Listen on Mixcloud

Here is the Track Listing:

1. Out of Control by The Chemical Brothers

2. It’s a Fine Day (ATB Club Mix) by Miss Jane

3. 2 Times by Ann Lee

4. Honey (Mix Cut) by Billie Ray Martin

5. Angel Falls (Waterfall) by Ayla

6. Red Sun Rising (Dusk Till Dawn Club Mix) by Lost Witness

7. Ride On A Meteorite by Antares

8. Waiting For Tonight by Jennifer Lopez

9. Blue (Da Ba Dee) by Eiffel 65

10. Everyone Is Pumping by Unknown Artist

11. Drive Me Crazy (Club Mix) by Britney Spears

12. Tell Me What You Like by Jessica Folker

13. Twice My Age by Krystal & Shabba Ranks

14. Could You Be Loved by Bob Marley & The Wailers

15. I Need To Know by Marc Anthony

16. Mi Chico Latino by Geri Halliwell

17. Oye Mi Canto by Gloria Estefan

18. Five Fathoms by Everything But The Girl

19. Everything My Heart Desires by Adam Rickitt

20. King of My Castle by Wamdue Project

21. Sexual (Li Da Di) by Amber

Listen on Mixcloud

Here is the Track Listing:

1. Let Me Fly by Kim Lukas

2. Beautiful Stranger by Madonna

3. When The Heartache Is Over by Tina Turner

4. 2 Times by Ann Lee

5. Honey (Mix Cut) by Billie Ray Martin

6. Flying Above The Clouds by Amber

7. New York City Boy (The Almighty Definitive Mix) by Pet Shop Boys

8. September 99 by Earth, Wind & Fire

9. Sun Is Shining by Bob Marley vs Funkstar De Luxe

10. Everybody Is Pumping by Unknown Artist

11. Living In Cyberspace by 2 Brothers On The 4th Floor

12. Blue (Da Ba Dee) by Eiffel 65

13. Better Off Alone by Alice Deejay

14. Fly Away by Eyes Cream

15. This Life by Mandalay

16. Void (I Need You) by Catapila

17. Don’t Stop by ATB

18. Back In My Life by Alice Deejay

19. Freakin’ It by Will Smith

20. Bring It All Back by S Club 7

21. Larger Than Life by Backstreet Boys

22. Faded by soulDecision

23. Praise You by Fatboy Slim

24. Justified And Ancient by The KLF

Listen on Mixcloud

Here is the Track Listing:

1. Where Do You Go by No Mercy

2. American Pie by Madonna

3. Dov’è L’Amore (Ray Roc’s Latin Soul Vocal Mix) by Cher

4. Bailamos (Latin Radio Mix) by Enrique Iglesias

5. Body by Funky Green Dogs

6. Hazin’ & Phazin’ (Lab Rats Funkin’ With Choo Choo Mix) by Choo Choo Project

7. Startin’ Rockin’ by Antiloop

8. La La La Hey Hey (OHB Extended Mix) by The Outhere Brothers

9. It’s Like That (Jason Battle Blaster) by Jason Nevins & Run-DMC

10. Jump N’ Shout by Basement Jaxx

11. Raise Your Hands by Darryl Pandy

12. Body Rock by Moby

Listen on Mixcloud

Warning: Explicit Lyrics

Here is the Track Listing:

1. Hate Me Now by Nas

2. All I Really Want (Eiffel 65 Remix) by Kim Lukas

3. It’s Like That (Jason’s Battle Blaster) by Jason Nevins & Run-DMC

4. Jump N’ Shout by Basement Jaxx

5. Out Of Control by The Chemical Brothers

6. It’s A Fine Day (ATB Club Mix) by Miss Jane

7. 2 Times by Ann Lee

8. Honey (Chicane Remix) by Billie Ray Martin

9. Waiting For Tonight (Hex’s Momentous Club Mix) by Jennifer Lopez

10. Mercury And Solace by BT

11. My Heart Will Go On (Dance Mix) by Unknown Artist

12. Madhouse by DJ Jean

13. Future Shock by Southside Spinners

14. Move Your Body by Look Twice

15. Blue (Da Ba Dee) by Eiffel 65

16. Tell Me What You Like by Jessica Folker

17. September ‘99 (Dance Remix) by Earth, Wind & Fire

18. Sun Is Shining by Bob Marley vs Funkstar De Luxe

19. Red Sun Rising (Dusk Till Dawn Club Mix) by Lost Witness

20. Better Off Alone by Alice Deejay

21. I Knew I Loved You by Savage Garden

22. Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely by Backstreet Boys

23. Toy Soldiers by Martika

24. Everlong by Foo Fighters

25. Nookie by Limp Bizkit

Listen on Mixcloud

Warning: Explicit Lyrics

Here is the Track Listing:

