Paid fun!

Well, after discussing fees, I got confirmation that me and Neil are DJing at Clare May Ball! I'm so massively excited and pleased. I mean, this is the first gig I've done where I've been paid reasonable money by someone to DJ for them as a contractor. I've done lots of stuff before, but it was all little unpaid gigs or at my own clubnights. This is so huge!

In same week, I have applied to try out at Trash Palace for a slot at Popstarz, which would be sweet. Waiting for confirmation, but I'm glad to have applied. I had to send them a sample playlist, so I chopped up my Cow set to reflect the newer, dancier, gayer side to my electro set. We'll see what they think.

Teachers

After making a big leap with Ableton I decided to take a long think about who my influences are, which artists really opened my eyes to dance music and which albums really made an early impression. For that, I'll have to transport back to 1996. I was 14 years old and a group of us had been watching all sorts of "cool" cyberpunk films with kick ass soundtracks. We were the cool nerds who wore big jeans and metallic makeup.

• Daft Punk - Homework
• Hackers (OST)
• The Saint (OST)
• Prodigy - Fat Of The Land
• Crystal Method - Vegas
  

Hackers, and Saint Soundtracks have some great artists on- Orbital, Underworld, Leftfield, Moby, Fluke, The Chemical Brothers...
I also have to admit to having had a love of industrial at the same time too. Without which I wouldn't have my love of fuzzy dancy feedback. Perhaps it's also where I find my dislike for minimal?

• Gravity Kills - Gravity Kills
• Nine Inch Nails - Pretty hate Machine
• Spawn (OST)
• Stabbing Westward - Wither, Blister, Burn and Peel

Everything that came after, no matter how genius (Sorry Air - Moon Safari, Sorry Orbital - Altogether) wasn't as influential as these early heard albums of my teens. Will put up a list of "sheer genius" albums I love another day.

These influences explain why I love dark dirty electro. I should listen to these albums just to remind myself what it is that I want to do.

We Live In A Beautiful World

Cow 6 went great! When I got there, my cds were back, having merely been borrowed to use behind the bar. Bit cheeky, but very glad; also flattered that they like the stuff I play. My set went well, I had reassembled my set, changing a few tracks that weren't as dancey as others. There was a really good vibe, several people came up and said how good the tunes were and how much they appreciated it. There were a few whoops when I played Tiga... and Hadouken! still gets people singing.

Today I've been really trying to make my own beats and generally having difficulties both creatively and technically. Creatively I am finding it hard to analyse something I like into what it looks like on paper, feeling a little dim today. Technically, I am having a hard time getting to grips with recording. I'll get there, but could really use a friend to show me what's what.

We Steal CDs

On my way to We Smoke Fags gig I had to pick up my headphones from The Cow, while there I noticed all my cds except Soulwax Remixes had gone. :(
Kitsuné compilation 5
Leave Them All Behind (2 disc Modular compilation)
Bugged Out Presents Classics (4 disc)
Digital Penetration (with Klaxons - Myths of near Future inside too)
Pretty bummed about it, I left them in the office where only staff can go, so the awful thing is that they were stolen by someone I know.
Went on to Barfly to DJ only the manager seemed to know nothing about me using the decks and said he needed them for music in the downstairs bar. By the time the promotions guy got there and sorted it out, it was too late. Still got free entry and free drinks. I was disappointed as I'd looked forward to doing a different kind of set.
A friend told me of DJ tryouts at Trash Palace next week for a possible place at Popstarz, which would be awesome. However, I can't find any details online and when I've phoned they've not picked up. So tantalisingly close!

Fingerpainting

This morning I decided to learn how to DJ using Ableton. I mixed together a few tracks, I made some of the worst mash-ups that will never see the light of day and then I made my first sample. My first sample!! It was the first 8 bars of a Postal Service track. I made it into a midi and couldn't believe how I could add and remove notes! I mean how powerful is that!? Suddenly I feel like Michaelangelo has told me the secret to mixing paint! I am a now officially a fan of Ableton.

Smokin' Fags

Today I have been putting together tracks to DJ with on Wednesday at the We Smoke Fags gig at Barfly. Planning to do a more artrock-indietronica-dancepunk set. It's been a lot of fun to go through old indie that I used to love and it will be good to do something different. I would like to think that I am versatile within certain bounds. I'm gonna have to do alot of cringeworthy "indie stop/starts", but hopefully I'll be able to minimise them if I can work out a good track order. One thing I've noticed is that because album tracks are usually shorter than remix tracks I need so many more!

