The dust has settled in the May competition. DJ Clarity from Chicago, Illinois, arises as the winner of the first cycle of Pioneer DJ Network. He’s the soon to be happy owner of the May prize: a hard earned pair of Pioneer CDJ-900s. Read on to get an idea of the work he put in, and what you can do to win a pair of Pioneer CDJ-2000s in the current DJ competition!
What’s up Clarity! You just won the May contest on Pioneer DJ Network. How are you feeling?
– I’m feeling super great, this is very exciting for me as a DJ to have my people really like my stylings and music selection.
How much planning went into this mix?
– Well, I knew I wanted to have some fast mixing in this mix so I took the tracks I was to use to Ableton to cut out the fluff in the middle and leave the bangin’ parts. I also had to find the right acapellas i wanted to use. Then it was a matter of some practice to get the flow down, especially since many genres were involved.
Musically it seems you have a strong influence from current European club tracks – with the Dutch and Italian electro house from Crookers and Bloody Beetroots. The mixing style and scratch overlays makes gives it a hip house- like edge. How would you describe your DJ:ing style – what are some of the important pieces of inspiration?
– Well I’ve always been at heart a jump-/hardstyle DJ, but being in Chicago that music doesn’t go over so well. So in order to play that hard edge I like, I tend to play hard house, fidget and electro for the clubs. And I have a real respect for the turntablist scene, so the scratching and fast mixing from that lets me take my mixes to a whole other level compared to the other DJs in Chicago.
When you emphasize your mixing style owing a lot to Chicago, and genre blending in 75 through 155 bpm – what does this mean exactly (for the uninitiated)? Any relation to juke house, which is also out of Chicago?
– Definitely a relation to juke, I mean hard/jumpstyle owes juke for some of its beginnings, and Chicago hard and ghetto house is what started me off in DJing. And my style is so influenced by that old school flavor, I play newer tracks but rock them in that old school style. Too many DJs are content with playing progressive tech stuff and letting the mix/transition happen for 3 minutes. To me I get bored, I wanna get involved in my music so playing different genres from a wide range of tempos not only keeps me challenged the way playing just tech house can’t but it also keeps the mix sounding new and fresh. Plus I just love that bass in your face from the harder genres.
Pioneers of the Cross Genre from djclarity222 at Letsmix.com.
You have your own piece of production in there. What’s going on with your own music? Any interest from labels (thinking there should be)?
– I’ve been producing for as long as I’ve been DJing, I produce all sorts of genres. Mainly fidget and electro under the name Clarity and Dubstep hard/jumpstyle under the name The Floorkillah. I currently release under floor control records but am always looking for more exposure with new labels!
The second competition cycle (June-July) has already begun, and steps up the ante. When the current competition ends prize winner will receive a pair of CDJ-2000s. Read on over here
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