We all know you can’t create electronic music just by pressing one button. The music is filled with loads of layers and performing it 100% live isn’t easily going to happen.

Laptop live performances are something we’ve used to see. Some years ago they most likely looked like the artist or the band members are checking their emails rather than performing the music for the people.

With the modern software, midi controllers and synths it is possible to create one man live performance. But how to do it so that it looks something that the artist is really doing something at the stage.

Steve Helstrip, better known as The Thrillseekers gives us a model example how one man EDM live performance is done to the max.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrC7ct_TrUg

When you’ve seen how it’s performed, you might want to see how it’s done – behind the scenes. Here’s a video where Steve tells us how he has done things in his live perfomance. He also tells more about the software and hardware he is using.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOxYvkAg0oc

What do you think, will the future bring us even more artists that perform EDM live in front of public, or will the DJ’s still be the kings of nightlife?

Edit: The latter video was added after getting a comment from Steve on Twitter (@SteveHelstrip). Thank you for the input.

Remember Prodigy’s Smack My Bitch Up?

The times have gone by, the video itself has got a cult status, but the track keeps living a life of it’s own still being remembered in night clubs all around the world.

Prodigy’s lead man (that usually keeps everything low key) Liam Howlett is known for his sampling. Some music enthuastics have been spotting various samples from Prodigy tracks. Now in the era of YouTube the stuff gets some videos.

In the summer 2009 a very creative video of how to recreate Smack My Bitch Up was posted to YouTube. The spotting of samples was spot on and the way how the data was presented, indeed top notch.

However just a month a go producer from Ukraine Jim Pavloff showed his superb producing skills by recreating the whole track in Ableton Live.

Check it out.

Sampling (other people’s tracks) is something that is usually kept tightly undercover, one reason being the copyrights. There’s no mention there’s been used partitions of another track. But properly used it’s really entertaining to spot samples.

How do you feel about sampling? What if someone gives out and reveils your secrets?

Picture by Chulini under a CC license.

Turntablism is mostly for hiphoppers, right? But the concept of controllerism might fit better into the electronic scene. We have moved into an era where the Mac-lit DJ is more common than the jock playing plastic plates. Since anyone can make flawless beatmixes with cheap gear now, you have to give credit to those digital artists that take more creative use of computers and its controllers.

From Wikipedia: Controllerism is the art and practice of using musical software controllers (e.g. MIDI, OSC, Joystick, etc) to build upon, mix, scratch, remix, effect, modify, or otherwise create music, usually by a Digital DJ or “Controllerist”.

The gear manufacturers are throwing out a lot of controllers for DAWs and digital DJ’ing, but real controllerists create their own equipment. Now you might argue that this extreme use of controllers is relevant only for artists performing live electronic music. But isn’t computer DJ’ing based on pretty much the same?

We expect more from the DJ when a laptop is in front of him or her, don’t we? Should digital DJ acts be more like a set with live remixes, or are we better off without interrupting the tracks? After all, a lot of DJ’s are already making good use of Ableton Live, Traktor, Serato etc. and their suitable USB controllers.

I’ve attached two videos by controllerist Moldover from Brooklyn that explains the deal pretty good. He has wrecked a Novation Remote 25 and use Ableton Live as software. If you would like to change your DJ act into a more live-like experience, maybe you can pick up a couple of tricks. And maybe you’ll smash your controller and rebuild it before your next DJ gig or live performance?

Lesson one:

Lesson two:

A random studio in the 00ies. Pic: Miss Krin

A decade has soon passed. We’ve gone from glowsticks and the commercial breakthrough of electronic dance music, to a digital revolution with producers in every bedroom. The electronic music industry has evolved, but what has made the change?

Which releases or producers/dj’s has had the biggest impact on EDM?

What technology or gadget has had the strongest influence on the scene?

And what has been typical 00ies when we look back at the last ten years of EDM?

Share your thoughts in the comment field, please.

