12 steps to becoming an (amateur) DJ
Normally as a DJ you would learn to mix before accepting a booking and hosting your own weekly show on the best underground radio station in the country. If you’re like Rinse FM’s Sian Anderson and need to learn how to mix quickly as you’ve accepted a booking and feel you can’t continue holding down your show on Rinse without those most basic of DJ skills; here are her 12 steps to becoming an (amateur) DJ!
Beatjacking or Fair Game?
Lil Wayne, Jadakiss and Jay-Z have all allegedly have done it but does that make it right? When does a freestyle over a producers beat become a problem or is it not cool at all to use a producers instrumental without permission?
Sian Anderson investigates…
BIGGA FISH TO FRY
We had an eventful weekend right?
MistaJam had his head in a amazing cloud on BBC Switch’s “No Hats No Trainers”…
Master Shortie announced he’d been signed to Jive in the US…
Lethal B went off on one on Twitter (again); Stanza, Swindle, Charlie Sloth & CJ Beatz were all announced as new 1Xtra DJ’s…
J2K released a sickeningly good free download entitled “#nowplaying”…
David Cameron announced he was launching a very visual and vicious attack on PM Gordon Brown…
And statistics were announced that state ignoring someone online is the same thing as bullying…Fun times.
But the funniest time, for me, had to be attending the Biggafish Camden Payback in which North West’s 15-24 year old residents could “Dagger” each other in the Roundhouse to DJ Vectra’s mixing ting. No word of a lie.
Now the idea, (which in theory is bloody excellent) was for Biggafish (who hold events for young people) to come together with Bang Radio and The Roundhouse to support the NHS in their fight to get young people tested for STD’s. The line-up was fantastic, Nu Brand Flexxx, Princess Nyah, Griminal, Scorcher, Bashy, Skepta, Ironik, Wiley and a surprise guest. Foam, non-alcoholic-pops and Jazzie, Dr Psycho and Policy being the “host’s with the most”. I was very excited. Sidebar: I’m well within the age bracket so I was well within my right to be to be over the moon about this event). The rule “No Test. No Ticket. No Entry”. What could go wrong?
Oh yeah, Wiley not turning up (again). *Insert hysterical laughter here*.
Anyway – the event kicked off at 5pm, the kids queued up patiently to get in, all excited and what not. DJ Vectra spun some big tunes on the decks. He had the crowd going mad to Funky, grinding on each other to Bashment and slow dancing with each other to slow jams before Nu Brand Flexxx were invited onto the stage.
Now lets bare in mind Nu Brand’;s big hits include “Anthem” and “Gash By The Hour” which were released in like 80BC were performed on the night, and in true good music form, they still managed to make the crowd go wild. Their new song “Runway” didn’t have a massive reaction but understandably the crowd we’re about 15-18 at most and they’re more into songs they know and can dance and sing along too. I personally think it’s a very good tune.
Princess Nyah came on stage, with very nice pink heels and a pink pleated skirt-thingy. She looked very pretty (every no-homo intended) and performed her anthem “Frontline” and some other songs off her E.P “Diary Of A Princess. I don’t like Funky (as we all should know) but Princess Nyah is definitely one of the only good and constant ones to break through with that trend. She also gave the quote of the day during her performance of “Big Boy”. “Where’s all my big boyz at?” Babes, no par, but they’re not even old enough to cross the road by themselves.
Next to grace the stage was Scorcher, he performed his verse on “She Likes” and brought Liam Francis out to perform “Lipsing Ting”. (Which had the crowd going crazy) and they gave the lil’uns a speech about not having sex without a condom. It was a good performance but it seemed to end very quickly. He jumped into the crowd to for the girls to touch his hand and stuff. We’re still unconfirmed as to whether he made it out of the crowd alive.
Following him was Griminal *cue a million girls screaming* he performed bits and bobs from “Don’t Phone Me” and “She Likes” then performed his latest solo tune “Invincible”. The crowd seemed to be more amazed by him, than his actual tunes which was disappointing, but again, I think they’re more into stuff they religiously know/hear.
