2016 in 366 Spinners, Selectors and Sound Hounds
What is a DJ?
You may think that they are simply a person who plays the music of others, often blending a collection of disparate parts into one seamless whole, facilitating a stream of rhythms to wash over the ears of the listener, whilst simultaneously transforming the nature of the art in the process; and, of course, it would be fair to say that you are correct in your assessment of their role. However, I find this definition only takes into account what a DJ does, not what a DJ is, with it being my view that, when boiled down to their essence, a DJ is knowledge.
Of course, one could take the epistemological position that everything is knowledge, and so I must specify my intention to grant any kind of meaning to the reader.
Firstly, there is the technical knowledge of how to engage in the practice of DJing, with this comprising understanding how to utilise the available technology to produce the desired results, be it on the dancefloor, in the radio booth, or even on the festival stage; and whilst it is clearly beneficial to have mastered the myriad mixing techniques hitherto invented, this isn’t what I mean when I say “knowledge”, with my focus being rather on the assessment and accruement of the semiotic information contained within those sounds we know as “music”. By this, I mean that the ultimate “worth” of a DJ lies not in their skill behind the decks (or in front of an Ableton interface), but in their ability to identify and recollect the names, titles, labels, tempi, keys, etc., abstractly attached to those atmospheric vibrations we all crave to experience, with the vast reservoirs of musical data residing in the memory banks of the DJ being their true defining feature.
By this token, if a person is familiar with a DJ, then, by extension, they establish the potential to become familiar with the thousands upon thousands of artists that the DJ themselves is familiar with; it thus being the case that the DJ functions as an incredibly useful conduit for the opportunity of pleasure, without the burden of knowledge. Which is to say, nobody has the mental capacity to be consciously aware of all the countless pieces of music created by the entirety of humanity, and any attempt to acquire such immense knowledge would surely be a fruitless endeavour, but if one were to simply learn of a fraction of that number of DJs, then one forms a secondary link to all that musical information which the DJ holds in their psyche, with this, in effect, creating a situation whereby one’s freedom to enjoy the wealth of sonic possibilities is increased exponentially, without the need for cluttering up one’s brain with half-forgotten snippets of names and titles which serve only to further paralyse the mind through information overload. Thus, it can be said that the DJ’s knowledge becomes an extension of our knowledge; their “surrogate” memory acting as a medium through which we can access the esoteric beauty of unknown individuals.
Therefore, my presentation of 366 DJs is in fact more like an offering of 366 keys; each one unlocking the door to untold corridors of musical exploration, and all which that entails. The idea of this piece being to establish a nexus amongst nexii*, with each individual featured in this list harbouring the potential to become a multifaceted junction in the mind-bogglingly complex network of human creativity extant in the world today; a junction through which one can then be directed towards yet more instances of artistic enlightenment, with each step in this traversal of auditory expertise being garnished by the humongous boon of the possibility of pleasure; which, in and of itself, is surely justification enough for the creation of this piece of writing. (*Yes, I am aware that the correct pluralisation of the word “nexus” in English is “nexuses”, and that in Latin it should be declined into “nexūs”, but I simply like the way that “nexii” looks and sounds in the sentence, so I’m going to use it regardless of grammatical accuracy.)
However, there would be absolutely no point in me just naming a tonne of high-profile, well-established DJs, as sites like Resident Advisor and Mixmag already fulfil such a role to a more than satisfactory degree, with it therefore surely being much more useful for me to use this virtual space-time to highlight some less lauded, yet equally bright, lights in the galaxy of musical compilers; thus better taking advantage of my unique spectrum of knowledge on the subject. (I mean, I didn’t make a conscious effort to avoid including “big-name” DJs in this piece, it just seems that my aural interests naturally gravitated towards more niche sectors of the mixing landscape, which is actually somewhat in opposition to my general listening trends this year, with my previous aversion to pop music mutating into unbridled enthusiasm, resulting in a “regression” back to surfing the music video channels on Sky, and finding my most tuned-into radio stations becoming the likes of Kiss, Capital, Heat, and even Heart, which is an unbelievable volte-face from half a decade ago when I regularly checked out the Late Junction on Radio 3; my palate not even being able to handle the more abstruse nocturnal fare aired on Radio 1, let alone the playlisted-to-fuck selection in rotation during daylight hours.)
