Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘DJ’

Mixtape >> Children of Summer

Posted in music, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 25, 2012| Leave a Comment »

It can feel like a challenge, thinking about summer in Victoria in June.  The weather has been cold, grey and wet for the most part.  On Thursday, I had the chance to DJ on the Rooftop Surfclub for their Solstice party.  I was the first DJ up at 6PM and had a 45 minute set before Boitano turned it up and Marshal A and DJ Speedyshoes closes out the night.  I posted my mix on Mixcloud if you’re into it.

Mixcloud: Mixtape >> Children of Summer

A few weak mixes in here…but for the most part I think you’ll enjoy the set if you normally listen to modern rock.

Some of my favourite songs on the list… Cloud Nothings.  I could listen to them all day.  I dig the Passion Pit and Imagine Dragons remixes.  Alex Clare is growing on my with every listen.

My next mixtape will be an Osheaga festival mix similar my Sasquatch mix.

Go with yourself.

Read Full Post »

HO! DJ!

Posted in life or something like it, music, Wedding, tagged , , , , , on July 21, 2010| 7 Comments »

I am trying to set some goals and grow as a DJ performer and sometimes it can be hard because… well being a DJ is a singular enterprise.

I only really know what I do.

Now I have been blessed to know some generous DJs who have helped and shared with me.  Jess Taylor and DJ Anger being two early ones that helped me and later J Reign, Marshall, DJ Trekk, DJ Clinton, Rauri Lazers, DJ Fatso and of course DJ Murge.  But at the end of the day… it is a self education.

What I constantly think about is creating my own beats and sounds… but I really have no idea how to start.  My buddy Tyson gave me a midi controller keyboard thing and I have Garageband?  I guess I can start.

And now I have a destination… I want to get on the bill Camp Bisco in rural New York.

New York times >> A festival of Its Own

What an adventure that could be… if I can talk them into letting me have a slot.

It’ll be a money losing proposition.  That is certain.  Traveling to New York to DJ can’t be cheap.  I’d for sure be bringing Coral and even Madelyn… so its more a professional holiday?  sure, I like that word; professional holiday.

AND then I want to DJ in Baltimore! ha… ok, one step at a time.

***

in other news: when you type ‘Victoria Wedding DJ‘ into google, my website comes up! Spin The Black Disc.

Thank you everyone for the support.  I am sure being a wedding DJ isn’t helping my goal of club DJ too much, but the baby has got to eat (and it’s actually really fun… so far).

Go with yourself.

Read Full Post »

I don’t need a cure / I need a final solution

Posted in music, tagged , , , , , , on February 1, 2010| 1 Comment »

Thank you Linda for the picture.

I am having one of those groovy “Staycations” that poor people are always talking about. No but seriously, I am on holidays but I am hanging out at home because I have no money.

Its kinda nice being at home and not having to do a radio show or DJ for a few nights.  I think I might spoil myself and order the Montreal/Vancouver game in HD tomorrow afternoon.  Baller.

DJ Murge is doing another installment of his DJ class at Long and McQuade starting next week so I think I’ll get up in that for some professional development.

I bought this fancy Numark Serato controller and have picked up enough from Boitano to make it go, match some beats and blend some tunes, but I think I need to learn some more (and I think it will be fun).  Shannon Shields says Murge is the man so it might be good to learn from the master.

Last night was my final night at Sips till maybe the late Spring or Summer.  While there I got the email newsletter from Serato about a product for the NS7.  It is an effects controller for the rig called NSFX.  Its kind of a bad ass piece of machinery that will let me bend and manipulate the music.  Maybe after the DJ course I’ll have a greater understanding of the craft and can incorporate the effects.

What I’ll want to be working on soon… and this might sound weird, but I was talking to Alix last night and it made sense at the time… is crafting a DJ set that incorporates the music of the 1920s with modern beats and also a set that uses country music with a modern sophisticated sound for a few projects she is working on for Sea Cider.  I got some time so that is what I’ll be thinking about for the next little while.  Music of the roaring 20s.

OK well that is all I got for now, I am going to get back to my staycation and take Madelyn to the park to play soccer.

Go with yourself.

Read Full Post »

the glow of the apple

Posted in life or something like it, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 28, 2010| 11 Comments »

I had talked about wanting to start a financial blog on here awhile back, but I think the reality of that happening right now is low.  It is a challenge enough  to stay on top of this blog and keeping on the news and music for my radio show.  Plus I am DJing more and more these days and I really enjoy that and want to keep growing my performance, so right now, no new blog.

That said, Coral and I are really starting to get into the hang of the “Jar Budget” or basically, living off a set value of cash every week.  Granted, we set a fairly generous amount of cash to live off each week, but its working.  We now generally have a little of last week’s cash in the jar by the time its time to put more in!  Just in time for Coral’s birthday.

The other benefit… and this is one I shared with my buddy Dave, you end up collecting lots of change.  Loonies and Twonies and quartres and all that good stuff.

Its getting to the point where for some goofy things like a coffee or even a lunch or simple groceries, I just take a fistful of change and not even open the cash jar.

We’re not perfect at not using the debit, but its much better than before.

***

Which brings me to my next project.  A new laptop!  huzzah.  But I’m not there yet.  I am still dreaming and pricing and see what I need and/or want.

I need a more powerful laptop to run my DJ software and eventually I want to play around with creating my own lounge beats.  The Toshiba, god bless it, freezes during my sets sometimes (well actually about once a night).

I want a Mac Book Pro.

The conflict I have is cost.  I am still putting a jihad on bills and debt so no computer right now, but my projection is to be in a position to buy a computer by April.  Knock on wood, no issue with the Toshiba and it serves till then.

From my wandering on the Serato message boards, the consensus is a Mac.  It might be true that 90% is on PC, but in the creative DJ world, the opposite is true.  It feels like 90% of professional DJs and producers use a Mac.

But when you ask why?  the answer isn’t always clear.  “Its better” is common.  That’s cool, but is it $1000 better?  Coral and I bought our Toshiba two years ago for about $750.  Is a MacBook Pro 17″ monster worth $2,599.99?

My studies have concluded that even if I went Mac, I could get away with a MacBook ($1,000 ish) or the more powerful Pro 13″ 2.53 GHz.  cost: $1,599.00.  wow, for a computer.

That screen is actually smaller than our 14″ Toshiba… and my second major issue after the freezing is the small screen.

Bump up to the 15″ MacBook Pro and now we’re talking $1,799.99.

Scary.

I want it, but do I NEED that?

Coral was watching Olsen on Your Side on CTV the other day, and they said the best PC Laptop for value was the Dell Studio XPS which start on the Dell website for around $1,000.

Get a Dell, save $800?  hmmm.

Is a MacBook Pro worth $800 MORE than a PC?  If you think so, I’d like to hear it.  The biggest thing I’ve heard of the value of the Mac is stability.  At the end of the day, that might be my most important attribute.  One DJ said that “the cheapest used Macbook on Craigslist is better than any PC for operating Serato.”

I figure, if the Toshiba, god forbids, shuffles off the mortal coil before April, I can always find a used Macbook and just get back out there.

*** future project, I want a MIDI controller ($200 ish) and to learn Ableton (Thanks Rozie)!  And start building a stage show for when I DJ.  Maybe my saved up change jar money can buy some lights or what I really want is a screen and a projector.***

Go with yourself.

Read Full Post »

Thursdays

Posted in neat-O gang, tagged , , , on July 31, 2009| Leave a Comment »

ELE_jeremysMiixtapeproof

Read Full Post »