by ASJAD NAZIR
WE ASK SOME OF BRITAIN’S TOP SPINNERS ABOUT THEIR GO-TO TUNES AND SECRETS BEHIND CREATING THE PERFECT NIGHT OUT
WHETHER it is club nights, festivals, private events, weddings or other celebratory occasions, DJs have an ability to adapt and entertain people in a way no one else can.
The dynamite DJs use various ways to keep people engaged, which includes mixing, top tracks and giving those present what they want. Eastern Eye caught up with talented DJs to find out the secret of a killer set and the go-to songs that never fail...
DJ Vallisa: I believe the secret to a good DJ set is finding out exactly what is working for the crowd in front of you. What makes them tick and going for it. Every event is different and you cannot cater for individuals, it has to be what the majority seem to vibe to. I do have some tracks that never fail me as my main audience are the Mendhi nights, so Mundian Toh Bach Ke and Sadi Gali always work. At the moment, Kala Chashma gets even the most stubborn person dancing.
Master Kunal (MK Roadshow): The secret to a good DJ set is knowing your audience. They are yo-ur biggest critics. No matter how lavish your set-up may look, ultimately it always comes down to your playlist and how you interact with the crowd. The go-to songs that never fail on a dance floor are Mundian Tu Bach Ke by Panjabi MC, Sadi Gali by Lembher Hussainpuri, Laila Main Laila from Raees, London Thumakda from Queen and Danzo Kuduro by Don Omar to name a few. I find they always work even with a mixed audience, lyrically and musically.
J Royale: The biggest secret of a good DJ set is being able to read your crowd. This is the one skill that makes the difference between a hit DJ set and a failing set. DJs practice their sets, which is great, don’t get me wrong, and I do this too! But you also need to be prepared for the crowds, which may want something different. This skill will allow you to switch it up and keep the people on the dance floor. Being a Desi DJ that spins across Mumbai and UK, I have my go-to songs that never fail. Five of those are: Abhi Toh Party (Badshah), Gully Gang (Gucci Gang Remix - Divine), Lets Nacho (Kapoor & Sons), Ni Nachle (Imran Khan) and Sadi Gali (Tanu Weds Manu).
DJ Nish: The secret of a good set is to keep things current as well as playing the classics. Everyone is so surprised when they hear you drop a new song as they aren’t expecting it. My go-to songs that I know everyone loves, especially the ladies, are Wild Thoughts (DJ Khaled & Rihanna), One Dance (Drake) and Danza Kuduro (Don Omar).
San-j Sanj: To be honest, a reliable DJ does not need a secret weapon unless you are a battle DJ. A worthy party DJ should adapt their sounds to the surroundings just like a chameleon does with its colours. Being mainly a Bollywood DJ, I will list you three toppers from certain decades. This was extremely difficult to shortlist! From the 1970s Pi-ya Tu Ab To Aaja, from the 2000s Woh Lamhe (Su-ketu Mix), and from the 2010s Put Your Hands Up For Mumbai.
DJ Rixx (Calibar Roadshow): I believe a good DJ set consists of three things; high energy, unpredictability and creativity. High energy keeps the dance floor bouncing. Be unpredictable! Playing the current popular songs is the safe option, but playing something the dance floor does not expect keeps them interested. Every DJ should be creative in the way they perform. Sometimes it’s not about what you play but more about how you play or mix it!
Harpz Kaur: The secret to a good DJ set is knowing your music and crowd! If you can engage with your crowd and know what they’re feeling, it’s a good set! It’s not always about what you want to play. It’s what they want to hear! And I do have a few go-to tracks which I know go down well at any party. These include Das Ja by Dj Sanj, Sadi Gali by RDB, Hostel by Sharry Mann, Fatman Scoop’s Be Faithful, Big Shaq’s Man’s Not Hot and Montel Jordan’s This Is How We Do It.
DJ Vix: I think that the secret of a good DJ is experience. With this experience comes the ability to read and judge the crowd to deliver the right recipe for the dance floor. This means playing the right song at the right time for the correct duration. Also, providing crowd interaction through hosting keeps the party people energised and most importantly entertained, which enables us to take the party to its maximum heights.
DJ Ritu: Someone’s perfect turntablist might be another person’s nightmare, so I guess all good DJs need to develop a thick skin and remember they can’t please everyone all of the time. Some other useful ingredients are having an appropriate selection of tunes for the audience you’re playing to, assessing a crowd and playing for them and not your ego. Having a decent degree of technical skill to establish a flow, a journey and thoughtful decibel output. I definitely have some go-to tunes if I’m spinning retro classics, whereas the rest of the set might be all about keeping up to date with new releases!