Also, I didn’t want to just serve up a giant dollop of data without any way for the brain to “anchor” it into one’s memory, as a mere list of proper nouns will hold no lasting resonance to anyone, the words rapidly fading into obscurity with absolute ease, making my impartation of knowledge to you a depressingly ephemeral action (although I suppose such a thing is inevitable really). Therefore, to give the information some “hooks” to latch into your conscious, I have asked the artists to furnish the piece with some elements of personalisation; this hopefully providing the mind with the materials with which to construct a bond between the signs on your screen and the fact that they represent a real person somewhere out there in the world; someone who is contributing to the ever-growing mass of collective knowledge which permits all of us who love music to satisfy our desires; which is surely what life is all about. (Well, that was the idea anyway, but, as they say, you can lead a horse to water…)
Personally, the accompanying visuals play a large part in my ability to recollect information, with the presence of either an aesthetic attraction, or an attractive aesthetic, greatly aiding in the cementation of an artist within my memory. Which is to say, the best way to grab the attention of my subconscious is to be a beautiful woman, and utilise one’s appearance as a promotional tool for the music, but obviously, not everyone can be a beautiful woman (or a beautiful man, for those who are more susceptible to optical impression by masculine traits), so the next best method for mental engagement is simply incorporating any kind of striking visuals, especially those which are novel and unique, with a strong, consistent “branding” of one’s art in this way playing upon everyone’s desire for some kind of order within the chaos of reality; it appealing to our innate will to defy the nihilistic inevitability suggested by the entropy of the universe. Now, without getting too psychoanalytical up in this bitch, I think it’s fair to say that just like the prominence of beauty and attraction appeals to our latent “sex drive”, so too does the use of idiosyncratic imagery (including all semiotic association) tap into our fundamental “life drive”, with the existence of new and unusual things imbuing within us, no matter how imperceptibly, the continuing belief that there will always be more to life than we can comprehend, and thus, the artist who can command both of these extramusical elements wields all the tools necessary for “success”; the question then being have they got the “substance” to back up the “style”. (Oh yeah, and having/choosing a distinctive name also goes a long way in establishing a separation from “the crowd”; although, as evinced by the likes of Jeff Mills, Pete Tong and Calvin Harris, you can get by with a name that has no real va-va-voom if the skills and drive are there.)
Luckily for all those who aren’t pretty girls, talented aestheticians, or the owners of impressive titles, my instinctive cognitive prioritisation and otherwise shite memory aren’t the only sources of reference available to me, with the seemingly bottomless vaults of the Internet keeping track of all of those unfortunately less mentally-imposing figures who equally contribute to the abundance of sounds experienceable at our behest. Consequently, this list should be based upon the contents of the artist’s output, rather than any unrelated qualities they may hold which happen to ingratiate them to my general sensibilities; which in turn should result in a minimally-biased offering, the only partiality arising from my protean tastes in all things musical. (Of course, I have utilised “indirect discrimination” as a means of selecting which artists to feature and which to omit entirely, but that just entailed using my extremely limited knowledge of each DJ’s history and character as a basis for adjudicating which individuals I should deem most “worthy” of being promoted by myself, rather than determining which categorically do not deserve such a thing. In other words, I pared down my initial longlist to the presented “shortlist” of 366 names by choosing to prioritise those artists who, based on admittedly minimal evidence, seemed the most “nice” or “good”; with this decision being but the byproduct of a recent glut of moral contemplation on my part, in which I came to some very clear-cut conclusions regarding how best to encourage “excellence” within society through even the most seemingly insignificant of actions. However, to be perfectly frank, the final make-up of this list is pretty arbitrary, as I simply don’t know enough about any of the considered artists to make a reasonable judgement regarding their qualities as “human beings”; so maybe it’s best to read nothing into these selections other than that I like some of the music that these people have pumped out there into the aether recently.)