1. Intro (THX) by Lucasfilm

2. Out Of Control by The Chemical Brothers

3. It’s A Fine Day by Miss Jane

4. 2 Times by Ann Lee

5. Honey by Billie Ray Martin

6. Waiting For Tonight by Jennifer Lopez

7. 100% (Motiv 8 Extended Vocal Mix) by Mary Kiani

8. Ride On A Meteorite by Antares

9. Everybody’s Pumping by The Bridge

10. (You Drive Me) Crazy (Club Mix) by Britney Spears

11. Blue (Da Ba Dee) by Eiffel 65

12. I Wanna Be Your Toy by 2 Eivissa

13. Red Sun Rising (Dusk Till Dawn Club Mix) by Lost Witness

14. Angel Falls (Waterfall) by Ayla

15. Under The Influence by The Chemical Brothers

16. Mercury And Solace by BT

17. Tell Me What You Like by Jessica Folker

18. Land Of Confusion by Genesis

19. Larger Than Life by Backstreet Boys

20. The Cup Of Life by Ricky Martin

21. Just My Luck by VIP

22. Mambo No. 5 by Lou Bega

23. The Rockafeller Skank by Fatboy Slim

24. Jump Around by House of Pain

25. Back That Azz Up by Juvenile feat. Mannie Fresh and Lil Wayne

26. Rock Me Amadeus by Falco

27. Wannabe by Spice Girls

28. VIP by Jungle Brothers

Listen on Mixcloud

Here is the Track Listing:

1. George’s Answering Machine by Seinfeld

2. Calling You by Aqua

3. (You Drive Me) Crazy by Britney Spears

4. Formula by DJ Visage

5. Red Sun Rising (Dusk Till Dawn Club Mix) by Lost Witness

6. Waiting For Tonight by Jennifer Lopez

7. Walk Like An Egyptian by The Bangles

8. Bring Me Edelweiss by Edelweiss

9. Strangelove by Depeche Mode

10. Heaven Coming Down by The Tea Party

11. Silence by Delerium feat. Sarah McLachlan

12. Blue (Da Ba Dee) by Eiffel 65

13. In My Eyes by Milk Inc

14. Ride On A Meteorite by Antares

15. Dance The Night Away by The Mavericks

16. I Got A Girl by Lou Bega

17. VIP by Jungle Brothers

18. The Rockafeller Skank by Fatboy Slim

19. Out Of Control by The Chemical Brothers

20. When I Grow Up by Garbage

21. Push It by Garbage

22. Keep On Movin’ by Five

23. That’s The Way It Is by Celine Dion

24. Always You (Remix) by Jennifer Paige

Listen on Mixcloud

Here is the Track Listing:

1. Word Up by Cameo

2. Silent Morning by Noel

3. Never Let You Go by Sweet Sensation

4. Vogue by Madonna

5. Stay With Me by Tu

6. Burn It Up by The Beatmasters

7. Everyday Is Halloween (12” Version) by Ministry

8. Def Con One (Doomsday Power Mix) by Pop Will Eat Itself

9. Unknown by Unknown Artist

10. It’s No Good by Depeche Mode

11. Justify My Love by Madonna

12. Never Again by The Mission

13. Red Sector A by Rush

14. Black Sky by Shakespears Sister

15. The Trouble With Andre by Shakespears Sister

16. Dark Globe by Lost And Profound

17. Seven Years by Lost And Profound

18. Do You Sleep by Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories

Listen on Mixcloud

And the tracklist:

1. What Is Love by Deee-Lite

2. Policy Of Truth by Depeche Mode

3. Dominion (Instrumental) by The Sisters Of Mercy

4. Fear Of Ghosts by The Cure

5. Something I Can Never Have by Nine Inch Nails

6. On The Wire by The Sisters Of Mercy

7. Leave In Silence (Longer) by Depeche Mode

8. Love Kills by Joe Strummer

9. Message Of Love by The Pretenders

10. Hungry As The Hunter by The Mission

11. Sick Of Love by Christian Death

12. Warm Leatherette by The Normal

13. Behind The Wheel by Depeche Mode

14. L.A. Woman by The Doors

15. Over The Shoulder by Ministry

16. Welcome To Paradise by Front 242

17. Love Missile F1-11 by Sigue Sigue Sputnik

18. Humanoid by Stakker

19. Deep Down Trauma Hounds (Remix) by Skinny Puppy

20. Addiction by Skinny Puppy

21. Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield

Listen on Mixcloud

Tracklist:

