Mike Gadd

Ask a DJ

Everything impacts music - politics, technology, economics - and it was a DJ's job to create soundtracks that explained how it all came together. We did the research, separated the good from bad, and invested our time so our listeners wouldn't have to. But then the Internet came along and changed things - a lot. FatFingaz, a New York City party rocker and turntablist, takes us on a tour of the DJ's evolution of musical consumption. -Mike Gadd

The early '90s

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A LOT OF DJING is about the journey-taking your audience to and from different experiences with your music-but when you're just playing other people's records, your opportunities to reach listeners on another level can be limited. As a dub session performer, Kush Arora avoids these styles. As part of the Surya Dub collective, he's focused on taking listeners on a trip through trembling bass, feeding off their energy as they feed off of his. -Mike Gadd

Ask a DJ

JUST THE THOUGHT of hauling a few heavyweight crates to a gig can cause back pain, so a lot of DJs breathed sighs of relief when new software let them mix MP3s like they were vinyl. But while cutting and scratching with a computer is convenient, there's still something to be said for the feeling of a dusty groove under your fingertips. Here's what a couple DJs had to say about how using a graphic interface has changed their space.

E-Jay spins at parties and clubs for Play: LA promotions, and is a member of Southern California's Evolution DJs.