Anyway, getting to the crux of the piece; the only criterion I have employed in deciding the eligibility of an individual for inclusion in this list is that they have crafted a single mix this year that I have enjoyed enough to listen through till completion; that’s it. Hence, I don’t care whether all of these people even regard themselves as “DJs”, or whether some would prefer to be identified using a different semantic moniker entirely; the fact that they have produced something that is undeniably the work of a DJ is sufficient for them to be regarded as such in my eyes. After all, it’s like I said earlier, to me, a DJ is essentially a well of knowledge, with the individuals I have opted to showcase in this piece being merely those wells who I have, in my humble opinion, deemed most “worthy” of being supped from; this then hopefully imbibing within the reader some guidance to aid in their quest for pleasure, which should subsequently trickle down into there being more overall “goodness” in the world; pretty simple logic really.
So, without further ado, here’s a big fuck-off list of DJs (at least, ostensibly so) to help open up your mind to immeasurable instances of beauty. (For a much larger compilation of mixes, feel free to check out my monthly mix round-ups on SoundCloud at The Recherché Roughyed.)
–
1. PolyKarp
PolyKarp says:
“Are anime girls the new clickbait? I hope so…”
2. Skinny McToothpick
3. Kritty
4. DJ Spider
5. quest?onmarc
6. Baldeejays
7. Ida Dillan
8. moistbreezy
moistbreezy says:
“There are a whole lot of people who don’t recognize me when I am not moistbreezy, as in when I’m not wearing a wig or otherwise dressed as the moistbreezy persona some have come to know online. As of now, moistbreezy appears offline in the real world only on rare occasion. I have successfully made “moistbreezy” my Hannah Montana. But if the me you know is moistbreezy, then who am I?”
9. Herbarium
10. Flagalova
11. Claudia De Châlon
12. YANASSNOW
13. Effy in the Sky
14. Crapface
15. DJ Tenshin
DJ Tenshin says:
“I came into DJ’ing from Toronto’s Happy Hardcore raves- which was a tight knit and community-oriented music scene. DJ’ing proved to be a social activity for me- it gave me a reason to continue going out, and brought new life into parties for me.
While I started performing specifically with the purpose of playing music I enjoyed (kinds I felt were under-represented by local DJ’s) this evolved into me trying to find the right type of music to make the crowd feel connected.
Mostly all the music I play can be described as ‘happy’, ‘uplifting’ or ‘high-energy’. While I am not opposed to dark sounding music (and enjoy quite a lot of it), my mantra is to bring music that radiates positivity.
I find a lot of Japanese stuff tends to hit right on the mark for the silly, happy-go-lucky sound I love. It also suits my aesthetic well, as I love anime and Japanese fashion.
Outside of performing, I’m presently applying to graduate school for what can be described as “A combination of Psychology & Statistics”. I work as a freelance writer, doing music reviews, blogging and creative work for those with the need.
I’m very much a “type-A personality”. When something interests me, I feel the need to be the best I can at it. I feel comfortable & comfortable with my technical abilities as a DJ. While I continue to make mixes, each of them slightly better than the last, I’ve also become very focused on other aspects of music, such as music production.
My eventual goal is that I can get a large enough following that I can be booked internationally on a regular basis. That way I can travel while doing what I love.
But overall, I am happy with where I am- and appreciate everyone who has helped get me there.”
16. DJ Silky
17. Lil Tantrum
18. D A A L
19. Project Pablo
20. The Mab
21. Carin Kelly
22. Bebe Yama
Bebe Yama says:
“I’ve never been charged with or convicted of a crime, yet my cult leader Koa Malone let me know I’m a bad girl, a fish. My mom’s friend told me I was trying to slam dunk before I learned to do a lay-up. I said my whole life was a lay-up..which rang as millenial arrogance. Since then I have been keeping quiet, writing and practicing operas, practicing Agape, hitting the YMCA under my stepmom’s family membership and WuShu class with Sifu Chen Ying.