1. Intro by Unknown

2. I Like To Move It by Reel 2 Real

3. Julian by Alta Moda

4. Blue Monday by New Order

5. Send Me An Angel by Real Life

6. Rhythm Of The Night by Corona

7. Don’t Give It Up by Sonic Surfers

8. In The Night by Capital Sounds

9. Higher Love by Capital Sounds

10. Get-A-Way (Club Mix) by Maxx

11. Move Your Ass And Feel The Beat by Erotic Dissidents

12. The Real Thing by Tony Di Bart

13. Feels Like Heaven by Urban Cookie Collective

14. What Is Love by Deee-Lite

15. Policy Of Truth by Depeche Mode

16. Work It To The Bone by LNR

17. More And More by Captain Hollywood Project

18. Music Is My Life (Club Extended Mix) by Temperance

19. I’m In Love With You by BKS

20. Behind The Wheel by Depeche Mode

21. Love Sex Intelligence by The Shamen

22. The Only Way Is Up (Long Version) by Yazz and The Plastic Population

23. Numero Uno by Starlight

24. Get Busy by Mr. Lee

25. Wild Thing by Tone-Loc

26. Push It by Salt-N-Pepa

27. Shoop by Salt-N-Pepa

Listen on Mixcloud

Tracklist:

1. À La Vie, À L’Amour by Jakie Quartz

2. Freemason by Boxcar

3. Your Love Takes Me Higher by The Beloved

4. Master And Servant by Depeche Mode

5. Desire (Extended Mix) by Gene Loves Jezebel

6. Lucretia My Reflection by The Sisters Of Mercy

Listen on Mixcloud

Warning: Explicit Lyrics

Tracklist:

1. Cocaine Sex (Turbo Lust Mix) by Renegade Soundwave

2. Get Down Make Love by Nine Inch Nails

3. Cubik by 808 State

4. Third Uncle by Bauhaus

5. Like Dust by Passion Puppets

6. Sin by Nine Inch Nails

7. Rigor Mortis by Split Second

8. Boneshaker Baby by Alien Sex Fiend

9. Two Swords by The English Beat

10. Blitzkrieg Bop by Ramones

11. Happy When It Rains by The Jesus and Mary Chain

12. Vision Thing by The Sisters Of Mercy

13. Brown Sugar by The Rolling Stones

14. I Wanna Be Sedated by Ramones

15. Baby Wants To Ride (Steve Silk Hurley X-Rated) by Jamie Principle

16. Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order

17. Give Me Tonight by Shannon

18. New York by Micro Chip League

19. She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult

20. You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC

21. Ballroom Blitz by Sweet

22. Don’t Look Back by Fine Young Cannibals

23. Lovesong (Extended Mix) by The Cure

24. Definition Of Love by Unknown Artist

Listen on Mixcloud

Tracklist:

1. Like A Prayer by Madonna

2. Smothered Hope by Skinny Puppy

3. Like Dust by Passion Puppets

4. Wasteland (Extended Mix) by The Mission

5. Amelia by The Mission

6. Julian by Alta Moda

7. Blue Monday by New Order

8. Send Me An Angel by Real Life

9. Rhythm Of The Night by Corona

10. Don’t Give It Up by Sonic Surfers

11. In The Night by Capital Sounds

12. Higher Love by Capital Sounds

13. Get-A-Way (Club Mix) by Maxx

14. Move Your Ass And Feel The Beat by Erotic Dissidents

15. What Is Love by Deee-Lite

16. Policy Of Truth by Depeche Mode

17. Halo by Depeche Mode

18. Way Of Life by Puppets

19. More And More by Captain Hollywood Project

20. Music Is My Life (Club Extended Mix) by Temperance

21. I’m In Love With You by BKS

22. Behind The Wheel by Depeche Mode

23. Love Sex Intelligence by The Shamen

24. The Only Way Is Up (Long Version) by Yazz And The Plastic Population

25. Numero Uno by Starlight

26. Get Busy by Mr. Lee

27. Wild Thing by Tone-Loc

28. Push It by Salt-N-Pepa

29. I Sit On Acid by Lords Of Acid

30. Doctorin’ The Tardis (12” Mix) by The Timelords

Listen on Mixcloud

Tracklist:

