JStep wrote:...electronica is not at all like that, in my opinion. It's intent is usually to create a space for YOU to express yourself through dance. It's not trying to tell you something, it's not a message, it is a vehicle. The rave scene exploded not because those kids just really like that music, but because it was an experiment in communities of people involved in going to underground parties and creating spaces in which to experiment with trance inducing mental states through dance (and, with mixed results, drugs), self expression, and art. A big part of trance inducing states of consciousness is overwhelming the senses (lots of light and hypnotic sound). A person who's tripping (also sober though) and dancing ecstatically in such an environment can often enter trance or trance-like states, an altered form of consciousness that humans have been experimenting with for millions of years and currently has no outlet in modern proper well behaved drug free society.
When I want to listen to The Cars (LOVE THEM!) it's for a different set of aesthetic needs than when I want to close my eyes and listen to Skynet on my Blackberry. The Cars is a piece of art, Skynet is also art but it can also be a canvas when my mind creates its own expressions on the canvas of sound. When I want to dance to 4 on the floor untz untz untz it's not the same aesthetic need that makes me want to bounce around to a sweet bluegrass band. Equating them I think is a confusion of the purpose of electronica.
Beautifully worded.
Also being one of many musical tastes, I can definitely understand where alot of you are coming from as far as the "it's sounds the same" line of thinking. For alot of people, it's just that same old shitty techno music that some assjack is blasting way too loud, and (chances are) they don't know how to properly set up equipment or align there speakers/equalizers or level their channels properly.
Being an amateur DJ, and this next being my first burn, I wasn't planning on bringing my gear with me, mostly because I want to see what the elements are actually like, and get a chance to experience them myself before I lug out a few thousand dollars worth of turntables and mixers into the middle of nowhere and be SOL after two hours of playing.
Unfortunately, alot of your complaints, though, are well placed. If any of the local shows around here have any similar qualities to ones you have mentioned, alot of "kids" (and I say this loosely, as I am 21) these days don't bother trying to level out there amps, or spend time doing sound checks. They just want to get the bass as loud as it'll go and the highs as low as they'll go and have at.
I was fortunate enough to get hooked up with some DJ's that have been in the business for 14 or 15 years, and a few producers as well. If we DO end up dragging our gear out to BM one of these years, I'll definitely make sure we have a more "live" feel to what we're doing. Crowd interaction, music with lyrics, maybe some live remixing of older tracks. I'm glad that I hopped on ePlaya this early in the game. Really kinda paints a picture of what people want, and as a DJ, making the crowd happy is what I'm there for. Cause if ya'll ain't happy... Well, I'm out of a job.