For me a mix is an opera, an essay, the vibrational skeleton of divine drama and its arcs…it is helpful in today’s climate to be affirmed by disembodied voices. Like when you eavesdrop and the information is quite serendipitous, even if it is but the sound of someone opening a refrigerator at dawn. You feel like something is on your side.
In the gaps of silence in my soulmate Humilitiy’s mix “Vibrations of culture”, an ornate golden elevator was evoked in my mind’s eye. It was the vessel that would carry us across the socioeconomic divide, across the history of music and the cultural striations of emotion.”
23. emma
24. Sir Rexington
25. tchan
26. Universal Cave
27. Farsight
28. Mitomoro
29. Ghozt
Ghozt says:
“My name is Ghozt and im an 16 year old Kid from Conneticut in the U.S.A”
30. ETEVLEH
31. Vladu
32. Sha Sha Kimbo
33. Konx-Om-Pax
34. Bwise
35. Graz
36. Betonkust
Betonkust says:
“I’m just a guy from Hilversum (The Netherlands) making music with drum machines and synthesizers.
I play live sets and also dj sets. I enjoy all kinds of music but mainly electro, house, acid and techno. The good kind, not the boring stuff. The Hague scene has always been a huge influence. Legowelt and I-F in particular.
Bought my first drum machine when I was 14 years old. A Boss DR-660. I still use that machine in pretty much every track I produce. You can clearly hear it on the ‘Center Parcs’ and ‘Hotel Breukelen’ records.
Expensive equipment in my opinion is unnecessary. You can make tracks with a 100 euro synth and a 50 euro reverb. The situation is getting out of hand, people are buying equipment for thousands of euros/dollars/pounds.
Anyway, I work and tour with artists such as Palmbomen II, Antenna, Innershades, Stippenlift and Marsman. We are all friends and exchange music and help each other out with stuff.”