In true lets-stick-rival-schools-and-people-from-one-area-in-one-location form, a fight broke out. It was quite vicious (from two floors up where I was sitting) but the security and Biggafish organisers ended it ridiculously quickly and peace was restored. One of the hosts took to the stage then to say what everyone with an ounce of common sense was thinking. “After having numerous Biggafish raves where every area can attend with not one fight, we bring you this rave, exclusively to Camden residents, and you go and fight with each other, in front of the NHS who has made this happen”. What should have been said and what was so rightly pointed out by Bang FM host Tahirah Edwards “You lots pissed in a bottle to be here so behave yourselves…bruv”… a girl after my own mindset.
Bashy (who come on stage in his signature gas mask) performed “When The Sky Falls” with Loick Essien, then a couple of other tracks and swiftly left the stage. Â Skepta performed the anthem “Too Many Man”, a track off his album and his new hit single “Bad Boy” before coaxing the crowd to keep buying the single in a “BAD BOY OUT NOW” t-shirt, spoke about having safe sex a bit, and then left the stage.
Ironik then came on, in glasses. I left the room at this point… I was, er, thirsty.
Next thing you know, the hosts are talking about the surprise act, but huh? Where’s Wiley? I don’t think any of the kids even noticed to be fair, there was no rushing of the stage in anger or “Where’s Wiley” chants, just nothing. Chipmunk was called out as the surprise act *cue screaming* he performed “Sweet Dreams” off his “For The Fun Of It” Mixtape, “Fire Alie” and “Diamond Rings”. His performance of “Oopsy Daisy” seemed to be where ever Wiley was (god knows) but in all fairness, that audience didn’t deserve to hear it anyway as he received the biggest response from the grime track “Fire Alie”. Which was interesting…
So that was that, performances done. All in all it was a very good night, although watching 14-18 year olds strip down to their underwear to stand under the foam, groping each other during the Bashment tunes and even one couple on a lisping ting did feel a big R Kelly to me. Hopefully the fight didn’t put the NHS off of doing future events with Biggafish and understand that there are always a couple of people who will spoil it for the rest. Hopefully the next one is for everyone in London, and doesn’t have Wiley on the line-up.
Ps. Wiley didn’t turn up, he musta had Bigga Fish To Fry… Geddit? AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.
Toodles.
Sian x
INTRODUCING: SHOOTING STAR POETS
I’m often asked my opinion on crime prevention in the UK and whether I think the police are doing their jobs correctly in terms of stopping and searching ‘youths’ for guns and knives. Being the lil rebel that I am I always turn my nose up at the governments way of doing things and have a lil rant about seeing people stopped and searched for no reason, even so, when it comes to “so what will work then?” I’m always left with little reply and believe me, with the amount I talk, getting a low and mumbled response out of this pretty lil mouth is pretty unique. So I’ve come up with a fixed answer, it’s clever and you can’t really question it. “Ask the ‘youth’ themselves, what do the people committing crimes and the people who are victims of knife and gun crimes think will stop it from reoccurring?”
Now we’ve got an answer, not a full answer, but the ‘youth’ of Merseyside have spoken, in the form of “Shooting Star Poets”, they’ve made a track entitled “Campaign Time” which is centred around thinking about crime prevention, putting down the guns and knives and mourning for those who have lost someone to violence, in the form of six emcee’s and a singer. Now lets be fair, the tracks not that great in terms of ever trying to chart and have a hit record and they could have gotten someone way more famous then Trim but I doubt they’re trying to chart and at least they’re doing something to try and stop people from stabbing each other in the back – literally.