Jags Klimax: Preparation is key to an awesome DJ set. Know the crowd you are playing to and be like a ‘Swiss army knife’ type of DJ where you are flexible to switch it up to keep that dance floor banging constantly! Also play according to your time slot. No one wants to book or hear a DJ that’s playing all the top tunes as soon as the doors open. If the dance floor needs a little pick me up and it’s time to get everyone hyped, that one track I go to has to be Heer. It just never fails to get a crowd going crazy!
DJ Shai Guy: My greatest advice would be to find the balance between believing in your own professional abilities but also considering the crowd at all times. If they’re enjoying what they’re hearing, give them more, but also catch them off-guard with introducing something they think they know but fusing it with something completely different or vice versa. Ergo, why I love mash-ups. Some go-to songs are Chammak Chalo, London Thumakda, Chumma Chumma, Kala Chasma, Balam Pichkari, Deewangi Deewangi, Khaike Paan Banaras Wala, Lungi Dance, Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe and Kar Gayi Chull.
DJ Kookie: My secret is to never plan a set, just have music that covers any situation and be flexible. Once you know what your crowd want, you can set the vibe to give them a night they won’t forget. There’s way too many go-to songs as it is all dependent on the vibe of the night, but ones that are always winners for me are Mi Gente by J Balvin, Finesse by Bruno Mars and Cardi B, Friendly by J Hus, Bruk Off by Konshens, Gyal You A Party Animal by Charly Black, and IN2 by WSTRN.
DJ Zee (Pioneer Entertainment): The secret of a good DJ set is a good mix of current hits and old classics, perfect timing and the ability to read your audience. Know what makes them move and how to pick the vibe back up again if it starts to die down. Some go-to songs include Mauja Hi Mauja from Bollywood and anything by Diljit Dosanjh or Panjabi MC from bhangra. In terms of English songs, anything by Rihanna or Lean On by Major Lazer.
Doni Brasco: A good DJ set is subject to perspective. When playing out live to an audience, it’s a must to drop familiar bangers everyone knows and what’s current on the dance floor. How you veer away becomes an art and reading a crowd is vital to succeed. Personally I’ve always believed a great DJ set should be a journey with highs (rave moments) and lows (bass face). I love playing with a crowd emotionally, tantalising and teasing them. If what I play and how is the same as anyone else, then there was no point me being there. When it comes to turntablist showcase DJ sets and routines, I believe using as many skills as well as keeping the viewer engaged throughout becomes the number one priority. Either way, the best DJ sets are ones that leave the crowd feeling uplifted and happy, and the DJ feeling proud of how they earned a living that night. The feeling of love and joy should be omnipresent. Hope to see you at one of my gigs soon.
Panjabi Hit Squad: The secret to a good DJ set is preparation. You need to know you have the right tunes, the right mixes and ready to play in an order that ensures the dance floor is forever packed. Once you have read your crowd, you can now make a decision of what vibe you want to go on. Having all the tunes ready makes the job of rocking any party an easy one. Songs that you can always count on getting the dance floor moving include Sharry Maan’s
3 Peg, Guru Randhawa and Arjun’s Suit, Diljit Dosanjh’s Patiala Peg, Barking by Ramz; the list is too long and goes on.
Varski: For me personally, there are two aspects to what makes a great DJ set. First of all, preparation is vital. When dealing with remixes and bootlegs, which my set is based around, I need to make sure I have everything organised and ready to entertain any crowd. Second of all is mic work. I am a massive believer that the relationship between you and any crowd is solidified through getting your personality out there via mic talk. The back and forth between DJ and the dance floor is vital and adds that extra fire to the stove. Some hot go-to tracks are Magenta Riddim (DJ Snake), Unforgettable (French Monta-na), Bum Bum Tam Tam (MC Fioti), Pure Fyah (Carlitos Moreno), Most High (Skepsis), and Mac-hika (J Balvin).
DJ Kash: The secret to a good Dj set is not only the right choice of music but also how you mix it. I do have a set of go-to songs that never fail, but every event is so different so it’s important to choose wisely. Feel the music as you play it and entertain the crowds with your energy. Lose yourself in the music!
DJ Pavan: I think the most important element of any DJ set is song selection. Eighty per cent of a good set is the songs you play. One wrong song can kill the vibe for the crowd. What sets apart the best from the rest is the skill in how you mix your songs, which lets you add your own touch on the music. Of course, any set needs a sprinkling of bangers to add some energy into the crowd. In terms of English music, Yeah by Usher always sparks a massive reaction. And if all else fails, has anyone heard of Hostel?
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