2004's which genre ready to make it big

[dj4mula]

^^^

Lex, some of those points are dead on.

Honestly people, its hard to convert people who only listen to what is on radio and/or TV. I'm sure many of us have tried to convince a friend to listen to a electronica track, but most people assume its all techno. Techno seems to be the word of choice for non-listeners.

`t1m

[Tux]

Originally posted by ƒORM


Trance:

Tune they’ll mention if they think “Rave Music or Electronic”: Agnelli & Nelson - Holding onto Nothing

Wildest Clubbing Experience: Pacha, Eden , Studio 54 Las Vegas, HOB, Privilige Ibiza, Innercity

Other Genres they’re most likely to enjoy: Progressive house, techno, house, dance

Genre they’re terrified of: DNB

FINAL CONVERSION VERDICT: TOUGH


DNB:

Tune they’ll mention if they think “Rave Music or Electronic”: DJ Jean The Launch

Wildest Clubbing Experience: Sonar, Pound, Air in Birmingham, Rhino club UK, The Republic, Sheffield, HOB USA

Other Genres they’re most likely to enjoy: Breaks, garage, 2-step

Genre they’re terrified of: Polka

FINAL CONVERSION VERDICT: GOOD

i dunno man i disagree with this.. i spin both trance & DnB, and enjoy listening to both, as well as most other electronica genres (except HHC). I started out with listening to trance (long time ago) and it didn't take much for me to become addicted to DnB as well.

[ƒORM]

Originally posted by Tux


i dunno man i disagree with this.. i spin both trance & DnB, and enjoy listening to both, as well as most other electronica genres (except HHC). I started out with listening to trance (long time ago) and it didn't take much for me to become addicted to DnB as well.

^Over the years I’ve really broadened my perspective on all genres so I'd assume you’re somewhat like me in that dept. The comparison really fits the bill of the person who's never been to a downtown club, never checked out a rave or seen turntables up close. These are tomorrow’s potential listeners who constantly wander 99.3 the fox , Z95.3, The Beat , JR Country, MTV and rap city with almost no curiosity for any other types of music. A prime example of a candidate that would fit this bill previously was Kevin, aka Kaos (my partner in crime). When I first met up with him he was pro-hip hop. Crates and crates of old school hip hop. The closest thing he had seen to trance was probably Chris Sheppard. He had some exposure to breaks (which appeared on a lot of his battle wax records) but never had a chance to hear some of the goods being produced down south. I respected him for at least hearing some breaks I had in my crate and from there he developed a taste for it. The best part about it is that he still maintains his roots yet has an overall appreciation for music itself.

[soma]

i started loving electronic music by listening to oakenfold and sasha. before that i was playing top 40 and hiphop for years before that. as my musical taste has changed and matured over the years my record buying has gone from

haddaway - what is love
to atb - 9pm till I come
to hybrid - finished symphony
to ed rush and optical - french kiss remix
to meat katie - locked on

so it's been seven years and now I wonder what is this new year going to bring...
hopefully progressive is on its way back as it has been the biggest sound in the world every where else but north america. The Breaks have been kicking this lastyear so I think we all have a lot to be thank ful for there but yeah.. house is on it's way back yo.

[shift]

Nu Skool breaks have been a staple genre for quite some time.

This past year, I've seen many of the artists and labels that have been fundamental in establishing the genre releasing house cuts with that same nu skool sound.

Thought still in early stages, this is where I would like to see house music go. Through combining elements of tech house, progressive, dark uk garage, and nu skool bassline house in my own sets I hope to make this a sound people will come to expect to hear at parties and clubs in the future. At least that's the dream... :)

[Cinto]

before i Even read past Wood's first post I must stop and say " that What I've been saying for two years now!" having been in the scene for just over 8 years i've seen soo many changes and this is number one.. back in the day it was all about MUSIC now it seems all about genre! why.. because it doesn't matter how hard we try to be different from society we can't change it from everyone being soo selective to one thing or another! as for me I'm on wood's side in saying.. let have MUSIC as the new/old trend! lets just have fun listening to it all!