After doing a little research on the Shooting Star Poets it turns out they’ve been together since 2003 as a crew and have all separately been involved in crime in one way or another, if that’s not background and incentive enough to get up and take action then I don’t know what is. The campaign they are working on is supported by SAMM (Support After Murder and Manslaughter) and their aim is to tackle the subject of knife and gun crime using music as a platform. SAMM is a registered company who deal with the aftermath of the families affected by these issues and and they provide research into the affect crime has on society. I’ve never really seen how a tune about crime prevention could help the crime rate in the UK go down, music’s supposed to be a vybzers but I really hope that if everyone takes it a little bit more seriously and actually listens this could be a step in the right direction. I mean UPROAR and Rolling G’s made a tune about Swine Flu and had half the nation wearing swine flu masks so why can’t Shooting Star Poets make a tune about putting down knives and make half the nation put down their weapons?
I rest my case. Anyway – I dunno, let me know your thoughts and if you want more information contact their website. The tracks out in April and you can catch the Shooting Star Poets performing live at ILUVLIVE in Proud Camden on the 29th March.
Toodles.
Sian xxx
SUGABABES COMPETITION
Drop what you’re doing. Quickly. We’ve got a lastminute.com competition for you.
Are you a Sugababes fan?
Do you want to see them tomorrow night… live?
Well…
Go to the “contact” form on mistajam.com with the answer to the below question for a chance to win entry to the the Sugababes Sweet 7 Official Matinee Album Launch Party tomorrow at The Supper Club, London.
The Matinee Album Launch Party will include performances from the Sugababes, signed posters and complimentary soft drink. (Alcohol is not permitted on the night)
Question: Name the Sugababes’ first single release from their album (Sweet 7)?
I’ll be picking one person at random to win entry tomorrow night with two of their mates. Go to the “contact” form on this website now now now and fill in the subject line with “Launch Party Comp”. Include your answer in the “message” box and I’ll hit you back IF you’ve won =)
Please do not enter if you know you are:
A) Under 18.
B) Unable to make it to London tomorrow.
What are you waiting for? Competition closes at 6pm today. GO GO GO!!!!
P.s I’m so nice to y’all in’t I…. *sigh*.
Toodles.
Sian xxx
*The small print that everyone misses *evil laugh* Entrants will be added to the Sugababes mailing list for future events.
MY BARBIE DIDN’T LOOK LIKE THAT…
Ermmm can someone please explain this Nikki Minaj hype to me please?
I’m trying not to give a damn about Lil Kim the 2nd but it’s pretty damn hard when that’s all I’m hearing about on Twitter/Facebook/The Radio and now on the We Are Young Money album I purchased in order to drool over Lil Wayne and Drakes voices! (When I say ‘purchased’ what I really mean was downloaded from MPE via Umusic PR – thanks Shane O Neil) – Anyway, it seems as though everyone’s got some “It’s Barbie Bitch” fever and apparently it’s due to this Minaj chick.
So I YouTube her (as you do) and the first lyric I heard from her tune “Biggest Freak”, is… is… I can’t even type it, it’s too disgusting. Along with a picture of her.. wearing… more-or-less nothing and erm *ahem* sucking on a lollipop. Now can I just put it out there – I used to love those lollipops when I went to the funfair with my mates aged 16. After seeing that picture I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to look at a lollipop again in the same way. *No connotations intended*.
[**UPDATE - The photo Sian uploaded to Photobucket above is the famous Nicki Minaj does Lil' Kim on the front cover of the hardcore album legs akimbo squat so you can see her hoo hah while licking a lollipop shot you can see here - the fact that it violates Photobucket's terms of use under "unsuitable content" speaks volumes]
This is the point where I ask myself. “Is this what we’re promoting in life?” I know this is hypocritical, considering my iTunes consists of various tunes entitled “Suck Your Mum”, “I Slapped Your Girl” and “Champs and Weed”, but at least it’s UK music and at least it’s not an absolute disgrace to females all over the world. I’ve got a little cousin, who is aged 15, if she ever, and I mean ever comes home wearing a pink leotard reciting lyrics from Minajs tune “Sticks In My Bum”, then I swear on my beautiful mac laptop’s life she will be calling the NSPCC after I get my hands on her.
In the wonderful words of Bashy during an unreleased interview I had with him last week “We should all just listen to Bob Marley”. Maybe then we’d find actual love, instead of Ann Summers coupons (I mean vouchers right? See what this chick is doing to me?) then we can all hold hands under the apple tree (No Adam & Eve) and sing pretty songs about shooting the sheriff instead.
Anyway – can a Minaj fan just clear up the whole “Minaj hype” for me please and maybe give me a reason (other than to drool at her polystyrene breasts) to watch her music videos and endorse her sound.
Thanks
P.s. Remember a recent MistaJam blogpost I did where I asked you all wether female emcee Lady Leshurr is the new Nikki Minaj? I take the question back… the answer is NO. Not unless she’s looking to get her tits out, and if she is.. uhr… llow it.
Toodles
Sian xxx
HOW TO GET LISTENERS & INFLUENCE PEOPLE
Last night a DJ saved my life… Okay not literally but one day I will save someone’s life. I know I’m Sian “Journalist/PR/everything-else-media-related” Anderson, but now you can add to your list Sian “Radio Host” Anderson…
Rinse.FM Sunday 11am-1pm is where you’ll find me now. Every week. Jealous? Thought so. We’re on our third show at the moment, when I say “we” I obviously mean my partner in all things non sexual, Julie Adenuga. We contacted Rinse about a year ago about getting a show but we didn’t really get anywhere. I mean we’d never really done radio before. A couple guest shows on LBC with Tre Azam and Nick Connrad and various other radio stations but we’d never actually hosted one. And DJing? Phahahaaa. As if we could DJ. So naturally we didn’t get a great response about having a show.
During the “Sian’s a rude blogger who says hilariously mean things about music on her blog” stage of my life, I was invited on BANG radio by the lovely and amazing Tahirah Edwards where myself and Loukia “HIYA”d up the place and talked all things rude boys, sex and the music industry”. Anyway blah blah blah was contacted by Scratcha DVA who hosts a hilarious morning show on Rinse FM. Smacked that up in my normal grime-rude-girl stylee and BLAM. Me and Julie get a show.
On our first show we had the experienced and mixing genius DJ JJ to support us as we hosted, Twitted, shouted out the phone number and played some exclusive grime tuneages. It was amazing fun! Our last show was on valentines day. And in true give-a-f*ck-about-valentines-day form we entered the Rinse building ready to basically take the p*ss out of the people in love.
Sidebar: How funny is this?
We’ve got a monthly playlist of amazing music, (also known as tunes that me and Julie have on our iPhones on repeat), have a look at our playlist it’s fantastic. Then we made an agony aunt section where we respond to peoples problems using tunes. It’s probably the funniest part of the show. Imagine being told your girlfriends having a baby by your twin brother and we tell you to get some nuts via “Blacks ft Jammer – Timid”. Julie made an agony aunt terms and conditions; I very nearly wet myself with laughter when I heard it.
The bottom line is; radio is fantastic. We’ve even learnt to DJ as well. Julies on vinyl and I’m on CDJ’s. Proof that if you lock myself and Julie in a room with anything we’ll have the basics on lock in under 24 hours.
P.s Grime Forum tw*ts who reckon (iQuote) “What have they done to deserve a Rinse show? there’s more deserving DJ’s”. – Get a show on Rinse and THEN holla. Thanks.
Toodles
Sian x
[Getting a show on radio and keeping it and learning the art of DJing is a lot harder than Sian makes out in this post which is essentially full of lies & more gas than Calor. Rinse don't even broadcast live between 11 & 1 on Sunday, they just tell the girls they're on air to stop them from going Tempa T in the Rinse offices. Trust me, I know - Jam]
BACK TO SCHOOL?
I dropped out of college cause the assignment was to make a short film and the school gave me a PC. I did the assignment whilst in my own time I was working on a film for the BFI. I got a D in my final exam, the same day my film was screened at Southbank in front of hundreds. GiveafuckaboutaD.com/haha/
My problem with the PC was “when I’m 20 the worlds not going to be running on a PC”, and now look. I’m running on iMovie. Pricks. I promised myself that if the next two weeks of my life weren’t spent constructively I’d go back to college. That was three years ago, and I haven’t looked back… Until now.
I’ve been thinking recently, about school, education and my journey in life.
Old friends have been updating their Facebook status’ recently about how exciting university life is and I’ve found myself wondering if it would make more sense to drop out of working life and go back to college or uni.
It’s kind of life a life path isn’t it? You go primary school, secondary school, college, uni, then you wait five years, get a highly paid job, have kids go back to work and eventually you die and get eaten by maggots, but it must be easier than being 19 and a freelancer of all things media.
I love the music and media industry, the buzz and energy is what makes it so entertaining. But the thought of being 20 years old, with no set job, is pretty scary.
I get shit loads of freelance work, enough to keep me in Ugg boots, Pauls Boutique coats and frequent nights out, but I’ve suddenly thought what happens when there’s no freelance work left that I enjoy? I mean I’ve never had a job interview in my life yet I’ve had about 200 media related freelance jobs. Sidebar: This proves it’s definitely a lot of who you know integrated with what you know.
I’d really like to be a Psychologist. I was so good with cognitive psychology, eye witness testaments psychological theories and all of the rest of it. Believe me when I say Alan Baddeley’s proposal on ‘components of a working memory’ gave me sleepless nights for weeks on end! But now I’m wondering whether it’s even worth another five years minimum of my life to go back to education and qualify to do it and whether I’m even the type of person who can do an everyday 9-5 without the glitz, glam, goss and greatness of music-bizz.
I need inspiration people… hit me! I wanna know the ups and downs of uni, what 9-5 ish is like and whether the education being taught now is even going to help me later in life if I did decide to go back to it.
If I do go back though, I’m definitely getting rid of the secondary school hairstyle!
Toodles.
Sian x
SABRINA WASHINGTON UNCOVERED
When girl bands go solo, it’s always a bit cringe-worthy and embarrassing, I mean, we expect them to fall flat on their faces and drop straight off of the pedal stool they’re swinging on into a crumbling mess on the floor. So when the British Garage/R&B crew Mis-Teeq (who were undoubtedly the coolest trio of 1999) broke up in 2005 and Alesha Dixon went solo… I for one was expecting to never hear from Su-Elise Nash and Sabrina Washington again.
Now, five years after the break up Sabrina Washington is back and this time she’s doing it solo. Every girl band has their bitch fights, their power struggles and their personal problems, if you want the fame you’ve got to play the game but did the media over exaggerate the reasons for the split, or were there genuinely problems within the three?
SBTV’s F64
EssBee TeeVee also known as SBTV also known as lil Jamal; stepped into the music industry making YouTube video’s of grime emcees going about their everyday lives and emceeing. The artists loved him, the fans loved him and the industry as a whole became dependent on his YouTube channel for general Twitter, Facebook and drunken sleep-over gossip.
We’ve seen him grow, from a below average video with a shakey camera, to uploading a million videos a day and annoying more or less everyone by having Twitter breakdowns on how many people are asking him to do unpaid videos. The joke is: he never used to charge, but lets be realistic; aged 18 and in popular demand from emcee’s all over London was bound to put a dent in his pocket. I’ll have you know that London Underground Oyster cards are not cheap and the winter is nobodies friend!
At one point I stopped watching SB’s video’s completely. (No it wasn’t because GrimeDaily arrived). I stopped watching, because there was such an overload of videos to keep up on that it made me throw up a little bit in my mouth; a ten second clip of someone bigging up their crew.. like really SB?!
Anyway – he listened to the wise people around him, and by “wise” I obviously mean me, who couldn’t resist sticking my petite little nose in to send him an email about quality over quantity and blah blah blah. He more or less instantly shut me up the week later replying with his website print screens and a write up of what he had planned for the future of SBTV. I was impressed… very impressed.
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