4 Trends DJs Should Pay Attention To
As music venues begin to slowly reopen, here are 4 trends DJs should be paying attention to in 2022.
Credit - Pexels
By: JBabbage
The DJ scene is in a constant state of flux, and this has been especially true in the past year or so given the limitations the pandemic has put on parties and events. However, things are slowly but surely picking up momentum in the scene as clubs reopen and gatherings are permitted again. In fact, the DJ console market is expected to rise significantly. A report on PR Newswire predicted a growth of $48.2 million in the next five years. With said growth and the changes that have come with the pandemic, DJing is now more dynamic than ever.
From the rise of various technologies and even more genres, music trends have drastically changed in recent years. And DJs need to keep a close eye on them to stay relevant and fresh. One of the key things about DJing and beat making is being able to resonate with the crowd, so it's important to know what people like hearing. Here are four trends DJs should pay attention to:
1) Afrobeats, Baile Funk, and K-Pop Beats
We are seeing music influences from around the world in the Western mainstream more and more. DJs often use a beat maker to produce Afrobeats, a blend of tropical and tribal beats with vocal melodies. Latin-influenced Baile Funk is also becoming bigger, especially as more dance festivals like EDC are happening in Central and South America. And of course, there’s no denying the gargantuan influence that Korean Pop (K-Pop) has had on music today. More groups such as Blackpink and BTS have started touring global festivals, cementing their popularity on the music scene. They've even sparked collaborations with musicians in the US, and there's bound to be more crossover.
2) Electronic Instruments to Elevate Mixes
The use of instruments in electronic music is a trend that continues to grow. This is deeply embedded in the history of DJing, from its roots in 1970s hip-hop to the golden age of the genre in the 1990s. While legends like Grandmaster Flash and DJ Kool Herc introduced the breakbeat DJ technique, it wasn't until the 1980s that electronic instruments such as synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines became cheaper and more accessible. Rather than relying on breakbeats, DJs could now program original drum patterns. An example of a DJ who brought synths and drum machines in the club was Frankie Knuckles. He would connect it to the mixer and let it continue under every record he would play.
Meanwhile, early samplers such as the Linn 9000 and the Akai MPC60 were used to piece together breaks instead of using turntables. One of the most notable characteristics of the golden age of hip-hop that influenced DJs was the heavy use of sampled music. Since no copyright laws were in place, artists could sample from various genres, ranging from jazz to rock. House music pioneer Frankie Knuckles made his own mixes and started literally cutting up bits of tape and sticking them together to make a new song. Alongside the records and his mixes, he had the idea of using an actual metronome, and later the drum machine, in what could be a move towards live instrumentation in the DJ world. Even the turntables were used as instruments with scratching — which is perhaps one of the things people are most familiar with when they think of DJs. Scratching is the act of rubbing the record back and forth to create a percussive sound.
We can see the influence of live instrumentation today, with DJs like Avicii, who often used folk music and acoustic instruments in his tracks. Other DJs like Dabin Lee have also taken to using actual instruments like electric guitars during performances. He uses a Vintera series guitar from Fender in his live gigs to elevate his set. The wide range of Fender guitars featured on Adorama show how popular this brand is amongst all musicians. Speaking to Guitar World, Lee commented on this trend saying: “I’ve actually seen more and more people in the electronic or dance since try to incorporate the guitar into their live set." There is also a growing trend of incorporating drum machines and synthesizers in DJ sets. For DJs who want to add another element to their performances, playing an instrument could be the way forward.
3) The Growth of Virtual DJ Programs
The pandemic greatly affected DJing as we know it with restrictions on events. With the lack of access to equipment, DJs had to look for other ways to play their sets. Building Beats show us that this is possible through using free, virtual, cloud-based DJ software. This is especially useful for those just starting out as they can learn the foundational DJ skills needed before investing in equipment. DJs can use web-based programs such as YOU.DJ and Transitions DJ, both of which have all the components of a traditional DJ mixer, including the crossfader, upfaders, EQ knobs, filter knobs, loopers, and FX. YOU.DJ and Transitions DJ provides beginners with preloaded music to play, but those with their own tracks can also import them into the music library. These tools have made it possible for DJs to keep playing despite the limitations of not having gear.
4) The Rise of TikTok for Viral Hits
The shift from Instagram to TikTok is evident in many ways, but it's particularly obvious with viral music hits. Most of Gen Z frequent TikTok, and they have taken to music creation on the platform due to the many chances of going viral. DJs can certainly utilize this platform to stay on top of trends or follow the flow of viral music.
Apart from riding on viral hits on the platform, TikTok has also revolutionized the remix, from mashups to micro-DJs. Confined to 15 seconds of video time, audio mashups on TikTok are not just changing the way young people discover music but also how DJs perceive and do sampling. Techniques and sourcing include audio being co-opted from platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube. These mini tracks may not be as comprehensive as an entire set, but DJs are just as deliberate with them given the short 15 seconds available on the platform. Many young DJs and producers are using the platform to jumpstart their careers, and TikTok may have changed DJ sets as we know it.
If you’re a beginner at making music, our blog post can provide you with much-needed insights from industry leaders such as Sam Lee (SammyAyOnTheBeat) and Kristen Glennon (Pozibelle). Understanding these trends is just one part of the picture. Learning from the experiences of others is invaluable and can take you to new heights in music.
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