1. Oh L’Amour (Remix) by Erasure

2. Run From Love (Remix) by Bronski Beat

3. Poison Arrow by ABC

4. Behind The Wheel (Remix) by Depeche Mode

5. Blue Monday by New Order

6. Blue Monday ‘88 (12” Version) by New Order

7. Love Removal Machine by The Cult

8. Sacrilege by The Mission

9. Walk Away by The Sisters Of Mercy

10. Love by Skinny Puppy

11. Burning Room by Pray For Rain

12. Saturdays In Silesia by Rational Youth

13. The Damned Don’t Cry by Visage

14. Quiet Life by Japan

15. This Wheel’s On Fire by Siouxsie And The Banshees

16. Lucretia My Reflection (Extended Mix) by The Sisters Of Mercy

17. Everyday Is Halloween (Remix) by Ministry

18. Rock Lobster by The B-52’s

19. Hurricane Fighter Plane by Alien Sex Fiend

Listen on Mixcloud

Tracklist:

1. Don’t Do It (12” Version) by New Order

2. Moonchild by Fields Of The Nephilim

3. Prayer by Christian Death

4. Bela Lugosi’s Dead by Bauhaus

5. Over The Shoulder by Ministry

6. Glass Houses by Skinny Puppy

7. Just Like Honey by The Jesus And Mary Chain

8. Stop Your Sobbing by The Pretenders

9. Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses

10. Bring On The Dancing Horses by Echo And The Bunnymen

11. Far From Over by Boulevard

12. Communicate (Razormaid Mix) by MCL

13. I Hate Myself For Loving You by Joan Jett And The Blackhearts

14. ABCD by Radiorama

15. Secession by Sneakyville

16. The Great Commandment by Camouflage

17. Secession (Cont’d) by Sneakyville

18. Wild Wild West by The Escape Club

19. Sensoria by Cabaret Voltaire

20. We’ll Be Right Back (Club Mix) by Steinski

21. We Got The Pieces by Unknown Artist

22. I Shot The Sheriff by Unknown Artist

23. House Train (Remix) by Interstellar Funk

Listen on Mixcloud

Tracklist:

1. Chainsaw by Skinny Puppy

2. Gimme Shelter by The Sisters Of Mercy

3. Hells Bells by AC/DC

4. The Hardest Walk by The Jesus And Mary Chain

5. First Aid by Skinny Puppy

6. Rain by The Cult

7. Jam-Master Jay by Run-DMC

8. Sign O’ The Times by Prince

9. Cooky Puss (Censored Version) by Beastie Boys

10. Love Removal Machine by The Cult

11. Back In Black by AC/DC

12. Beds Are Burning (Teal Remix) by Midnight Oil

13. The Loving Face by Christian Death

14. Sin by Nine Inch Nails

15. Welcome To The Jungle by Guns N’ Roses

16. Smells Like by Alien Sex Fiend

17. The Land Of Rape And Honey by Ministry

18. Glass Out by Skinny Puppy

19. I Sit On Acid by Lords Of Acid

20. Donkey Doctor by 808 State

21. Freemason by Boxcar

Listen on MixCloud

Tracklist:

1. Intro by Lucasfilm

2. Moving In Stereo by The Cars

3. Spaceman by Babylon Zoo

4. Life (Mission Control Mix) by Haddaway

5. Planet Earth (Night Vision) by Duran Duran

6. Hard Times by The Farm

7. Wild Flower by The Cult

8. Queen Of The Night by Whitney Houston

9. Last Train To Transcentral by The KLF

10. Nothing Natural by Lush

11. Dancer In A Daydream by Ace Of Base

12. Disappear by INXS

13. Speed Your Love To Me by Simple Minds

14. 88 Lines About 44 Women (Remix) by The Nails

15. I Feel Love (Remix) by Curve

16. Love Is Paradise (Eurodance) by First Base

17. Higher Love by Capital Sounds

18. Everywhere I Go by The Call

19. Heatseeker by AC/DC

20. Missionary Man by Eurythmics

21. All I Really Want by Alanis Morissette

22. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

Listen on Mixcloud

Tracklist:

