Continue to Build Your Knowledge

What up MM?! Today I wanted to talk about continuing to building your knowledge. I subscribe to the fact that once you believe you know everything about a subject, your skills and validity start declining. There is always something you can learn, especially when it comes to art forms like music!

Like several people who are into music production, I found my way into it from Djing. It started off as mixtapes for people then pool/weekend parties for friends and now it is weddings and graduation parties for strangers. Going from pool parties to weddings, I needed to adjust how I mixed the songs. Cutting from track to track works during high energy points but I had to work on my blending during slow times (dinner, arrivals, exists, etc). I knew all songs wouldn’t blend easily but I wasn’t looking at the big picture.

I needed help! I started doing research and came across this gem (for all the DJs on MM). How to DJ Right: the art and science of playing records by Frank Broughton and Bill Brewster. It is an extremely easy read with several diagrams and illustrations that help guide you through perfecting your craft. Take a look at the table of contents:

The chapter on ‘How to Mix Harmonically’ saved my music blending life. It dives into the Camelot Easymix system which helps you choose tracks that will meld together and keep the energy going without key clashes. Now all of the songs in my collection are marked in the Camelot system. Cuts sound better and blends sound great. Here is an example. Be warned it is house music (mostly deep house). I like all types of music. The set is all blends and harmonically mixed, nothing fancy. http://www.mixify.com/blackbwoywhitebwoy/mix/rainy-monday

At the end of the day, no one will ever be able to take from you what you learn. This is just one of the many ways seeking knowledge has helped me so far. I’m not trying to sound like “The More you Know” commercials but it’s true. Don’t be afraid to raid the book store, dig online, or ask others for help.

@crazy4bayou