Thinking About Japanese Electronics
This mashup is the last blend I put together opening up for Girl Unit last week at Smart Bar in Chicago. It’s a combination of Commix’s “Japanese Electronics (Instra:mental’s Moog Remix)” and someone singing a version of Arthur Russell’s “A Little Lost.” I am calling it Thinking About Japanese Electronics.
When I was first starting out as a DJ I exclusively spun house, and it was everywhere I turned in Champaign. So for any of us that got a big gig, the important thing seemed to be having at least one killer blend. Blends were everything to house DJs. You’d hear DJs practicing that special blend at their residencies in the weeks leading up to the big gig, and any discussions of the success of that gig usually started with asking about how that blend went down with the crowd.
I still keep my actual performances 100% improvised, but I also still try to work out big blends ahead of big gigs in the hopes that I’ll get to use it if the vibe feels right. The crowd at Smart Bar seemed very appreciative of the twists and turns in my set (even if I felt I put a few too many demands on people’s feet). So by the time the end of my set was approaching, I figured I’d just break out this blend, and for me at least, it felt great to hear it. I was singing along with every word.
This particular recording was mixed on two turntables with two pieces of vinyl. These tracks really do sit nicely together, so very little EQ work or fading in or out was necessary. Feedback certainly welcome!
