Riding a wave of popularity brought about by ITV 2's recent Essex based escapades, the popular UK dance music label releases it's latest compilation CD named after a spanish island that has about as much House Music history as your local Greggs bakery.
“It has really troubled me, in a kind of defeatist way, that this is the state of the music scene I find myself in. A place where it's OK to mix Chris Brown with 'Deep House' because they have become one and the same now. It only takes a quick scroll up and down the UK Top 40 and you'll see for yourself - House tracks are ten to the dozen.
What bothers me more is that I live in Leeds, a city that is actually steeped in music history. And 'the scene' itself has all but disappeared. Albeit the few nights such as Back To Basics, System and Louche (who we are sadly losing this season) that will always stand the test of time for anyone who is willing to look a little deeper. But where has the rest of it all gone? We're holding on by the skin of our teeth to any credibility from the outside world, because conversations with your average Joe that used to go like this:
'What kinda music are you into?'
'Deep House'
I've never heard of it'
'Exactly'
Now end up in a long winded fifteen minute explanation of how Disclosure didn't actually invent the wheel, and in fact, Hot Natured make you want to harm small animals. Even though your pal was only trying to be polite and name-drop a few 'bands' you might know, you now feel like a bit of a dick for even bothering and whole thing has been a complete bloody waste of time. Catch 22.
I currently find myself enjoying my nights out less than I ever have in the past, even during my relatively short clubbing career. Is that my fault? Maybe I should surrender to Liquid/Tiger Tiger/Oceana drinking holes and just become the same as everyone else, because that's normal - right? Predominantly student crowds (even at music oriented nights) are often a mess, with a complete lack of any sense of direction or togetherness that 'rave culture' was born out of, and on the other hand most so-called 'underground' parties, even with genuinely good bookings can struggle to get a hundred bodies through the door.
As a result, I seem to have developed a totally fictional illness that can only be described as 'crowd-o-phobia'. Where I appear to have lost my place in the current setup. I dream of parties where I'm surrounded by like-minded people all there to enjoy and dance to the music; instead of the hordes of wedged haircut, vest wearing, Nike Airmax shuffle posers that plague the regular clubbing spots. In fact, the more I think about it, it's not even the tracklist of this particular Marbella abomination that bothers me. It's this sick twisted fake glamour ideology that a frighteningly increasing number of people just eat up and project for themselves. And for some reason 'Deep House' as we formally knew it now seems to go along with that.
(As a side note, I feel like we should hold some kind of memorial ceremony for the genre formally known as Deep House. Even without nitpicking over our Ben Pearce and Wretch 32's versus our Larry Heard and Levon Vincent's - everyone knows when you become 'formally known as' in the world of music you just become a bit shit and weird... like Prince.)
I feel as if we were just about surviving before the current wave of popularity, because we had that niche. But now, how many girls will be complaining up and down the country in clubs this year that 'Ohhh my gawddd this music he's playing sounds just like what they play on the radio but shitter/slower/without the vocals… Excuse me, Mr. DJ have you got anything we can like... dance to?'
These vulturous companies just latch onto anything that is considered 'cool' and they break it down to its most simple and stupid form, stripping away anything interesting or experimental, so it can be neatly packaged and put in a pigeon-hole for all the sheep to enjoy. It's soul destroying. And it's not even about the music at this point. They don't care who mixed it, they don't care whether the music is new or exciting. They buy it purely through association - for the girl spraying champagne on the cover, and the advert placed conveniently during the break of Geordie Shore. It's just a manufactured image for the masses, and it makes me feel a bit sick. Its the musical equivalent of taking a massive turd and sticking a shiny gold star on it.
It's hard to rant for any length of time without sounding elitist or self indulgent; especially when it comes to music. But in turn I hope my message does not appear convoluted. I don't blame the girls with the Grey Goose bottles, the TOWIE worshipping, perma-tanned, snapback loving drones - its not their fault. They know no better. Ignorance is bliss (as they say). And I almost sympathise in a sense that it must be hard to find your own way, or form any kind of intelligent individual opinion when you are constantly spoon-fed every aspect of your life - whether that is fashion, music, news, or otherwise.
I also agree, with people who would say i'm in the minority when it comes to stuff like this, but it only makes me frustrated because I actually care. Music is my biggest passion, and hopefully it might even pay the bills some day. So it makes it all the more disappointing that people make more money than I could ever dream of having by bastardising something really special.
Even some of my former heroes have fallen by the wayside. And in a recent interview, Resident Advisor's number 1 DJ, Seth Troxler, talked in length about the conscious decisions he made to stay away from the potentially damaging commercial temptations of his career and how colleagues such as Jamie Jones (with his Hot Natured moniker) fell into the trap of his own popular success. Its a shame to see someone who I previously had such respect for, and was so well respected amongst his peers, resort to cheap pop tracks to make a quick buck.
Bearing all of that in mind however, I'm not claiming to be the shining beacon of music knowledge here to show you the light. Of course you are free to make up your own mind as you wish. It just put into perspective, from a personal point of view, how completely and utterly insignificant I feel as a DJ. I sit here for hours and hours on end digging for rare tracks, scouring the internet, spend my hard earned office wages on vinyl shipped half way across the world… For what? What's the point really? I play one gig a month maybe for pocket change, and the next man that has 2 USB drives loaded full of these cheap tracks will no doubt be playing to a jam packed venue earning five-fold what I do.
Under no circumstances am I under any impression of being some selflessly oppressed 'artist' that's going to change the world. That is just the current state of club culture that we find ourselves in. And if this is what it takes to be successful, then I just don't want to be a part of it.”
Written by Anonymous
