Scratch That !
DJ Killa-Jewel had her hands full in 2016 . Outside of her usual run of shows surrounding the Montreal Jazz Festival and Just for Laughs , her monthly Sunday Scratch Sessions , and her teaching schedule , she was tapped by the team at Thud Rumble to represent their new Invader mixer at events in Europe and the U . S . She was also a Canadian finalist for the Red Bull Thre3style competition .
While she plans to keep busy with performances throughout 2017 , she also hopes to hunker down and start work on her next album .
LIVE RIG
Technics 1200 Turntable ( x2 ) Pioneer DJM-S9 Two-Channel Battle Mixer
For Production : Wurlitzer Electric Piano Korg Triton Extreme M-Audio Axiom MIDI Controller Ableton Live Akai MPC2000
CM : Any new techniques you ’ ve been working on lately , or maybe some that you ’ ve been working on expanding or revisiting ?
DJKJ : I ’ ve always been a fan of using tones to scratch with . Even before Mixed in Key or Serato ’ s automatic Key Set came to be widely used , for a long time , I would organize my tracks by key because I instinctively knew that mixing tracks in the same key just sounded better . Scratching with sounds that are in key with a track is no different . So , recently , when I ’ ve been working on my new scratch sets , I ’ ve been editing sounds and tuning them as I go along . It takes a little time and effort but makes all the difference .
CM : As popular music continues to evolve and genre boundaries continue to blur or outright collapse , have you found yourself working different kinds of music or recordings into your mixes of late than you typically have in the past ?
DJKJ : More recently I have , yes . When I ’ m not playing an all out hip-hop show , I do try to mix things up . Not only is it more fun for the crowd , but it also keeps it interesting for me . It ’ s easy to get bored with the same song selections . I think part of a DJ ’ s responsibility is to introduce these different styles of music to your crowd , and the challenge is to do it in a way that is palpable for them . Sometimes I take a hip-hop a-cappella and play it over a rock instrumental , or mix something new with something old in a way that the song becomes my own personal remix . It ’ s a great way to switch things up and keep it fresh .
CM : Speaking to trends you ’ ve seen in the culture over the last year or so , do any have you particularly excited as far as their potential and what it could mean for turntablists ? Or are there any you find disheartening ?
DJKJ : I ’ d have to say that the speed at which DJ technology has become so accessible to the masses has been both a blessing and a curse . The fact that it ’ s become so affordable and easy to get your hands on is a wonderful thing for those who are curious about DJing and want to try it out , and for those who are already established . When I started , I had to save up for two turntables and a mixer , and then there were the thousands of dollars spent on records , going out and digging for those albums and singles . The work that was put into the craft led to a greater appreciation of what it was to be a DJ , producer , and music collector .
Unfortunately , I think that part has been forgotten by a lot of the newer generation of DJs . Many don ’ t realize that DJing is an artform , a craft , and an ability that takes years to master . My philosophy has always been the same : learn how to mix and scratch first , then use whichever buttons you like . Earn your place and you will gain respect for that .
Trapment made a pretty big splash in the DJ world when he represented Canada and took second place at the 2016 Red Bull Thre3Style World Championships in Santiago , Chile . He ’ s only been behind the decks for about 10 years , but now makes his living as a DJ and has a number of cool things on the go for 2017 . Among those are some projects with sixtime world champion ( and regular Canadian Musician contributor ) DJ Vekked , some new music , videos , and mixtapes of his own , and a role in DjCity ’ s upcoming Canadian launch .
LIVE RIG
Technics 1200 Turntable ( x2 ) Rane 62 Mixer Novation Dicer Controllers Apple MacBook Pro
Scratch That !
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