Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category

It’s been a while since I have ranted about what’s really on my mind. One topic that I have been dwelling on is the very medium I utilize to DJ and Produce music. I completely understand there will always be purists who feel that vinyl will eventually make a full circle and DJs will be back to using records as their tools of choice… but somehow I strongly believe that as we embrace technology, the further we will be from that.

Many DJs are converting over to software platforms and moving away from CDs and for the most part – the almost obsolete pieces of vinyl we call records. I admit it is great to see that more and more top flight DJs are embracing the use of technology to promote their sound. I definitely have a lot to be thankful for, for people like Richie Hawtin.

Richie comes from those Detroit Techno days. He has seen the dance scene make several cycles over the past 20 years. More importantly he has progressed his sound on the wave of technology. Many people are a bit apprehensive about change – but Richie has always embraced it. In some way, shape or manner – Richie has been a pioneer of software DJing by propelling the overall customization, use and commercialization of Traktor. This platform has been embraced by professional and bedroom DJs alike and is quickly moving to become the new norm of the Digital DJ.

Then you have DJs like Rana Sobhany. A short-lived DJ career propelled to stardom by some fortune, the Web 2.0 and a couple of iPads. She has taken dance music to a new form by mixing music via two iPads and some apps. She has rid herself of any laptop or synthesizer. Her applications include Groovemaker House, Looptastic HD, iDaft, AC-7 Pro, Pianist Pro, and Sonosaurus Rex to be specific.

So when is being a digital DJ too digital? Is there even such a thing? For a while I struggled with the whole idea of using Traktor Pro as my tool of choice while DJing. But then I determined – who really cares? I should be more concerned about the quality of music that is being performed than really be concerned as to who I look in front of a bunch of people. At the end of the day it is about the music.

The two brothers who make up Tiefschwarz – Ali and Basti Schwarz – couldn’t have said it better. In a recent interview with DJ Tech Tools (http://www.djtechtools.com/2010/04/14/tiefschwarz-interview-the-death-of-vinyl-and-big-labels/) they discuss in detail the stigma that digital DJing is killing vinyl.

In the end, I strongly believe that it’s up to the performer to utilize the tools that are available to them to make sure everyone is having a great time and enjoying the music. I hope there’s a balance of DJs out there who use it all. I enjoy watching all types of DJs use their tools to the fullest. When a DJ does a great job, I can always gauge how well he/she is doing by the amount of people with smiles on their face and dancing to the beats.

Until next time!

Dallas, TX – March 15, 2010 – Dallas based company CAZM Productions is pleased to announce the much anticipated website launch of this site.

Final Cut Studio of Dallas was selected by CAZM Productions to bring a fresh perspective to their online presence for DJ Christian Zanni… and did they ever! The goal was to provide real time information with a slick and clean site for fans and listeners and Final Cut Studio nailed it! Final Cut started by assisting with DJ Christian Zanni’s logo. From then on, it was a match made in Heaven!

When asked how he felt about the new site, Zanni said “I really feel that the folks at Final Cut Studio truly took the time to embrace my vision and exceeded my expectations. They have a real creative understanding and this is one of the reasons why I chose to retain their services on this major undertaking. I look forward to the continued partnership with them.”

DJ Christian Zanni currently resides in Dallas where he holds multiple residencies. He is a seasoned musician/producer/DJ with a style that reflects the fluid sounds of progressive, deep, tech and electro house.

Contact:
Amy McKie – Publicist and Manager
CAZM Productions
(214) 802-7977
amy@cazmproductions.com
www.cazmproductions.com

The life of a DJ is much different than that of a musician. I know because that’s where I started… I remember picking up a guitar back in the early 90s. Not sure why I did. Maybe it was to get chicks. Maybe it was the little creative world I could crawl into at the time. To revel in my teen angst. That seemed to be the trend. Maybe I thought I could rise up to the heights of artists like U2, REM, Pearl Jam to mention a few. I’m not sure what it was, but I do know I have always loved music and that’s why I love DJing.

DJing has brought me a different level of appreciation of music. Some say there’s no creative effort in mixing other people’s work. The truth is the art exists in making others enjoy the moment you’re channeling those tunes on the dance floor. The reality is I could sit here and over analyze everything I do, but at the end of the day the music is about us and the way we connect with one another. I think that’s what I lost when I was playing live.

At the age of 16 I was already working in a professional studio with a buddy of mine. We never planned to get to that point. We just wanted to play, have fun and write music. The great thing we shared was the chemistry, the music, the lyrics, the production. It’s hard to describe – but there was a true ebb and flow to it. I can honestly say that dream isn’t dead. I think we will have the opportunity to work on new material down the road!

The reason I say DJing is so different to me is because I don’t want the glory. I don’t want the attention – a bit contradictory writing this in a blog – seeing that blogs are somewhat of a self-propelled soap box – but anyway… I want the attention drawn to the quality of music that is constantly produced by artists that are unlikely to ever have their music played. I too hope to produce a level of quality that can be equally matched by the producers I currently support. That is the echelon of this industry. I used to think that DJs were the cream… but the reality is and after a good conversation with Chris Fortier one day – he said to make it in this business you have to be able to produce tracks to get noticed. It’s evident… you can see it in people like DeadMau5, BT, Sasha and Charlie May.

No one wants to hear crap. I do hope anyone who ever catches a set of mine can have the decency of telling me I’m having an off night or it’s simply crap. I owe it to you all to make sure that I never do that.

Can’t wait to see you all out on the dance floor soon!

Some of you are wondering what set up I currently have. Aside from my MacBook Pro, which powers Traktor Pro I’m currently running my live sets through an Allen & Heath Xone:92 mixer. My sound devices consist of running everything through a Digidesign MBox2 Pro for recording in the studio and the Audio8 by Native Instruments. Studio playback is through KRK monitors and all live performances are done through JBL JRX 125 and 518S.

Well the newest addition to the technical family is the recently released midi controller Kontrol X1 made by Native Instruments. For more info on the controller please take a look at http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10458502-1.html.

The greatest thing about this instrument is that it truly provides a new level functionality to DJing. I had purchased the FaderFox DJ2 over a year ago. The micromodul has been hand engineered to work with Ableton Live and Traktor.