It has always been my belief that people want authenticity in their music regardless of the venue. As a DJ, I have had the privilege of performing at high-end and hole-in-the-wall venues, but this did not mean that I had to switch up my playlist.
As a party builds, and the crowd begins to increase in size, it’s important for the DJ to control the vibe and energy in the room by not starting out too fast. A gradual increase of the pace sets a solid foundation for the energetic climax later in the night that should take place.
To illustrate this, I have curated some audio of a live set recorded at one of my first residencies in the Buckhead party district of Atlanta during the early 2000’s – when nightlife carried on until 4am in the city. This was the hottest attraction in the city at the ultra sexy upscale venue, Kream – the same one mentioned by Jermaine Dupri in the song “Welcome to Atlanta.”
It was important for me to give a really organic representation of how a reggae dancehall sound system controls a dance, not only for the entertainment of the patrons but also because I wanted my guest DJs to feel comfortable enough to go hard with the crowd when it was their turn to take control. Once the foundation is set with a good “early-warm,” it’s then much easier and much more likely that the dance will erupt in excitement later on.
My set commences with strictly veteran singers from the 1970’s and 1980’s like John Holt, Sugar Minott, Nitty Gritty, Dennis Brown, The Heptones and Barrington Levy. After about 40 minutes, selections from the 1990’s could be heard with the first Everton Blender tunes, Luciano, and a Garnett Silk mega mix. Listen as the MC, SuperPEC welcomes several people to the dance, and a crowd gathers for the ensuing festivities. Listen as I carefully advance the pace and turn up the heat while watching the dancefloor start to bubble.
Click below to stream or download audio mp3.
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