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| DJ AMADEUS INTERVIEW - PAGE 2 |
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Though there might be differences in generations as far as taste in music goes, Amadeus sees this type of music bringing people together and the DJ is the main attraction. “I get people of all ages coming to shows. I always see a grandfather with the son and grandsons. Sometimes I am booked at a party that has no age limit. It is great for everyone to know who you are.”
Since he has taken on the role of being a DJ, Amadeus has even seen this type of music shift from one style to another. Whatever is new and popular is what people want to hear so these become the guidelines for any DJ who has a show. “Before it was all techno, Detroit, Chicago. Then it became house music, more base. Then it became trance that is more melodic with key changes, a classical delivery of electronic music. Europe is always ahead by one or two years, definitely a year ahead. Europe is known to have the best DJs in the world. The US is pretty much about hip hop, mash-up etc. but in Europe, it’s all electronic music. Hip hop is basically not as popular in Europe as it is in the US. Europe is the center of house music. The greatest producers in the world came from the UK, France, the Netherlands and Germany,” revealed Amadeus.
People book Amadeus because they know what kind of music he is going to play. Part of being a DJ is connecting with the crowd, anticipating music trends and even taking the music to the next level by creating something new.
Amadeus reinforces the view that he is not unique in his field by wearing a t-shirt which says ‘Same Shit, Different DJ’.” He explains, “I don’t know if I am more different than others. There are a lot of people that are better than me, but I feel the crowd. I sense what is going on with the crowd. I express myself. I express my music. I wouldn’t say that I am boring. That’s why they book me in China. China is amazing. What a culture. People are really friendly and they appreciate electronic music.”
As a DJ, reading the crowd is only part of it. DJs generally dislike getting requests because they are artists and people trust that what they want to hear will be delivered. “People book you and pay you a lot of money to play what you are known for. You have to have your own strategy, your own style. DJs have their own genre of music and their own play list that they are ready to play. Once they change it, this might interrupt the flow and the choice of the music. It all depends on the time, the place and how the crowd reacts,” he explains. Every crowd is different. Europe is different from North America and different yet again from China. But one thing is certain. Everyone wants to be moved by the music they are listening to.
When an audience doesn’t respond favorably to his mix, he throws on a commercial song or mixes it in with the music he is playing. The key to Amadeus’ success is his ability to “go with the flow” which gives him a great response from the crowd most of the time. This is one quality that makes an excellent DJ. Being a trendsetter might not necessarily make a DJ popular, especially if it goes against the flow. “It’s very important to read the crowds, to listen to what people want. Even if I don’t like a song, I play it for the people. I start off slow, build it up and then slow it down. Sometimes I also work alongside another DJ,” continues Amadeus.
Being in this sector of the music business, Amadeus has learned a great deal about human behavior. “I can make people cry. I can make people throw their bras at me. There is so much you can do if you are a good DJ. You can do whatever you want. You are like a God elevated on a platform looking onto thousands of people. It is a great feeling. A DJ is a performer. So there is no difference between a performer and a DJ. You have to act. You have to get the crowd going so you are a performer. Today, DJs are like rock stars. We get driven in limousines. We get first-class treatment when flying, get taken out to the best restaurants and everything is paid for once you become known. ”
DJs are already shaping the future of music by their ability to experiment with electronic sound. Amadeus agrees, “Electronic has grown. It is huge now. That’s all you hear is electronic house music. There are so many Internet radio stations that play only electronic music. There are so many tracks every day. It is a revolution and it is growing very fast.” To have a leading edge, DJs have to be experimental artists to remain in this field. As well, they must have a good knowledge of electronic music history be able to create new sounds. It is difficult to say where this music will be in the next five years. But one thing is certain. Electronic house music as a basic form is here to stay. “It will definitely be more electronic, ” agrees Amadeus. “DJs create new distorted sounds. Everything has a history of repeating itself. What we heard in ’92 is all coming back but with a new style and different sounds. House is the beginning, the root of all electronic music so it will always be there. It is tough to say what it’s going to be in five years. It will be outrageous. It will definitely be electric.”
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