1. Armed Forces by Manufacture

2. Children Of The Revolution (Remix) by T. Rex

3. War by Frankie Goes To Hollywood

4. Heartland by The Sisters Of Mercy

5. This Corrosion by The Sisters Of Mercy

6. Stigmata by Ministry

7. The Sanity Assassin by Bauhaus

8. Violent Playground by Nitzer Ebb

9. Master Blaster by Front 242

10. Deep Down Trauma Hounds by Skinny Puppy

11. Planet Claire by The B-52’s

12. Slowdive (Live) by Siouxsie And The Banshees

13. The Tinderbox (Of A Heart) by Cocteau Twins

14. Lovesong (Extended Mix) by The Cure

15. More by The Sisters Of Mercy

16. Church Of No Return by Christian Death

17. Temple Of Love by The Sisters Of Mercy

18. Dancing On Glass by The Mission

19. Just One Kiss by The Cure

Listen on Mixcloud

Tracklist:

1. Theme From Mission: Impossible by Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen

2. Desire by U2

3. Footloose by Kenny Loggins

4. Suicide Blonde by INXS

5. Legs by ZZ Top

6. Ghostdancing by Simple Minds

7. Sinking Like A Sunset by Tom Cochrane

8. Counting Blue Cars by Dishwalla

9. Orange Crush by R.E.M.

10. Escalator Of Life by Robert Hazard

11. Mothers Talk by Tears For Fears

12. It’s No Good by Depeche Mode

13. You Could Be Mine by Guns N’ Roses

14. All I Really Want by Alanis Morissette

15. Emotional Thing by Shakespears Sister

16. Don’t Speak by No Doubt

17. Brand New Set Of Lies by Lost & Profound

18. Name by Goo Goo Dolls

19. Nothing Natural by Lush

20. Dreams by The Cranberries

21. Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream) by The Icicle Works

You Can Do What?

Djay Pro

Now that I am settled in St. Catharines I started sorting through ten years of stuff from my travels to Alberta and back, I came across a bag of my mixed tapes. Shortly after that, I watched the last Apple keynote when someone from Algoriddim demoed their DJ software – Djay Pro – on the new Macbook Pro with the new Magic Toolbar. I was amazed how cool it was. So I decided to download the app and try it out.

First of all, the work of manually counting the beats in your head to determine the BPM (beats per minute) was gone. The software automatically does that for you. I was sometimes lucky in figuring out if two songs mixed well harmonically. It does that too by taking the guesswork out of the equation. So I started broaden my research and see what other cool DJ Tools that are out there. I was speechless watching YouTube videos of the latest Pioneer gear  for DJ Pros. Not only were they capable of the providing BPM and Musical Key, you could set a cue point on where you want the next song to mix into and it would automatically sync the two songs together. Starting as a vinyl DJ, this was jaw dropping stuff. The same way I felt when I got my CDJ-100 CD players. Just as you can manipulate the CD player to act like a turntable, you could do the same with audio files like MP3s. Man, technology has come a long way.

During my research, I also came across music streaming sites – like SoundCloud and MixCloud – where DJs can upload their mixes. MixCloud being the preferred site as they pay royalties to the artists. SoundCloud used to be the preferred site until record companies forced uploads to be taken down because of copyright infringements. A week ago, SoundCloud made an announcement that they struck a deal with a copyright clearance company and it wouldn’t take down mixes anymore. Now I could write a long post about copyright and its impact on DJs.

Third Time a Charm?

I was reminiscing while listening to all my old mix tapes and miss mixing music and DJing. So I bought a used Technics tape deck from Value Village for $10 and transferred the tapes over digitally. I am in the process of uploading those mixed tapes to MixCloud. I will post links to each mixed tape on this blog.

I am kind of excited recording some current stuff once I build up my music library again. Let me tell you that organizing my existing library and ripping CDs was not fun and took a long time. With the advent of MixCloud and social media, maybe I can get some DJ gigs. It would be great to earn extra money doing a profession I have always loved even if it ends up being part-time.

The Future of DJing

After reading some DJ forums, a few DJs, especially mobile ones that do weddings and parties; are packing it in. Seems apps like Algoriddim’s Djay 2/Pro for iOS/Mac and cheap controllers that are a couple hundred bucks make it so easy that anyone can DJ. By-passing hiring an expensive professional DJ.

