Scratch That !
BY ANDREW KING
Spectators at any of Kid Koala ’ s Satellite Concerts were doing more than just watching .
Surrounding the release of his latest album , Music to Draw to : Satellite , the shows invited audience members to take their seats at stations equipped with a turntable , effects box , and a small crate of colour-coded vinyl records . The temporary turntablists played along with cues provided by subtle changes to the lighting , creating an “ ambient vinyl orchestra ” of 60 miniature Crosley turntables playing in harmony . These were truly experiences like no other , and just one example of how DJs can push the boundaries of music creation and manipulation with a turntable and some round wax .
Of course a good DJ needn ’ t be nearly as ambitious to deliver a dose of creativity and expression from behind the decks . From onthe-fly mixes that dominate the dancefloor and creative remixes of popular tracks to head-to-head battles and entirely original compositions , there ’ s no shortage of outlets for DJs who refuse to let their shared title be solely applied to the people hitting “ play ” on a laptop at your cousin ’ s wedding .
This year , we ’ ve put together a diverse panel of DJs with different takes on the art form to get some thoughts on the current state of their industry , their peers , their tools , and more . What they all have in common is a drive to make , manipulate , and ultimately share music that moves people – both physically and emotionally .
38 • CANADIAN MUSICIAN