DJs
The DJ is the most important figure in EDM.
But what does a DJ do? And how can you be one too?
A DJ's job is to select and play music for an audience, usually during a live event or nightclub performance. It means being able to read the mood of the crowd, choosing tracks that will get them dancing, moving their bodies and having fun.
But it takes more than just playing records - DJs have to mix together different songs so they go well together.
Adjusting the speed or volume of each track so that there are no sudden changes or pauses when switching from one song to another. They also need to make sure everything sounds good on their speakers by keeping levels balanced throughout their set - not too loud in the bass and mids, not too quiet in the highs.
A good DJ is someone who knows how to play tracks that will keep people dancing. They are experts in beat matching and not just press play and start mixing tunes into each other.
Most commonly asked questions for DJs
Can you be a DJ without being a producer?
You may wonder if it's possible to be a DJ without being a producer. The answer is yes, it's possible. However, to truly excel as a DJ, it's highly recommended that you produce your own tracks. This is because DJing is a skill that more and more people are mastering, and producing your own tracks or purchasing ghost productions can help you stand out from the crowd. So, while being a DJ and a producer are two different things, producing your own tracks can definitely enhance your DJing career.
Do EDM DJs just press play?
EDM Djs shouldn’t just press play. DJing gives you a lot of opportunities to be creative with tracks you play. As a DJ it’s important to maintain the energy of a crowd therefore it’s advised to actual DJ and not just press play on a recording. Actual DJ’ing, will enhance the experience for the crowd as well as for yourself.
How do EDM DJs make music?
EDM DJs have a couple of options. Some EDM DJs choose to compose their own music, they choose a DAW which suits them best and start composing. This requires a lot of skill and time. For that reason some EDM DJs opt for just DJing. These DJs tend to purchase ghost productions which they can release under their own name.
Is being an EDM DJ Hard?
It can be hard being an EDM DJ. First you’ll have to learn to be able to get your DJ skills on a professional level. To be a successful EDM DJ you’d also need good music and a solid marketing strategy. For music you could try to learn producing yourself or you could opt for buying ghost productions. For your marketing strategy it’s a great idea to network in order to find people who can help you out with this.
How do DJ producers make money?
There are several ways how DJ-producers make money. Here are a few examples. You could perform your music on festivals and parties. Since you are also producing your own music, you can also release music from which you can generate money by collecting royalties. Most producers make a lot of tracks some of these tracks get never released. In order to make extra money you could sell these productions as ghost productions.
How do you become a famous DJ producer?
First and foremost you should have great music to become a famous DJ producer. Once you have great music you will have to monetise your music. The best way to go about this is to treat your music as a brand. Make sure you do high quality promotion and get your music with the right people. Some DJ producers opt for signing to a record label, they will help a great deal with distributing your music and promotion.
Why buy your ghost productions on House of Tracks?
House of Tracks is a platform where ghost producers can sell ghost productions. A ghost producer only has to create music that is checked by our A&R team to ensure great quality. Our professional A&R team listens for authenticity, composition, audio mixing, etc. House of Tracks is the biggest among all other ghost production services to date and continues to grow its database of ghost-produced tracks each day. From a buyer's perspective House of Tracks is by far the most trustworthy choice among all ghost production services out there, the reason for this is our A&R team as well as the fact House of Tracks uses a state-of-the-art fingerprinting system called DJmonitor. You can compare this to a way more advanced version of Shazam. This way we check that the track or parts of the track have not been released anywhere else.
Who is the biggest ghost producer in EDM
Ghost production, a prevalent practice in the edm industry, involves producers creating tracks for DJs and artists without receiving credit. This phenomenon is especially notable among some of the biggest edm producers. For instance, Joachim Garraud, a David Guetta ghost producer, is known for his work in electronic dance music, indicating the reach of ghost producers in electronic dance. Similarly, Dennis Waakop Reijers, another influential figure, has served as a tiesto ghost producer, illustrating how integral ghost production is to the music's creation process.
Maarten Vorwerk, credited as a leading figure in EDM ghost production, has composed tracks for notable names such as Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and DVBBS.
KSHMR (Niles Hollowell-Dhar), transitioning from The Cataracs to a renowned entity in electronic music, earlier lent his expertise to major artists and DJs, reflecting the widespread adoption of ghost services.
Afrojack's contributions as a ghost producer for global stars like Britney Spears and Rihanna further highlight the pervasive nature of ghost production across the spectrum of electronic dance music.
If you are intrigued by the concept of ghost production or considering finding a ghost producer, remember that this practice spans across various genres beyond electronic dance music, including Tech-House. For those curious about the role and impact of ghost production within this edm industry, further exploration into the subject can reveal its complexity and nuances.