The other catalyst is streaming services being embed into DJ software such as Djay 2/Pro. It includes integration with Spotify. You can call up a song from Spotify with its BPM and Key analyzed on the fly. It is pretty slick if you have a good Internet connection. Most DJ Pros wouldn’t use this type of integration, unless to call up some obscure song that was someone requested.  But it is a cool feature for someone just starting to DJ or someone that is getting back into DJing and has a limited library.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the mixtapes or mixed streams I have recorded that are post here.

You Spin Me Around

For those that don’t know me, I use to be a DJ. It started as a hobby and I eventually got a few live gigs. It all started when I met Jeffery Walsh in high school. He started getting me interested in DJing. We had a weekly radio show in high school during lunch hour. I ended up buying a Realistic mixer from Radio Shack and borrowed Jeff’s turntable and using my own cheap Technics belt drive turntable, I started practicing and recording mixes on tapes. Eventually, I bought a Technics SL-1200 MK2 turntable so I could stop borrowing Jeff’s turntable. I was in heaven. Cueing and starting songs was so much easier and faster due to the 1200’s direct drive. I loved listening to my mixed tapes and so did other people.

I ended up getting a job with an audio-visual company and setting up equipment for a hotel. While setting up, I would jack in a portable tape player and play my mixed tapes. Other hotel employees would hear my tapes and wanted a copy or make them a mixed tape. This caught on like wildfire. I ended up recording boxes of mixed tapes for people. It was great for me as I loved practicing my mixing. I was a true “bedroom DJ”.  Best of all, my mixed tapes travelled across the country. Maybe I should make a career out of this.

Coming Out Of The Bedroom

Back then my genre of music was mostly alternative and gothic. I actually got a DJ gig at Nuts and Bolts spinning alternative music on Wednesday nights. Unfortunately, it was short-lived as the club closed a few weeks after. I managed to swing a deal with the owner and bought the club’s mixer and two Technics SL-1200 turntables. If I was going to advance my DJ skills, one 1200 turntable along with a cheap crappy mixer and old turntable was not going to cut it.

80% Music Programming, 20% turntable skills

I eventually started introducing dance music when I starting dancing at the Boom Boom Room owned by the The Big Bop‘s Ballinger brothers. I hung out with the DJ from the Boom Boom Room and he taught me how to beatmix (or beatmatching) in the middle of two songs. With three Technics 1200 turntables and a expensive Rane Mixer, I was advancing my DJing skills but I still had a lot to learn.

While I was working at the hotel setting up AV equipment, I met a guy who use to DJ back in the 70s. He told me that beatmixing is all well and good, but if you want to really be a great club DJ; you have to know music programming and how to work the crowd to increase bar sales. He taught me the tricks of manipulating the crowd to make the bar or club profitable. They said a good DJ uses 80% music programming and 20% turntable or DJ skills.

Club-hopping

I started In The Dust DJ Services and I was club hopping all over the place and pushing my demo tape to club owners and managers. I did end up getting another DJ gig, thanks to Skot Turner; at an all-ages (non-alcoholic) nightclub called The Surf Club located at Bathurst and Steeles. Despite plastering “Surf Naked” flyers all over West Toronto, I wasn’t able to attract a large enough crowd. It was another short-lived gig as I was fired two weeks in, the club was run by a teenager and it closed shortly after.

The turning point in my DJing was when my demo tape was used by someone else and they got a DJ job. Devastated, I sold most of my DJ equipment and ended up going to Trebas School of Recording Arts and started a record label called Krash Records. I signed up two bands – The Brotherhood and OPP (Ouellette Park Posse). After being in a major car accident and had to declare bankruptcy and shut the record label down.

DJing – Take Two

A pair of Pioneer CDJ-100s

My interest in DJing resurfaced in 1999 when I was living in Burlington. A neighbour was DJing part-time and needed someone to help him out. Vinyl was pretty much dead and CDs were in. I was surprised that the DJ equipment back then was so advanced. Pioneer came out with CDJ-100s CD players that could do the same thing you could do with vinyl, including scratching. With a pair of leased CDJ-100s and DMJ-300 mixer and subscribing to Multi-Music Service DJ pool, I was armed to help out my neighbour doing school dances and a few weddings.

I also started moving away from recording my mixes on tapes to CD. Recording on CD was a very involved process. Record directly to a very fast hard drive, then splitting the songs up digitally – so you can skip to the next song on the CD. Switching between Mac and Windows using various pieces of software during these whole process, was a real pain. A divorce and moving out of Burlington put the brakes on any further DJing.

In my next post, I will talk about what DJing looks today and what the future holds for the trade.