37. Tincan
38. Megaman
39. Violeta West
40. Keiska
41. Palms Trax
42. Shinichiro Yokota
43. GEARSHFFT
44. DJ Freez
45. Inkke
46. U_U
47. pale girl
48. Ghibli
49. DJ Sonikku
50. hysteric
51. DATE SIM
52. Jay R Neutron
53. Guy Akimoto
54. Emoji Heap
55. Diego Navarro
56. Javi Frias
57. Adipop
58. Dubbel Dutch
59. aread
60. Sully
61. SAL
62. bawxxx
63. #Ill33T4
64. Bianca Oblivion
65. Malibu
66. Miley Serious
67. Nightcorey
68. Lindsaylosam
69. aamourocean
70. Prawns
71. Sunshower
72. Dragon UMA
73. CHAi-t
74. Seudo
75. Grizzy
76. kingKhan
77. Sunareht
78. Denis La Funk
79. Rickie Sherman
80. SURATI
81. Sam Tiba
82. DJ NHK Guy
83. D.K.
84. Billie Birkin
85. skewfield
86. Dischetto
87. JΛSMINE
88. baby emoji
89. Snaked
90. Strider-Kun
91. Venus
92. Cherushii
93. Yoneda
94. Cpnnn
95. unclemarty
96. Blair Sound Design
97. DJ AMWF
98. ssaliva
99. The RawSoul
100. IRCIRL
101. Retina Set
102. Ruf Dug
103. Holly Waxwing
104. Android Boyfriend
105. The Pilotwings
106. DJ ULTRAPERVERT
107. Hunnid Jaws
108. Angiesliste
109. DEAR ABRA
110. DJ Zone
111. Moto Kano
112. Mess
113. PHILOSOPHY
114. Nhan Solo
115. svengali
116. Cool Teens
117. DJ Boyfriends
118. Unrealistic Standards of Beauty
119. TSVI
120. Kasra V
121. DEVNXC
122. Sex™
123. DJ TEMPALGIN
124. Diepvries
125. glttr
126. Keita Kawakami
127. kittynxc
128. Panteros666
129. Duckers
130. Djuna Barnes
131. Distal
132. Para One
133. Haidl & Lindstrom
134. ALEX.DJ.A
135. ODM
136. Airbear
137. DJ Stolen
138. One Hunnid
139. Rowan Mason
140. James Tom
141. Slutcore
142. Lucid Stannard
143. Loom
144. Pute Deluxe
145. Walter Vinyl
146. Slackk
147. Brothel Cats
148. Nightcoregirl
149. Mojek
150. ZOWK
151. Morten HD
152. Charlotte Thorstvedt
153. Gab
154. Pictureplane
155. DJ Wave
156. Circuit 900
157. Nightwave
158. Soldal
159. Riffs
160. skins party
161. DJ Eddie Fludd
162. Infinity Night
163. Betty
164. M@tt
165. [Wade]
166. Chanel
167. She’s Drunk
168. Yaeji
169. midnattssoula
170. Sappho
171. Camino 84
172. Bleaker
173. Lorenzo BITW
174. SHAKESPEARS
175. Chaams
176. Angel 1
177. DJ Logic
178. leon
179. Yolanda Be Cool
180. Jexxa
181. Teki Latex
182. Foozool
183. The Phantom’s Revenge
184. pootee
185. Shae B.
186. Earl Grey
187. Workerz
188. Eidolon
189. False Witness
190. Ghostwhip
191. Orlando Boom
192. DJ Champagne Bukkake
193. pegasvs
194. Detente
195. Physical Therapy
196. Fotomachine
197. Svani
198. 7777777 Sea
199. Mstk
200. An Ni
201. Mind:Body:Fitness
202. Neana
203. KJ$
204. Bailey Crystal
205. S T. M A L O
206. Manny Whodamanny
207. Itoma
208. Pontchartrain
209. B.G. Baarregaard
210. Jr. & Son’s
211. Closet Yi
212. Epikuro
213. Deadboy
214. Misha
215. Jeune Faune
216. The Dance Pit
217. Atris
218. DJ Ouai
219. Ani Klang
220. Plateau Repas
221. snax
222. angelmasturbatingsoftly
223. Panic Pop
224. Tendencies
225. Space Candy
226. AZ (Revelation Time)
227. Robotalco
228. Balibloc
229. Sexton
230. Spencer G
231. CVMIS
232. CL
233. Ash Lauryn
234. Will DiMaggio
235. Mathis Ruffing
236. Adriano Vivas
237. Strahinja Arbutina
238. Asdasfr Bawd
239. MLB
240. David Coquelin
241. Bobby Milkshake
242. Filip Mayer
243. gameboimusic
244. Yoshitaka Hikawa
245. Misha Geleyn
246. VJtheDJ
247. We Love Dolce Vita
248. Tsunga
249. Urulu
250. Frank Booker
251. Seb Wildblood
252. Amateur Exorcist
253. Belamour
254. DJ Cutman
255. The Globule
256. MAUV
257. Grant
258. House of Kenzo
259. Jex Opolis
260. Anna Gram
261. Boylan
262. Journeymann Trax
263. taqumi
264. Maxim Maillet
265. DJ Rueckert
266. Tomoyuki Fujii
267. Eduardo Zambrano
268. Matt Karmil
269. Veronica Vasicka
270. This Soft Machine
271. kare
272. tentacly
273. jeltttoro
274. Lone
275. bread emoji
276. Shyqa
277. Tepr
278. Paul Jones
279. Paul Manton
280. texiyama
281. Honey Bunny
282. Musique Chienne
283. Wrack
284. Yung Internet God
285. BigWigFatCat
286. CHORTBOYZ666
287. Fort Romeau
288. MFN
289. D. Tiffany
290. Bok Bok
291. botaz
292. P Relief
293. Shifra Rifka
294. Spacer Woman
295. Matthias Zimmerman
296. Analski
297. you
298. eevee
299. Bamao Yendé
300. Valesuchi
301. Englesia
302. underd0g
303. Phaedra
304. Gareth Evans
305. Gentle Cuts
306. Octave the Cat
307. bacon-index
308. Terekke
309. Milord
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