[Cinto]

and lex.. you've almost got that nailed to a pin point but you're still missing some points!

[decypher]

Wood said it before i could :) DNB has a very trancy and deep side, illskillz, concord dawn etc etc have put out some my favourite remixes and tracks this year and 2004 is looking bright.

My opinion is, some people dont realize that DNB puts out alot of variety from the dark chaos of Tech itch, dylan etc etc, to some funkier disco stuff that sonic+silver and marky and xrs have put out, dnb has influences from tonnes of music, sum people just haven't been exposed to these different styles yet in this town and get turned off by some of the harder DNB. pulling off a dnb set with a variety of all these sounds crafted together, instead of seperating them into categories of just a tech-step mix or just a jump up mix might bring new listeners to the world of DNB by showing that DNB can grab elements from ALL genres of music. For me, that would make a very interesting DNB set to listen to. I hear way too many people saying "fuck that trancy DNB" or "fuck that clownstep bullshit", and its sad. A more unified sound could push things forward into new territory. i Have heard some DJ's put out mixes with good variety, and i love it.

As for this year, i can't see DNB just all of a sudden blowing up(i hope im wrong heh), But 2004 does look good for releases by Pacific and psidream coming up, and other local producers getting more exposure and improving their skills. I can more see DNB slowly progressing over the years into something big as long as people keep an open mind and put in some hard work.

My 2 cents.

[Cinto]

^^ if it was all about the MUSIC for ya, u'd have trance at Aqua Boogy too ...

Attila is AQUA BOOGIE first off, and secondly we've had trance at all our other show, oh yeah and thridly no one whom spins trance contacted us till about 1 week after we had the whole line-up done. we don't go out and look for anyone, our door is always open for Djs who want a shot to play! so there! Fourth.. remind your GF to e-mail me with her shirt size so I can get her a Cint-Ho shirt for the wett-t contest! lol


We (josh and I) are looking into something fun to do this spring/summer for you all! so keep your ears opened and your eyes peeled! sound great??

And also just so you know man... I used to play trance many years ago! I still have my whole trance collection... perhaps i'll drop an old school trance set sometime!

[Cinto]

:kam:

[Sykonee]

Whoever said that 2003 was a shitty year for music was spot on. I hardly came across anything that stuck out and grabbed me like many years past did. Only FPU's Traxxdata managed that. For the most part I was just riding the retro/electro train while dipping my head back into prog/dnb/house/whatever territory every so often. So, here's my predictions in 2004 for the main areas of electronic-dom:

House: Will probably grow increasingly tech-y and electro in the popular side of things but will continue holding true to its funky origins in other areas. Expect a new Daft Punk single to completely change the way house is thought of yet again.

Trance: The epic side will dwindle, with more proggy elements taking over again, remaining in the foreground. Goa, acid, and old-styled trance will continue to grow, if slowly but steadily, in popularity with underground shows, as trance fans look elsewhere for their post-epic comedowns. Perhaps even a dedicated club night may open up (heh... personal wish).

Techno: The electro side of techno will fully take over (if it hasn't already) on the popular side. The rest will continue to meander about, producing solid, though hardly revolutionary, tracks.

Breaks: More of the same. Nothing new to report.

Jungle: Trancier jungle will gain a little more momentum but the dark side of things remain fully in the lead. Just beware of a few attempting progressive jungle...

Downtempo: More jazz influences will take over from the Ibizan chill tunes.

Hip Hop: Hmm... I got nothing on this one. Things get so unpredictble at times there's no use even trying. About the only sure thing to expect is that the next Dr. Dre/Eminem project will be 2004's best seller, irregardless of actual content.

Oh, and be sure to look out for this style to breakout in 2004:
Old-skool Tech-step House-core!

[Res]

This thread brings up some great points and I fully agree with points made by Wood / Rev / Form

I am a trance dj who loves breaks, prog house/trance , DNB 2step , techno , ill enjoy playing a main room set, and then go dance in the breaks or house room, AM I A FREAK? I dont get it, I dont know too many others like me and its too bad, I feel sorry for people who are too "close minded" to allow themselves to experience more than one style of music............there is a unlimited world of audio out there people.