We don’t cover hiphop, but we had to publish this cutie. After all we do write about incredible talent we stumble upon. Check out hiphoppers Dj Sara and Dj Ryusei, age five and eight. Maybe we’ll see more kids like these in the future, as a part of the Dj Hero generation.

Do you want to be original or reach for the stars and the big crowds? Or maybe both? Flickr photo by RodrigoFavera.

Though being active in this scene for a while now, sometimes I still feel like a newbie. My career as an artist is just beginning. Though being a DJ for years, my network expanded vastly after I started at Finity. Working for Finity, and now for Subtraxx, have given me credibility in international level. Credibility is something people have to work for years in the business at the moment.

Producing is relatively easy these days. Software is cheap (if not free) and easy to use. I’m using 100% software myself and started producing just 3,5 years ago so I should know.

Anyone can these days get the best plugins (legally or illegally, I’m not going there this time) and start producing. Everybody has a computer powerful enough these days. Heck, even I do my music on a laptop.

Originality, what’s that?

While starting making music on your own computer has came easier and easier, it has brought us a downside also. Young producers try to mimic the sound of the current hot producers (like Sean Tyas & Deadmau5 for the last 12 months). Seldom are trying to create music on their own terms.

Fellow Innotunian (is that even a word?) Marcus Schössow is a good example of the latter . He produces the kind of material he wants and it is going to take him far. One of the not-so-known new comers really doing like the heart says are the Finnish brothers from Synthika, Tempo Giusto and Ima´gin. Check out Ima´gin’s remix of Disguised Reality. Now that is original!

While the production quality might be a tad lower than the superstars, it has more originality you could hear from bunch of top-50 trance names. Being classically taught, Ima´gin can create themes and atmosphere’s seldom heard in trance. Gothic Trance seems to be a great genre for his music.

Why do trance sound all the same then? Youngsters are trying to mimic the sound of their favorite producers. Combined with the preset sound banks of modern VST-synths and not being musically trained is the perfect combination. There are vast number of producers who have releases, but don’t even know the basic chords.

Luckily I’ve been taught how to play the keyboards, I know the chords and understand about the harmonies. Added nearly a decade of DJing and a good ear, I could pick up producing in just months. Learning how to use sequencers, how the synths really work and how to polish the sound have been a journey itself. I don’t think I’m the best producer there is, but I certainly aren’t the worst either.

Superstar effect

One of the best bloggers in club world, John 00 Fleming posted right on the money post about what is wrong with the scene in his Myspace blog. With 20 years of experience he seems to recognize the trend cycles in the scene. His insight of the state of the scene and the superstar cult of the moment fading away soon is right to the point.

What’s next?

John 00 Fleming’s Joof Recordings have taken the logical step, selecting quality over quantity.

I made a huge decision this year with JOOF recordings to just concentrate on quality rather than quantity. As more and more producers head towards making music to please the masses in hope to fast track their careers, I find it harder to find quality music that meets the JOOF threshold stamp of approval. So now we’re happy to wait for a decent product and focus all of our energy on that. Judging from the reaction of our first release of 2008 from Vibrasphere, it looks like we got it 100% right. Plenty more gems lined up for the rest of the year, our producers are taking their time to get them right

Source: Joof’s blog. (2008)

At the same post he tells his label will work as a artist management from this point on, which is one move I’ve been thinking myself.

I think in near future there will be more synergy between artists, labels, booking agencies and event promoters. Some of people are already doing all this stuff (anyone heard of Madonna?), but I predict this kind of coalitions and all-around-agencies will rise more and more. What do you think?

It's easy to get down song drafts, play with sound or even produce with the iPhone.

A small device like the Apple iPhone may not replace your computer and DAW, but it’s perfect for excercising your musical creativity!

We’ll have a look at three more or less complete music creation tools, one app for melody making and one for inspiration.

Here are five apps you should try if you’re a producer or like to play around with music.

FingerBeat

Price: $4. Download: Find in app store.

FingerBeat. Good looking music tool.

This app reminds me of an old version of FruityLoops. And that is ment to be a compliment. FingerBeat is easy to understand, and it’s amazingly simple to make cool beats.

