Books & DJs

What's up y'all? Lots to update you on, starting with the Reading Challenge 2.0. Just to remind you, Reading Challenge 2.0 challenges me to read 8 books by December 31, 2010 (the challenge began on September 5th) and 50% of them have to be fiction. So far I've read 5 (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Franny and Zooey, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and By Nightfall). My progress was severely impeded by the purchase of an iPhone, but I seem to be on track again and just need to push through the next month and see how close I can get to my goal. On the bright side, I've achieved 1/2 of my goal already. All 5 books that I've read have been fiction, so it looks like I really have gotten back into fiction, which I'm thrilled about.

The most recent read, By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham, was quite simply put: stunning. I've never read Cunningham before, but I'm eager to read more of him. He also wrote The Hours, so I think I'll read that in the new year. By Nightfall was a twisted story about love, art, and finding the strength to survive a life that is really good, but not great, or not what you imagined for yourself. It was published this year, which was really interesting because it's been so long since I read a book taking place in the present day. There was a BlackBerry reference and an Obama administration reference, and both were interesting to see because somehow it made the experience the protagonist was having feel even more close to home. Anyway, I'm rambling... it was an amazing book and I'd highly recommend it!

Regarding MSTRKRFT in Sudbury... Well I should start off by saying it was a fantastic night! I had a blast with my sister and we danced and partied = good times. However, it wasn't MSTRKRFT performing; it was Jesse Keeler of MSTRKRFT. That would've been good because JFK is an awesome guy, but he didn't actually play any MSTRKRFT. He was just DJing. I'm not saying it wasn't good, but it just wasn't great. Plus, it wasn't what I expected.

It made me think though - here is a good example of a DJ who spins vs. a DJ who mixes/creates/produces. I may have not used the perfect wording, but I hope you get my gist. There's the standard, run-of-the-mill club DJ (no offense meant by word choice). She/he plays songs by artists (that remain unchanged for the most part) that the patrons of the club dance to. There are definitely good club DJs and bad club DJs, but their mission is the same. Then there is the... what shall we call it... More-than-just-playing-songs-DJ? Not exactly poetic, but sure, why not?

So the MTJPSD makes music out of DJing. Some strictly remix songs, some create their own stuff, and some do both... but the idea is, when you see them in a concert, they are DJing, but it's their own stuff that they're playing.

Anyway, my point is that these involve different skill sets. Knowing exactly when to crossover to a new track is a skill for a club DJ, as is knowing what songs will really get people on the dance floor. For a MTJPSD, it might be matching up two songs perfectly... or creating that perfect climb of sound that builds up to the climax that a good electro song inevitably has (i.e. the siren sound in "Cornelius" by The Bloody Beetroots... one of my fave music moments of all time). The point is, the skill sets for these two types of DJs are so different. Some DJs may possess both sets, but I felt on Friday night that JFK of MSTRKRFT did not.

Well, this update took about 24 hours to write -- broken up by work and sleep -- so I think it is time to move on.

I Know What My Peers Like

My bestie has got this stuck in my head.



The styles in this vid are so ultimately fierce, and how about the design of the video itself? Like at 2:03 when her face is animated and slides across the screen behind the saxophonist? BRILLIANT.

It makes me think about styles and architecture and design and fashion and music and art through the ages and decades. I remember finding it fascinating in music history that in the Classical period, the architecture was very symmetrical and simple - clean lines and very straightforward... and so was the music! A piece like Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart - totally symmetrical, clean lines, etc. Isn't that cool? Obviously the Classical period isn't alone... Baroque had the same thing with architecture mirroring music mirroring lifestyles too, I suppose! Except with Baroque, everything was big and luxurious and elaborated and flowery... at least I think I've got these periods right. I'm really talking about this off the top of my head.

Anyway, it reminds me of a convo my bestie (who got me stuck on The Waitresses) and I had. He asked me, "Why do you think we've seen a change in our friends in terms of drug use?" What he was referring to was seeing some friends/peers move to some harder drugs as opposed to the classic choice of weed. I replied, "There's been a change in popular music," and he was thinking the same thing.

It's true! Look at the Black Eyed Peas' most recent album: "The E.N.D." A variety of songs seem to really be influenced by the electro genre. The electro genre is still primarily underground, but it's moving closer to the mainstream, and its influence is obvious. With more people listening to remixes, mash-ups, and electro - whether it be Girl Talk, Steve Aoki, MSTRKRFT, Passion Pit, MGMT, or B.E.P. - there has been a change in lifestyle/party style/drug choice.

I'm convinced they're correlated!

Electrooooo

Even though this article isn't perfect, I'm still really proud to be from Toronto.

In the House!!!

Speaking of Aoki.......

Masters of the Kraft

Who are those people? Well if you seriously don't know by now, that's Jesse F. Keeler on the left and Steve Aoki on the right. JFK is one-half of MSTRKRFT, a Toronto-born electro DJ duo. Aoki is a Japanese-American club DJ, record producer, and founder of Dim Mak Records. In short, these dudes are serious in the electro/DJ world. I have had the great fortune of seeing Steve Aoki twice and MSTRKRFT once, and now...

I'm seeing MSTRKRFT again!!! WOOT!

I cannot wait. MSTRKRFT is playing at Elements Night Club in Kitchener next Wednesday, September 9th, and I'm gonna be there. Brap! Check these boys out. They're wicked.

Happy long weekend! PAYCE!