Ive never really been able to express myself properly in this climate.

[e_BoY]

Originally posted by REV:
you guys have to be a bit more realistic and realise that 2003 was quite possibly the worst year for the scene of our generation....

something has to happen to make it come back to the way it was.. what do you think it will be?

i actually think 2003 was a good year. I stopped raving for quite a while sometime in 2001 when the rave scene just went to hell. At the end fo 2002 it seemed to start to pick up a lil bit and this year Twisted has continued doign what they have been doing for a long time now. Agroculture seems to be moving in a good direction too and so has Uh-oh. i dont know this is just what i think atleast

[e_BoY]

Originally posted by Attila:
Drum-N-Bass/Breaks!

Trance is all ready #1, why else would they dedicate main rooms to trance?

My question is in reply to raves, not club nights.

haha i agree. I always say i love trance and alot of people are like its stupid breaks is the shit or house is the shit or whatever. But we get the last laugh and we get the main room :)

[e_BoY]

Originally posted by Res:
This thread brings up some great points and I fully agree with points made by Wood / Rev / Form

I am a trance dj who loves breaks, prog house/trance , DNB 2step , techno , ill enjoy playing a main room set, and then go dance in the breaks or house room, AM I A FREAK? I dont get it, I dont know too many others like me and its too bad, I feel sorry for people who are too "close minded" to allow themselves to experience more than one style of music............there is a unlimited world of audio out there people.

Ive never really been able to express myself properly in this climate.

yea as much as i like trance im still open to all types of music and ill roam into the bc room or theatre room and enjoy some breaks, house, jungle, or whatever it might be. I'll listen to korean music even though i have no idea wtf their talking about or listen to some white skater music even though im chinese and am not a skater but whatever sounds good. It's all music

[AWOL]

Originally posted by Wood
how about fucking MUSIC. genres are killing music, if DJs and clubbers weren't so caught up in their separate little scenes, dance music wouldn't be in the dire straits that it is right now

amen.

[AWOL]

I personally would like to see the comeback of Oldschool breaks eg. pre 1999 - early Freestylers, Plump DJs, etc. When funk was funky. I'm probably the only one though.

And I'd like to hear more bassline house like the stuff Shift plays. Really electroish house is dope.

[Moon]

Theres alotta good points here. As everyone has pointed out, Wood's comment about people needing to follow music rather than separated micro-genres is bang on. Ever since i've started going to parties, people have always yelled and bitched for their lil genres and ended up getting bored (and blamed it on the rave scene rather than their own ignorance)

I've said this again and again but its up to the DJ's and the promoters to step the fuck up, bury easy money making antics and do something new, unique, real and straight from the heart n soul. The way i see it, Vancouver ravers are now bored. The product many promoters are offering to ravers is reused, boring and hey thats just bad business.

Promoters and DJ's need to be far ahead in the game. They need to know whats hot now, and whats going to be hot for the next 10 years. The great thing about this is that everyone is going to have their own opinion about whats good and whats not, so theres the open door for unique sustainable competitive advantages.

As for the masses who support promoters and DJ's, give yourself in and trust em... let them do their thing. If you don't like what you're hearing, find other promoters and DJ's to follow and trust me you will find many who will blow you away. Vancouver has some incredible talent that could make this city world famous. We all can work together (well its not even work its fun thats beyond fun) and make the scene great once again. It will happen i know it =)

[QuanNeur]

"house music is going to make a come back.. "

what the heck? did it ever go away? all i ever hear in vancouver is house these days! even on west broadway its like every second bar is playing house.. there's house nights all over the city like there's always been.

about the whole anti-genres thing.. i feel a lot differently than the lot of you for a couple reasons. first off, mixing up genres can be really confusing on the dancefloor.. part of what makes dance music "dance" music is a bit of predictability so that you can anticipate your next ass wiggle or whatever.. DJs or parties that can't make up their minds tend to be frustrating rather than innovating. i imagine that the only reason why you'd come across various different genres in one room at parties "back in the day," as cinto says, is because there just weren't enough DJs around to populate a playlist with artists of one theme.

