Audio Package

Audio Interview

New Year

     Since this is dawn of a new year, I figured I'd let you guys in on what went on in my head for most of this year. Although 2011 had a rocky start, an incredible build up to a crescendo this summer, a rocky breakdown and is building to a wonderfully sweet finish, I had to document my year with my top ten track from this incredible year.

     Not only did this year mark the start of my DJ career, this year was a legendary year for Electronic Dance Music as a whole. Starting with a record attendance at Ultra this year and ending with the Swedish House Mafia selling out Madison Square Garden in under ten minutes, we made major moves as a group this year. In my opinion, and hoping with all my might, 2012 is the year we all finally step into the spotlight.

    My top ten tracks are tracks I have played at most of my shows this year. With most of them having a whole boatload of energy, I searched far and wide to find tracks that had the power to completely electrify a dance floor. With an effect heavy, hard hitting style, I know my fans expect nothing less of me to build up the energy in a room and drop them on their heads with an unexpected dance floor bomb. Not only do I strive to do this every time, I keep working on different things to make my fans lose their minds.

Dotty's Top Ten tracks of 2011

10. Feel So Close - Calvin Harris

     One of the songs I usually play later in my sets as the energy winds down, Calvin Harris really nailed the energy in this song. A completely happy track that makes people feel good about coming out to the show. Watching people jump around with me to this track makes it an easy pick for my number ten song. 

9. Ressurection - Michael Calfan (Axwell's Recut Club version)

     A simple synth that lets the beat build is really all I ask for from my favorite producers. Axwell definitely nailed this super high energy track. If I add this into a set, I know I'll be able to inject lost energy after some tracks with bigger breakdowns. Since the track is so open ended, it's pretty easy to lay some vocals in and throw off the crowd a little. The drop in this song hits so hard when done right too.

8. Around the World - Arty

      The youngster from Sweden first got my attention when I heard this gem on ElectricArea. Another track that is incredibly simple but extremely effective.

7. Maximal Crazy - Tiesto

     It goes without saying that Tiesto is a living legend in the world of Electronic music. The world's #3 DJ has always had a knack for making crazy trance songs that completely own a crowd. Without a release since Kaleidoscope, I was worried he had fallen off a little. Nope. Maximal Crazy assured me Tiesto is still here to stay after all these year.

6. Drink to Get Drunk - Sander Van Doorn

     If someone engages with me in a conversation about EDM, they will quickly find out that Sander Van Doorn is a absolute legend in my mind. I've been listening to him for several years now and Eleve11 was one of my favorite DJ albums this year. Drink to Get Drunk is a track to kinda let the crowd know that I'm dead serious about the set I'm playing. With a super groovy opening, I can set up the crowd pretty easily. After the big drop hits, they know their in for it. You can almost see the electricity hit the dance floor when Sander loads up that first big synth hit.

5. Encoded - Hardwell

     Not many DJs impressed me this year as much as Hardwell did. Coming out of the shadow of one of the world's biggest DJs, being from the same town as Tiesto, Hardwell has done a great job of making a name for himself. Yes, I did steal most of my DJ moves in the booth from Hardwell but putting both hands in the air as the beat drops is like being the puppet master in a puppet show, except you have complete control over 200 kids..

4. One Last Ride - John Dahlback (Tommy Trash Remix)

     One word, astounding. Tommy Trash came out of no where this year and produced some of today's biggest tracks that the world's best DJs are dropping left and right. This gem is my own person favorite. I can't help but freak out when I drop the beat at the perfect time. Whether I'm in my bedroom or in from of two hundred kids, this drop is utterly perfect and Tommy has never failed to disappoint me or my audience.

3. Eyes - Kaskade

     One of the happiest songs to ever grace my mixer is this wonderful tune by my all time favorite, Kaskade. Those of you who are regulars here at Electric Dreams Inc., know the special relationship I share with Kaskade and this has quickly become my favorite track. I have formed connections with so many crowds to this song and I only hope it gets better in the future.

2. Antidote - Swedish House Mafia

     A late entry into the scene, but definitely necessary. The energy played through this song destroys any crowd around the world. The drop is one of the more interesting drops I've heard this year and watching the Three Musketeers of house music drop this at the legendary Madison Square Garden was incredible. A staple in my future sets. Look out kids, I'm probably going to ruin your face with this one.

1. Fade Into Darkness - Avicii

     Was it really that hard to see what my favorite track of 2011 was going to be? I have some incredible memories made to this song. Playing it in my first live set ever and hearing the crowd scream the lyrics over my speakers was probably one of the most magical experiences ever. Screaming along with my hand up in the air was instantly hooked me into this movement and let me know that I was in the right place at the right time. It's those moments I strive for in my life. With a big thank you, the top honors go to one of my favorite DJs ever, Avicii.