You play with premade genre sound kits, unless you want to make a kit yourself. When you have selected your prefered tempo, you create one bar at the time in the step sequencer by tapping the drum pads. Then copy and make variations on the following bars. Sample your own sounds, adjust pitch, tweek levels and panning in the mixer and bam. It’s a hit!

The preset kits sound pretty good, but you don’t have that much to choose from within each genre. But the biggest con is this: I haven’t found any way to export or save more than one song per sound kit. That’s a bummer. Other than that FingerBeat is loads of fun for a small amount of money.

Watch a demonstration of FingerBeat at YouTube.

Simple Songwriter.

Simple Songwriter

Price: $2. Download: Find in app store.

I just love this one. It is in my opinion the most useful app on this list. Simple Songwriter lets you put together chords in a very easy way. Pick a key, hit record and tap chords in any order you like. Perfect for melody creation, both on the bus and next to your DAW in the studio. It’s no problem to save your work for later.

I am missing one thing though. I would love to play a single note melody on top of my recorded chords. A simple integrated piano would be much appreciated.

Watch a demonstration of Simple Songwriter at YouTube.

Bloom

Price: $4. Download: Find in app store.

Bloom by Brian Eno and Peter Chilvers.

Brian Eno and Peter Chilvers have made this app. You’ve probably already guessed the musical style this beauty takes you into. Bloom is an abstract ambient tool. Sit back, relax and tap away.

There isn’t too much to control, but you can choose mood, delay amount and volume. Bloom is too simple for it’s price, but still pretty fascinating.

I’m a sucker for ambient and the style of Brian Eno, so I find this app is very inspiring. You may use Bloom for a break in between studio sessions, or just for relaxation. The app comes with a pretty neat sleep timer.

Watch a demonstration of Bloom at YouTube.

BeatMaker

Price: $20. Download: Find in app store.

The BeatMaker app.

This is another mini DAW. It’s expensive, but the most complete music production tool out there for iPhone.

BeatMaker has got it all: A sampler, drum machine, step sequencer, arrange view, audio effects and audio editing. It comes with a 31 page manual! It is in other words much closer to a full scale DAW than the other apps on this list.

With the included desktop application for your Mac or PC, it’s easy to transfer sounds from your computer to your iPhone or iPod touch. Go buy BeatMaker if you are looking for a complete portable production tool and don’t mind the price.

Watch a demonstration of BeatMaker at YouTube.

iSequence

Price: $3. Download: Find in app store.

The iSequence panel.

iSequence is a single screen sequencer. It’s not as good lookin’ as the two competitors above, but pretty powerful. It includes 55 instruments, a chance to save and load compositions and a very easy way to transpose your melodies!

Wav and midi export isn’t available yet, but will be in the future. Have a look at the demonstration below.

Watch a demonstration of iSequence at YouTube.

This is your chance to remix Tiesto, but you have to buy the material.

Previously dubbed as the world’s number one DJ Tiesto is now having a remix competition with Beatport.

Known and criticised of asking for money to download the remix parts Beatport does it again. To get all the remix parts bundled you have to invest 4,35 euros to the remix kit (available until October 5th).

That is actually a small price for the privilegde to legally remix one of the biggest names in the game, and a chance to win Tiësto merchandise, Ultra records music package and $250 gift certificate to Beatport.

I’m too busy, broke and uninterested to these vocals to take part to the competition, but are you taking part in it?

Read the whole story in Beatportal.

While my initial thought is “Wow, we’ve come a long way (baby)” in regards of the evolution of equipment, I would also love to get my hands on that gear!

Sure, flying can be a hassle and it is very a lonely job (unless you are a top 10 dj so you can force the promoters to pay for your agent to come along…). But does it really matter ? You will be doing what you love and you have to sometimes understand that you are one of the lucky once out of the 28347834374637 other djs that tried to make it.

