| Stereotypes abound, for anyone who has caught | | | | essential DJ tool, the art of crate digging is |
| the wonderful series Nathan Barley by Chris | | | | becoming a dying pastime for all but the most |
| Morris, the cringeworthy world of the Hoxton Elite | | | | dedicated. Bedroom music maestros probably |
| sums up DJ culture in one fail swoop. It's not just | | | | don't even know about it, they probably don't |
| the DJ and his equipment, it's the hangers on, the | | | | even own a record. |
| hairstyles, the pseudo cool crowd baying for a | | | | The demise of vinyl has meant a change in |
| tune that is so left field we are all in danger of | | | | technology; there has been a dip in the demand |
| getting lost in the wild wood of cacophony. | | | | for analogue turntables and an increase in demand |
| Contrary to popular belief, there is more to being | | | | for digital DJ equipment. Eager to distinguish |
| a DJ than just looking cool in a pair of headphones. | | | | themselves from the iPod generation who just |
| Unfortunately to some that is all that they think | | | | plug in a player and hit the shuffle button, |
| there is to being a DJ. | | | | established and talented DJs are calling for |
| Back in the day, as a lot of my vinyl friends are | | | | updated equipment; MP3 and compact disc as a |
| fond of saying, being a spinner of tunes took skill, | | | | medium is creating a need for players that can |
| dedication and commitment. It was a status | | | | mix tracks like the old turntables do. There is no |
| reserved for music geeks. Being so into the scene | | | | doubt that not having to lug a flight case with a |
| meant a lifetime of dedication to music, not just a | | | | hundred records in is a positive thing, especially if |
| passing interest in the latest pop sensation. The | | | | the option is carrying around a relatively |
| disc jockey would typically get out of bed around | | | | lightweight piece of equipment that can be |
| noon, go crate digging until the shops closed and | | | | subsequently mixed from. |
| then proceed to either travel to a gig and go to | | | | Back to the stereotype of the Hoxton 'massive' |
| bed around 6am, or stay up and mix until around | | | | and we could argue that these guys are actually |
| about the same time. | | | | pioneering the new digital music scene. Creating |
| The art of crate digging is akin to grannies at a | | | | crazy loops from the depths of the imagination |
| jumble sale looking for a Faberge egg. Dusty | | | | that are inspired by a pair of hair straighteners |
| rooms piled to the ceiling with every record from | | | | breaking, or not being able to fit into the latest |
| a white label undiscovered Stones LP to BBC | | | | skinny jeans could be the new big thing. Maybe |
| sound effects, but who knows what is where. | | | | these guys are one up on the crate diggers who |
| Some classics are just waiting to be discovered, a | | | | have been accused of just stealing other people's |
| strange little loop half way through track four on | | | | work and stitching it all together on fancy |
| the B side of some unknown 1950s crooner can | | | | equipment. Maybe a good pair of headphones and |
| make the next top ten chart breaker; and the | | | | a love of popular fashion are just what the music |
| only way to find it is by digging through those | | | | industry needs to bring it into the twenty first |
| crates. Since the fall in popularity of vinyl as the | | | | century. |