Slow Cow (#5)

Had technical difficulties at the Cow so didn't start til half 10. Sat around drinking then when speakers were restored suddenly started. I had planned to go over my new material and work out what I wanted to keep and lose. Couldn't really take it seriously, but it went surprisingly well. A few mates showed up and I got them a few free drinks before we all went clubbing. From now on I'm going to leave my equipment in the office downstairs, I can't keep lugging it around!

We Come One

Planned birthday special for Digital Wonderland. It included me making this lovely poster as seen above. Isn't the inverted cupcake cute?! I can't believe we've been doing it for a year. I have grown so much. I remember the first time we did it i had spent so much time on promotion that I'd not even thought about the music really, now I spend my days trying to narrow down to the perfect 35 tracks!
I'd like to make this one quite big and have lots of friends down and a big party afterwards. Perhaps if I get myself together I could have my demo ready by then and launch it at same time.

Back to School

I have downloaded and installed Ableton Live 7! Was pretty daunted until I saw the tutorial programs and I have been going through those. How user friendly! I used to be in awe of DJs who used laptops feeling so archaic using my cd decks, but now I see how easy it is and feel less untalented. At the same time I can see how making it easier on the technical front frees you up for more creative endeavours! Fantastic!

In other news, I got my Glastonbury ticket today. I had a feeling we were going to be unlucky this year, but I was wrong.

I am going to see either Long Blondes or Blood Red Shoes depending on which I can get into as they are next door and at the same time.

Cow #4

DJed at The Cow. My set was something like this:
CSS - Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above.mp3
Felix Da Housecat - Silver Screen Shower Scene.mp3
Daft Punk - One More Time.mp3
Justice Vs Simian - We Are Your Friends.mp3
Chromeo - Tenderoni (MSTRKRFT Remix).mp3
Justice - Waters Of Nazareth.mp3
Prodigy - Girls.mp3
Daft Punk - Harder Better Faster Stronger (DJ Barletta Remix).mp3
Hadouken! - Tuning In [H! Redub].mp3
Ladytron - Black Cat.mp3
Fatboy Slim - Brimful Of Asha [Norman Cook Remix].mp3
Bodyrox - Yeah Yeah (Feat. Luciana).mp3
Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy, Hey Girl.mp3
Simian Mobile Disco - It's The Beat.mp3
Calvin Harris - Acceptable In The 80s.mp3
Boys Noize - Arcade Robot.mp3
Buy Now - For Sale (Felix Da Housecat Remix).mp3
Ting Tings - Great DJ (Calvin Harris Remix).mp3
Kylie Minogue - Wow (MSTRKRFT Remix).mp3
Ladytron - Play Girl (Felix Da Housecat Glitz Clubhead Mix).mp3
LCD Soundsystem - Disco Infiltrator.mp3
Mason Vs. Princess Superstar - Perfect (Exceeder).mp3
The Teenagers - Homecoming (Yuksek and Brodinski Remix).mp3
Tiga - Louder Than A Bomb.mp3
Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor.mp3
M.I.A. - Boyz.mp3
Girld Aloud - Jump.mp3
Dragonette - The Boys (Calvin Harris cover).mp3
Felix Da housecat - Sweetfrosti.mp3

I encorporated quite a few new remixes. Ladytron - Black Cat was too downbeat, too serious to DJ with. Didn't go as well as it could due to drinking in pub beforehand. We still didn't get paid which is pretty uncool.
I've been planning my demo and I've downloaded software. I'm looking forward to getting to grips with it over the coming week and maybe finally doing something creative!

Glastonbury '08

Glastonbury tickets on sale this Sunday! Having to work out how we are going to pay for them which is a little troublesome, but I'm sure it will all work out in the end. Line-up doesn't look wildly exciting, but there are a few people I'd see. If there were loads I'd not enjoy the festival as much. Kings of Leon and Vampire Weekend strike me, and I'll almost certainly see Pete, other than that, Cabaret Tent for me. I'm hoping the dance stages will have some hot happenings.

Dé Ja Vu

Went into HMV for the first time since leaving. At first I was really excited, everything looked so different; I had no idea how industrial it looked, all black shiny metal and dingy lighting. Upon trying to find anything I wanted, I realised that they didn't stock anything worth getting and even then, it was too expensive. Recalling bad memories I left slightly smug, but also a little sad.

Looking into getting a job at Play.com; I went to the agency that supplies them with people. I'm hopeful.

First Post on the Bugle

Spent yesterday going over remixes at missingtoof.com. So glad I've found it! here is new Ladytron. I think it's very up to standard to say the least.
Ladytron - Black Cat
Oh yeah!
Also opened a Muxtrack account. Haven't uploaded any tracks yet, but will upload some excellence soon. Might even put a few of my own mixes on there...maybe.
Over next few days I plan to come up with new playlist for Friday night set, including some of the new stuff I've found.