I have to express some respect for Van Dyk, regardless of music. He didn't come from a privileged background as some European superstar DJs like Judge Jules but an industrial city in communist East Germany - and without a father who from what I can tell had no role in his life. He left for the West with his mum and the family dog and little else. He's politically engaged. I've interviewed him several times and I think he's genuine. I'd rather see him at the top than some others of the superstar ilk... Some nice people like - believe in - terrible music, it happens!
> Because they sell themselves like crazy and because they know people. > They're willing to work with anybody and everybody who will propel their > career and expose themselves to more people. > > I know a guy who has been voted in the "alternative" newspaper best club DJ > in town for, I think, 3 years running. The guy can't mix two beats to save > his life and he's never worked with vinyl - CDs only. > How does he do it? He's got a massive mailing list and promotes himself, > is seen at every rock show (he spins rock/pop music mostly), etc. > I know he loves the music he plays but the way he gets voted is by being > ubiquitous and playing to the crowd. It doesn't hurt that his dad is a > used car salesman and he's learned a few tricks in personality from working > the sales room himself. He exudes confidence and he can sell himself. He > plays weddings, parties, etc. Where ever he can when ever he can. > > Check Tiesto's bio (I went to his webpage because I didn't know sh!t about > him) > "Born in Holland, Tiësto became a DJ because he 'liked to share music with > other people. When I was younger, I'd listen to a radio show called the > Soul Show, and to Ben Liebrand's mix show, where he would remix and cut up > different tracks, and I just thought - I wanna do this!' Starting out with > a mobile show around the country, he progressed to student parties, and > then to three nights a week in a club, learning and perfecting his craft." > > so he was playing three times a week and played student parties - how many > of us would want to spin the type of music they want to hear @ student > parties? I'm sure during his stints with his mobile DJ job and doing the > student parties he learned what they wanted to hear pretty quickly. > > Also, he learned that making music himself and controlling the output (he > started a label) he could raise his profile. He probably met some people > through a gig and got a radio show and kept pushing it further from there. > According to discogs - in 1998 alone - his label put out four mix CDs. > That's a huge amount. Seems that's the way so many of these guys push > their profile too. It's not their own music - they go into a studio (or do > it in their own) and assemble a mix in ProTools. Then they license the > tracks and bam! Their name is slapped on front of the CD as "mixed by" and > they get a bigger profile. More money, more gigs, more clout. But what > did they do? They worked the system. > That is until they have to actually play live (*cough*oakenfold*cough*) and > they suck and people stop liking them. > They know they aren't going to be popular forever so they license their own > tracks to just about anybody who wants it (BIG $$$) and that spreads their > name around. Pretty soon their songs are huge just because people have > heard them enough times. It plays into the Top 40 radio phenomenon - play > a small selection of songs enough times and people will like them and > request them even though they might have just heard them less than 4 hours > ago. > > Now if you're asking why people like them - I have no clue. Bad taste? > > MEK > > > > > "P. Lasell" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > om> To > 313 Detroit <313@hyperreal.org> > 11/01/05 01:36 PM cc > > Subject > RE: (313) DJ Mag Poll > > > > > > > > > > > Why do you all think guys like Tiesto and Van Dyke are so popular? > > P > www.peterlasell.net > > --- Nik Stoltzman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Magda only just made it into the list by the skin of her tea-th. >> >> Arf arf. >> >> N >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: /0 [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Sent: 01 November 2005 14:28 >> To: Cyclone Wehner; 313 Detroit >> Subject: Re: (313) DJ Mag Poll >> >> hawtin being #12 probably had something to do with the emails >> minus.com >> (and plastikman.com? (and paxahau.com?))sent out asking everyone to >> help >> fight the fight against "bad" music by voting for hawtin and magda. >> >> I didn't vote for anyone, but I'm there in spirit >> >> -Joe >> >> >> > >> > From: "Cyclone Wehner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> > Date: 2005/10/31 Mon PM 08:13:57 EST >> > To: 313 Detroit <313@hyperreal.org> >> > Subject: (313) DJ Mag Poll >> > >> > Another year, another DJ Mag poll! I am glad to see Tiesto knocked >> off >> and >> > Paul Van Dyk on top - his music is not my taste, but I've always >> felt >> that >> > he's sincere and principled. Is Hawtin at # 12 not a triumph for >> good >> music? >> > No love for Detroit in there overall, but that ain't nuthin' new! >> > >> >> > ______________________________________________________________________ >> This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. >> For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email >> > ______________________________________________________________________ >> >> >> > ********************************************************************** >> This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and >> intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they >> are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify >> the system manager. >> >> This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by >> MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses. >> >> www.mimesweeper.com >> > ********************************************************************** >> >> >> > ______________________________________________________________________ >> This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. >> For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email >> > ______________________________________________________________________ >> > > > > > __________________________________ > Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page! > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs >
