Good morning! Just DJ TANG today as DJ SMALLZ is busy doing many things out of town. Midterms seem to be mostly finished but with finals around the corner, this week seems to be a great time to take a breath and recuperate a bit before the grind starts again.
Thats Just Sick (And Not in the Good Way)
Datsik, whose real name is Troy Beetles, is a Canadian dubstep DJ and Producer who has been dropped by his record label after recent sexual assault and misconduct allegations. Beetles would get his security team to give 18 year or even underaged girls backstage passes with “TUL$A” written on them, which was reportedly code for “A slut”. Once inviting these girls to the backstage, he would then give them large amounts of drugs and alcohol to the point where they were no longer capable of giving consent.
Personally, these allegations are very shocking. As someone who is a huge fan of EDM and its culture, it is very saddening to see that people who are just looking to have a good time at these shows can still be taken advantage of. One of the pillars of EDM culture is PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity and Respect), a set of principles that should extend to every show of this genre. One of the reasons I fell in love with the culture in the first place is due to the fact that everyone can feel included and safe, no matter where they come from, and hearing news like this has really shaken my faith in the community. While I still believe that the vast majority of DJs and producers out there would never even think of doing something like this, it has made me aware that the EDM community is not immune to these kinds of incidents.
New Music Fridays
If you didn’t know already, one of EDM’s biggest festivals is happening this weekend: Ultra Miami! If you’re like me and you can’t make it out to Ultra, but you still really want to see all the festivities, Ultra just released their livestream times on their website. Some notable names include Joyryde at 5:30 PM, Oliver Heldens at 6:00 PM, Steve Aoki at 6:40 PM, Armin Van Buuren at 7:45 PM, Hardwell at 8:50 PM, DJ Snake at 9:55 PM, Virtual Self at 11:00 PM (really stoked for this one!!), and Axwell /\ Ingrosso 11:40 PM. Ultra is sure to be a blast this year, and I will definitely be tuning in to check out some of the sets this year. For anyone interested, the livestreams can be watched live at ultramusicfestival.com.
In the EDM scene, Friday tends to be the day where producers and DJs release their new music. I checked out some tracks today on the show and gave my thoughts on them:
Jauz – In the Zone: I love how Jauz is branching out and trying new things because this is definitely not something that Jauz would usually produce. I love that he’s trying new things but the British rap really doesn’t do it for me. C+
Don Diablo – Believe: Beautiful vocals leading up to a typical Don Diablo drop. I really like this track, super catchy and something I could definitely see myself listening to all the time. A+
Jay Hardway – Coffee Please: A really underrated producer with another solid release. Doesn’t really bring much new to the table but obviously very well produced. B
Sikdope & LOUD ABOUT US! – Back Again: A producer who has produced a lot of bangers in the past and this is no exception. Again, doesn’t really bring much new to the table, and a lot of bass house is starting to sound the same to me. A solid release nonetheless. B+
Angelz & Slatin – Scream for Daddy: A lesser known producer who has been killing it recently in my opinion. The vocal sample that was used might not have been my thing, but every other part of the song was perfect. The drop hit hard and was very groovy. I expect to see this song at lots of festivals. A+
Alan Walker – This Is Me: A producer that gets lots of radio play and attention from the mainstream. Tends to create beautiful buildups and use amazing vocals, but the drops are usually underwhelming. This song is no exception. B-
New Venture
As a first year BBA student myself, I can personally attest to the hell on earth that is New Venture. Semi-Finals are happening today and the finals are taking place tomorrow from 1PM to 6PM. Good luck to everyone involved and may the best venture win!
Song of the Week: 1788-L – Pulsar Beam