Veteran Trance Producer & DJ John 00 Fleming shares his view on the art of DJing. John is all set to embark on his Australia tour later in June. He will be playing at Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

I often fear were going to lose a generation of DJs, in todays world a producer makes a few popular tracks, gets signed to a management company then heads on the road touring having the DJ tag slapped on them. As with most musical genres, the DJ tag and meaning is now blurred. Playing a load of your own tracks crammed into an hour set is now classed as a DJ? But a DJ is a lot more than that, authentic DJs never had the need to produce music as they were too busy doing something a lot more important. DJs have always been the lead figures in creating new scenes, investing into a foundation for the future, finding new exciting music, exposing and supporting new music/producers and creating underground parties rebelling against the mainstream. I remember watching a documentary about a new style of music called Northern soul in the UK in the late 60s, the pivotal driving force leading this scene were DJs who traveled to the US to discover obscure offshoots of Motown, they put their own hi energy twist on it and created an underground dance movement that in return became a commercial success that boomed in the UK. Its no different as we move forward through the decades, I was part of a 90s rave culture, many DJs worked tirelessly against the mainstream machines to create new musical experiences. DJs were the foundation that created many scenes on a local level that in return built actual musical movements such as Chicago House, Detroit Techno, Spanish Baleric, Belgium Nu Beat and more. DJs worked hard getting this music onto radio to give more exposure thus helping these scenes grow and flourish. Eventually when a certain scene got embraced by the commercial masses, DJs were already two steps ahead creating the next scene.

Dont underestimate the importance of a DJ. Many of the most powerful figures in the music industry started their careers as DJs due to their knowledge in music, first hand historic experience in music culture along with being human musical encyclopaedias.

Myself being an authentic DJ , get extremely worried what the future holds as I dont see too many other authentic DJs breaking through and fear for the future of whom will move things forward. I see light in the Techno and Progressive House worlds as they have a lot more DJs involved in that scene and the boom and growth is testament to this. When I look at the Trance world, I worry its predominately producer driven, heavily weighed around self promotion, as a result things are going stale musically not moving forward and the next generation are heading to other places to experience forward thinking music. Again looking back, the most successful Trance brands were run and programmed by authentic DJs, today the musical curve and set time is dictated by an artists manager, then hijacked into it being their mini concert focused around them. Theres no collective input, no union focussed on investing back into the Trance scene as a team. Self promotion is the theme.

This is by no means a dig at producers, its highlighting a change in the buisness model. For years DJs have always worked closely with producers (and promoters) as we need each other and seen the rewards. Thousands of producers have been discovered and exposed by DJs, but DJs are nothing without the music. Were a team that need each other whom collectively create musical history. Today the important role of a DJ is completely overlooked. A DJ cant sustain a career without music production as promoters look at Beatports top 10 as benchmark, in many cases a DJ doesnt want to produce music, they want to move forward and create the next musical cycle and be apart of a movement offering something new. Authentic DJs like stepping into the musical future, to experiment with you on the dance floor and to push new boundaries testing those obscure finds, and thats a big part of what clubbers want too, being stimulated on the dance floor. A concert is a place to hear your all your favourite radio tracks performed live. Two very different things.

Im always thankful to those forefathers in the 60s/70s whom created Motown, Northern Soul then Disco that in return created House music and all its offshoots. They provided the platform for my career that Im enjoying today, something Ill forever be in debt. I also understand, respect and can relate to the dedication, the uphill struggle, financial sacrifices and fight against the mainstream they had to endear, without them we wouldnt be enjoying the scenes that we have today. Without my generation and our battles we wouldnt be were we are today and enjoying this huge electronic scene. Ill always continue that same ethos as they did, I dont care about fame, glory and domination, I care about the next generation and want to continue to lay these foundations knowing the baton will be passed on so that they can move things forward.

Take a moment to discover your local DJs. Take a moment to look around at the DJs whom run labels and offering a different take on the masses. Take a moment to discover those local parties and support them. Go get involved and support and enjoy what they bring musically.

Ill follow up this blog shortly, giving advice to the next generation of DJs and producers of how to get gigs.

Source John 00 Fleming Facebook page

Co-Founder of Trance Hub, Curator of The Gathering events in India and ALT+TRANCE in Czech Republic. By day, a Digital Marketing Enthusiast with love for Food and Technology. By night, a dreamer who wants to grow the Trance scene in India.

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The forgotten role of a DJ John 00 Fleming - Trance Hub (satire) (press release) (blog)