and i don't think it's fair to blame genres for high-school mentalities in party scenes.. personally i think it's great that some people become totally absorbed by one form of music in particular that they really love. it's only natural that they lost touch with others. this isn't something to be afraid of and doesn't create problems in itself.... it's only certain people that get stuck on blowing themselves up because they're into "the" Thing. and even still, genres are useful tools for differentiating between musics and shouldn't be constantly blamed and hated for creating divisions between people. it's trite, but genres don't divide people. people divide people. (yes, that was lame) even if every dance enthusiast listened to nothing but white noise all day we'd find ways to make fun of each other, wouldn't we? (well i know i would. ha. joke)

[Candy-Kid]

As long as there is trance i am happy

[Wood]

Originally posted by QuanNeur
DJs or parties that can't make up their minds tend to be frustrating rather than innovating. i imagine that the only reason why you'd come across various different genres in one room at parties "back in the day," as cinto says, is because there just weren't enough DJs around to populate a playlist with artists of one theme.

a good DJ can create a flow & rock a crowd without being tethered in one style of music. predictability = boring, people only think they need it because they're used to it, it's what they've come to expect.

[Hot Karl]

screw people who aren't willing to try anything new.

they don't know what their missing, and that's just too bad for them.

[QuanNeur]

"a good DJ can create a flow & rock a crowd without being tethered in one style of music."

well ya, of course. but there's a big difference between simply being unafraid to step outside your pigeonholes and piling it all together, which is what you were suggesting before...

"predictability = boring, people only think they need it because they're used to it, it's what they've come to expect."

but predictability forms the entire basis of dance music. looped rhythms, hypnotic beats. try playing music in weird time signatures, even, and you're going to make a whole mess of the dancefloor. for there to be any connection between the dj and dancer there have got to be some clues. it's the reason why you go to drill'n'bass shows and mutekish experimental e-music gigs and literally no one is dancing. no one knows what's coming next... they just can't find a groove. (to be clear i don't mean predictability like "hooray, i heard this on z95 this morning.." i mean a structural predictabilty)

anyway if you truly feel this way then you should get yourself out of dance and into art music. all dance music is predictable to some degree. it's implicit

[decypher]

^^ Maybe thats why he said, "a good DJ can create a flow & rock a crowd" , being able to change through musical styles while keeping a nice flow through the beats, keeping things interesting and the crowd moving. Of course all dance music has "looped rhythms", just cuz u can't find the rhythm in something "experimental" doesen't mean its not there. and alot of the "drill'n'bass" show's i've been to, there were plenty of people dancing. no need to hate.
`ez

[Wood]

Originally posted by QuanNeur
[b]well ya, of course. but there's a big difference between simply being unafraid to step outside your pigeonholes and piling it all together, which is what you were suggesting before...

i was suggesting that DJs should work harder in order to play danceable, party rocking sets that aren't bound to a particular genre. I did not mention any 'piling'.

but predictability forms the entire basis of dance music. looped rhythms, hypnotic beats. try playing music in weird time signatures, even, and you're going to make a whole mess of the dancefloor.

i didn't say anything about time signatures. if you'd read what i was saying, i was simply pointing out that not every mix needs to be a smooth and sexy 2-minute blend of 2 tracks that sound all but exactly the same, which is what i hear so many DJs doing these days. people are so hung on beat matching and ultra-specialized genres that the music has become homogenized, the average DJ set is so fucking static it could put a 16 yr old jib fiend to sleep. You don't have to mess with time signatures to change that, just broaden your horizons a bit and stop taking dance music so fucking seriously.

anyway if you truly feel this way then you should get yourself out of dance and into art music. all dance music is predictable to some degree. it's implicit

meh, been there done that. when i say a DJ set shouldn't be predictable, i don't mean from one fucking beat to the next, i'm talking song for song. I think just about everyone here other than you understands that, so i'll not waste more time explaining. I think your definition of dance music is stale, dated and unappealing. continue living in the past,

wood