Dethroned

     To a big surprise of many of us here at Electric Dreams Inc., a quick look at Beatport.com's Top 10 charts this morning showed that the absolute dancefloor atomic bomb of Levels had be dethroned as the best selling song on Beatport.

     A surprisingly short run at the top, of which most of us thought would be a record breaking run at number 1. Also quickly slipping from number 37 on the iTunes charts down to a mediocre 57, we can only wonder what is really going on with the music world today? With songs like Flo Rida's Good Feeling taking the same epic Etta James sample and using a similar 128 beat, we can only ask what is happening to Avicii's 9th symphony?

      As you can easily see in the video above, Avicii, the stage name for 21 year-old Tim Bergling has quickly become the king of the piano based synth sound. Starting at the tender age of 18, producing with industry legends such as Roger Sanchez and Bob Sinclair, the sound of the young sensation out of Stockholm, Sweden has infected dance floors across the world. With hits like Seek Bromance and Fade Into Darkness, the high energy sound has quickly propelled Avicii to big sets on the main stage of both Ultra and Electric Daisy Carnival.

     Reaching and incredible number 6 spot on the Top 100 DJs from Djmag this year, only to be beaten by DJ with twice his experience, 2011 has been extremely good to Bergling. A Pete Tong Essential Mix, a private set at Studio 54 set, and working with David Guetta on their amazing track Sunshine, there is no stopping the Swedish youngster from becoming a legend in the future.

     Attending an Avicii show is always as exciting as it sounds. As his set builds and everyone waits for his next track, when the crowd hears the arpeggiated synth come in from Levels, the screams are almost deafening. Once he drops the first bars of the main beat, it is impossible to keep your feet on the ground as everyone around you jumps as high as possible while imitating the sound of the song. Once the breakdown occurs, the soulful styling of Etta James are drowned out by thousands of screaming kids belting out the lyrics "Oh, sometimes I get a good feeling." 

     Not only did Tiesto, Afrojack and David Guetta drop Levels at Electric Zoo, the most exciting time we all heard the song was when the kid himself dropped it. Which also makes you think, what makes it so different? Kids cannot seem to get enough Levels and although he is busy touring, there have been video uploads on YouTube of a Level2, which is already astounding but reminds me a lot of when Levels was still just a bland sample of the song in his Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1. 

     Whatever the future may hold for Tim Bergling, there is no doubt that he will fall under the greats such as Tiesto, Carl Cox and David Guetta when he hangs up his headphones for the final time. Although Levels has dropped one spot, there is no doubt that Avicii is on a path to immortal fame with the work he is doing in clubs around the world.

Big Brothers, Big Inspirations

     Since I have have done an amazing job at neglecting this wonderful blog that many of you have come to enjoy, I thought I would hopefully try and start back up again. Since I've been your typical college student, slammed with homework, a non stop social life, having an incredible time networking with my peers and professors, I sure haven't had much time to myself. When I do find time to myself, I usually am surrounded by the wonderful sounds of my favorite house music songs. It's become a little bit more of a passion ever since I have decided to take the plunge into the life of a DJ.

     Ever since I first touched my cousin's Pioneer CDJ system and watching him mix different beats and songs in his basement, I have always dreamed of learning how to completely electrify a dance floor. Whether in a lit up club or at the front of a huge music festival, I've always wanted to have 10,000 kids losing their mind to my mix. Since the United States is currently having an electronic music revolution, it has been the perfect time to actually learn how to spin like my favorite DJs do at the shows I've been too. Watching these masters of their craft, make myself and several thousand other kids like me completely lose their mind is a work of art.

     If you happened to watch the video above, which is highly recommended, you can easily see what I mean when Kaskade simply takes control of the crowd. Not only does he make these kids lose their minds, he is also having the time of his life in the booth. Dancing like crazy and doing what he truly loves for the people that truly love it. Not only is Kaskade my favorite DJ, he is the biggest inspiration to me as a budding DJ. The fact that when I listen and play his songs on stage, I feel completely free. Free of insecurities, free of pressure and free of all of life's troubles. I can't really come up with any other musician that has made music that makes me dance as hard as I do in the booth or can bring me to tears like Kaskade has done through his storied career.

     Not only have I learned a lot about music in becoming a DJ, I've learned that it simply isn't for everyone. Being on the road, touring the world and playing every night and sleeping 4 hours only to do it again the next day. It may sound like a grueling task to meet but feeling the feelings you feel on stage are simply indescribable. When I try to describe it to people, I usually end up saying "imagine being on a roller coaster for two hours". Although, I have somewhat defined a personality for myself on stage, I still look up to my heroes on the tables for inspiration and for assurance that one day, I'll be that guy. For this, all I can say is Thank you.