Just a note for posterity on the evolution of the particular sound that I’m trying to achieve in my mixes.

It has been an interesting process given the new direction that a lot of dance music seems to be heading; the easily defined genres of “trance” and “house” do not seem as applicable as new music (at least that I’m listening to) seems to incorporate elements of many different styles at once. When I started DJing years ago, I only wanted to spin progressive house. I would just listen for tracks that fit within that specific framework. Easy. Then Prodigy’s Dirtchamber Sessions turned my world upside down. Z-Trip and 2 Many DJs were also particularly influential for me with their multi-genre approach to music.

Electro and its return to synthesizers, vocals and actual bands rather than just Superstar DJs was my next tangential experience. Up to that point I had primarily been buying mix compilation cds, but now I started getting actual albums by Cut Copy, Goldfrapp, etc. There are also such strong parallels with 80s music that now I can throw in a Berlin or New Order track into the mix. Gotta love the 80s–so cheesy and fun.

I have also loved the emergence of “dance indie” or “disco punk” groups like LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture and Teddybears. I deviated from rock n’ roll when I hit college and was blown away by electronic music, so dance indie really brings things full circle for me. I can enjoy dance music and rock at the same time. A heavy four-four beat isn’t mandatory for dancing after all.

So set the current stage where it is a little more complicated than the simplicity of progressive house. Different people like different stuff, so by combining it all am I effectively reducing the number of people who like all of the above? Those have been the DJ influences from inside the headphones, but what about the influences coming from the dancefloor? I’ve never thought of myself as one to play to the crowd (Achilles heel), but that can’t be entirely true. Will have to ruminate on that further…