Im sitting hear in my hotel room in Seoul/Korea and im pretty fucked up by the jetlag and the night before. Iv managed to be in Copenhagen, Vienna, Bratislava, Miami, New York, Frankfurt, Beijing, Tampa & Seoul all within 5 days… Should i complain about my flight shedule ? Erhmm i dont think so, i just got paid for traveling the world and to drink a magnum bottle of champagne for free as “thanks” for coming to a club.

Beauty always comes with pain. Im sorry kids, but i only know 1 DJ who fly’s his own private jet around the world (yeah, he just got it and it took hom about 10 years to get it after being nr. 1 x 3 and playing at the Olympics opening). Iv seen superstar djs crying that they have to fly with Ryan Air and then they make a 5000 euro at the gig. Common, does it matter, you will arrive there at the same time anyway? Its not like Brittish Airwaves gives you a blowjob just becuase ur in business class ? I just flew Brittish Airwaves business class and i got eggs & bacon as breakfeats, the economy class got a sandwhich… Big change ? I dont think so. I had 5 centimeters more leg space and the toilet had a small ugly painting from the 80s with.. And this is why you wanted to be business class just becuase you are a fancy DJ ?

When i started to get international gigs 2 years ago i was living in Michalovce (Slovakia). A place god forgot and where the closest airport is Ukraine where the boarding ticket gets written in hand and you can easily see a dog running around on the run way. So, i was always flying out of kosice, which had 3 places it flew to, Bratislava, Vienna or Prague and that was it.  So a normal gig in, lets say Dublin, would take me about 16 hours to get to if i was lucky….. Im gonna admit i cursed the F*CK out of the situation i was put into… but hey ? What could i do ? Tell my girlfriend to fuck off just becuase i had some bad flights ? Nopes, im not that kind of guy. I just made sure to work harder to get the chance the get the fuck out of there as fast as i possibly could.

So later we moved to a little town close to Bratislava called “Galanta”, about 1 hour away from Vienna Airport and 30 minutes away from Bratislava Airport. Now, Bratislava airport is not Heathrow connection wise, but it does its job (unless you were flying with welovetofuckitupskyeeurope….). Iv normally take the flight out of vienna and i love that airport, free wifi, fast staff and iv even managed to get a jumbo jet to Dubai to wait for me 20 minutes after i called the airport management… Vienna airport is lovely.

But would i ever think it would been lovely if i was put into the shit before ? Nopes. Would i ever enjoyd getting paid  very well for playing records around the world if i was born a millionere ? Nopes. Iv been eating pasta with Mr. Sagstad for half a year, living like a homeless student just trying to make it as a producer/DJ and hey i made it, but it didnt came from nothing.

If you ever seen the interview with Tiesto for KLM he says “You are married to your work and you have to give up everything for it”. Very very true. If you want to succed in something you have to focus to 110% to it.  Im sorry to say, but its impossible to have a fulltime job and then also try to become a full time DJ AND having a relation, its mission impossible.

I know alot of you people have the same dream, so my point is: If you get there, dont come and cry about flights, long days, being alone or that your misses is complaining. Instead, enjoy that you made it and for a moment appreciate that your taking a flight to the job and not a local bus full of school kids. Enjoy the fact that you got 15 angry emails to read and respond to becuase you are busy trying Korean food. Enjoy that the kids hate you on the forums becuase you didnt make a uplift trancer they would love back in 1999, before they didnt even have a clue who you were and now they spend time on hating you. LOVELY ! Do i care ? Not really

Remember, always do what you feel is right and when you one day will get there, look back and say “damn, i made it and im gonna enjoy this situation im put into even though it sucks to spend 3 hours in a ryan air flight with a millwall fan next to me smelling like a old pub fired up in bacon on his way for his first vacation in 3 years”. And always always always be greatful to your fans and belivers, becuase without them you wouldnt be anything, not even a hated figur on the forums

Anyway, i think you get my point ! Sometimes when you put things into perspective, things are not as bad as they seem even though it might look like that just for that moment.

Good night from seoul and see you next week !

Cheers,

Marcus Schossow