Current mood: BUZZIN!!!
Category: BUZZIN!!! Music

I just got my first review, so here it goes:

"Following in the footsteps of turntable titans such as 5th Platoon's Neil Armstrong and DJ Daddy Dog, Wakefield's DJ Wax On embraces the concept of going in the mix, in the truest sense of the term on Earwax Vol. I, embarking on an unpredictable sonic journey that encompasses a variety of musical styles. Rather than play it safe and simply drop all the biggest hip hop tracks of the moment, Wax On instead flicks through his record box and blends some quality tunes from artists as diverse as Jurassic 5, Led Zeppelin, LL Cool J and Dizzy Gillespie. But irrespective of what genre or era Wax on is delving into, it's definitely got the funk, baby. Peep www.djwaxon.com"

Ryan Proctor, Blues & Soul Magazine, March 14-27, 2007


Wakefields no one spinner, DJ Wax On, drops his debut mix CD after years of rocking the crowds at various Off The Hook Soundsystem parties. Its a fine selection of jazz, funk, breakbeat and unadulterated party hip hop that aims to bring the listener as much pleasure as Bullseye brought to darts players accross the north in the 80s. One of the few places where Felicity Kendal rubs shoulders with Jurassic 5 and Dizzy Gillespie, and the well put together mix encompasses everyone from Steely Dan to LL Cool J to the Chemical Brothers and Babe Ruth, De La Soul and the Prodigy. No room for pretentions or closed minds, you should check this CD, you just might like it!

Fat City Records, Manchester

Currently listening : Blowout Comb By Digable Planets Release date: 18 October, 1994

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The Winners of Wax On's Big Giveaway...

THE WINNERS......

Wise Guy-M.O.G.s/Peacemakers
http://www.myspace.com/justbustagroove
- Needed some new music to pop and break to, and what better than Earwax Vol. I!!!

Deft
http://www.myspace.com/deftcom
- Is going to fist the Queen for his copy of Earwax Vol. I!!!

Rob
http://www.myspace.com/robh82
- Used some very clever picure editing to threaten me with a rogering from a He/She if he didn't get his copy of Earwax Vol. I!!!

No.nine recordings
http://www.myspace.com/soundnonine
- Had some mental dream which gave them the sign that they NEEDED a copy of Earwax Vol. I!!!

DJ Miss Brownsugar
http://www.myspace.com/djmissbrownsugar
- Said she loved me and called me darling to get a copy of Earwax Vol. I!!!

I'd just like to say thanks, and better luck next time, to everyone who entered the competition, although there wasn't that many people.
I kind of hoped a lot more people would try and get a free cd, maybe they just thought a free copy of Earwax Vol. I was just too good to be true!!!

Peace out.

3:48 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

EARWAX VOL I PROMO GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!
Current mood: chipper
Category: Music

The time is nigh, and you now have the opportunity to win a free, and signed (if requested) copy of Earwax Vol I, by Wax On, a journey through hip hop, soul, funk, disco, electronica and much more!

Thats right, I'm giving 5 - yes, 5 copies away to the 5 most deserving entrants to this bumper giveaway competition...and it couldn't be easier to enter!

All you have to do...

...is drop me a comment (if not already a friend, then just add me and then drop me a comment) in the comment box on my page stating why you want/ need a copy of Earwax Vol I, and the 5 funniest/most creative entries will be awarded CDs, competition applies ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!!  Last day of entry to the competition is Sunday the 4th of March.  And remember, if your comment strokes my ego, makes me laugh, or scares me a little, you're in with a chance!

Happy Entry!!!

Be Sure to check back by Friday 10th March to check if you are a winner...

7:26 AM - 4 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

SIGNED WAX ON PIC FOR SALE ON EBAY!!!
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Music

ONE LUCKY PERSON NOW HAS THE CHANCE TO GET A SIGNED PICTURE OF WAX ON, FOR DETAILS JUST FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW:

WAX ON SIGNED PIC

PEACE

3:39 PM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment