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DJ Articles

Beatportal’s Artist of the Month: DJ Minx

Marcus Barnes speaks to Detroit’s queen of house music DJ Minx — a champion of women’s empowerment in the dance music scene — to learn more about her ancestral history, the first time she mixed records, the origins of her Woman On Wax imprint, and beyond. It’s interesting to hear DJ Minx describe the path that was forged by her predecessors while also considering the fact that she has also […]

todayAugust 7, 2024 9

DJ Interviews

Interview: Ash Lauryn

Even though she has been based out of Atlanta for more than a decade, the rising DJ Ash Lauryn is still more than capable of waxing lyrical about the legacy of Detroit electronic music. It was this move in her early 20s that helped her gain perspective on her beloved hometown Detroit, showing her the impact and reach of its legacy and the need to preserve it for future generations. […]

todayAugust 7, 2024 9

Dancer Articles

Interview: Legendary House Dancer Marjory Smarth

"Fluidity is my thing.  I think I am an earth-bound mermaid. If there were a way to describe the way I dance, I have a lightness to my movement.  Sometimes it's as if my feet don't even touch the ground." - Marjory Smarth Originally hailing from Haiti, she grew up in New York City and began dancing in her formative years. Deriving influences from the native dances of her culture […]

todayAugust 7, 2024 60

Tech News

The Evolution Of Different CDJ Types

The History Of CDJs The history of the CDJ is one of the most interesting stories in music technology. From revolutionary to mainstream, this DJ hardware has seen it all. The literal meaning of CDJ is Compact Disk Jockey which references the key reason the hardware was so successful - its compactness and convenience. The first CDJ was introduced by Pioneer in 1994. Prior to this, DJing on vinyl was […]

todayAugust 7, 2024 9

Uncategorized

Top Trends: DJ Tech for 2024 & 2025

To stay at the top of our game, we DJs need to keep up with the latest in DJ technology. This industry is always evolving, and falling behind is not an option. With technology changing rapidly, music and DJing tech are growing fast, and the price of new gear is becoming more affordable. From cloud DJing to VR integration, there are countless new tools designed to make our lives easier. Let’s dive into the […]

todayAugust 7, 2024 22

DJ Interviews

Behind the beats: DJ Nina Sol

"Turning non-believers into house heads became my ministry." Nina Sol has that inquisitive nature that will build your night full of meaningful plateaus. She conjures up that mystical people-moving energy, a forever-soul controlling your get-down. That name she performs under is a nod to her Afro-Latina heritage and warm and sunshiny disposition, according to her website. This is a Bay Area legend, giving her full attention to the details of DJing […]

todayAugust 7, 2024 10

DJ Interviews

In Conversation with Gilles Peterson

Gilles Peterson, one of Britain’s most-loved radio broadcasters and DJs, filled his days with something else: he built a three-storey recording studio with enough shelving to house most of his considerable vinyl collection. Situated at the end of his Stoke Newington garden, the soundproofed space is where Gilles plans and plots his musical empire. There is even the possibility, he says proudly, to stage small (very small) live gigs in […]

todayAugust 7, 2024 9

House History

Montréal, disco’s Second City

The origins of Montréal disco The French word discothèque – which combines ‘disque’ (record) with ‘bibliothèque’ (library) – describes a nightclub where patrons dance to recorded music. Many claim the first discothèque to open in North America was La Licorne in Montréal in 1963. By the 1970s, the abbreviated ‘disco’ was used to describe nightclubs like the Lime Light. Disco soon became a musical genre unto itself, rising to popularity in Black, […]

todayAugust 7, 2024 9

House History

The Black History of House and Techno

The history of house music and techno are both deeply rooted in foundations laid down by Black artists and musicians, many of whom have yet to receive the recognition and credit they are due. With this in mind, Sam and I decided to compile a list of articles and documentaries that speak truth to the history of Detroit techno, featuring also an article from our friend Grace (aka Nagini), who […]

todayAugust 6, 2024 12

DJ Interviews

Analog Soul – DatKat vs Jacky Sommer

Identical twin sister duo Jacquelyn & Kathryn Smith (aka Jacky Sommer & DatKat) have been spreading the good sound around NYC since the early 2000s. They started The Analog Soul Show on East Village Radio exploring the deeper, darker side of techno and house with guests like Function to Simbad, Roland Appel, Slam Mode, and Dj Qu. The show finished in 2009 but the sisters remain tastemakers in the NYC […]

todayAugust 6, 2024 10

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