Alex was recently contacted by a group of high school students in Rio de Janeiro. While doing research for a project on electronic music, they came across Alex's website. The following is a series of questions from Anna Paula, the student who emailed Alex the questions:
1. What caused you to have so much interest in electronic music? When did you decide to become a DJ?
>>When I first heard electronic music, I was fascinated. I grew up in a very isolated place, and I had never heard anything like it. It incorporated the sounds of so many other types of music that I listened to growing up (hip hop, rock, reggae, disco, etc.). My first favorite electronic music CD was by a group called The Orb. I became a DJ when I was about 13 years old. My first gigs were DJ’ing for the school dances when I was in 8th grade.
2. What style of electronic music do you play/ prefer and why?
> > These days I mostly play a mixture of house, techno, and electro. My favorite records right now take a lot of influence from the early 80’s electro sounds and put them into a modern house or techno context. I also like tracks that are minimal-sounding and have good drum programming, strong bass tones, and very distinct melodies. I think the rhythm and bass in a record lay the foundation for everything else. There also needs to be some emotion, some soul in the record for me to like it (usually). Of course, you also want people to dance to it so you have to consider that! :-)
3.What kind of technology do you use when performing?
> > When I play at clubs, they supply most of the equipment and I just show up with my records, CD’s and headphones. You just tell them what you want beforehand. I usually request 2-3 Technics SL1200 MK5 turntables, 2 Pioneer CDJ-1000 MKII CD players, and an Allen and Heath Xone 92 DJ mixer. Sometimes, I will bring my laptop as well, which has a DJ program called Final Scratch that is pretty cool. I also have a small loop sampler that I like to hook up to the mixer, which allows me to sample pieces of what I am playing and do live remixes.
4. Do you think that the "invention" of electronic music caused any kind of impact on society?
Of course! Many people have different opinions of what “electronic music” is, and when/where it was “invented”. Some people say that early avant garde composers like John Cage or Brian Eno invented it. Others say it was disco producers like Giorgio Moroder or electro DJs like Afrika Bambaata. A lot of people agree that “techno” music was created in Detroit (USA) in the early 80’s by a man named Juan Atkins. However you choose to define what electronic music is, one thing is for sure: it brings all sorts of people together across the world. Electronic music is not just about one race, country, religion, fashion, or lifestyle. It truly is global music for a global audience. Because it is both made and enjoyed all over the world, it is not uniquely associated with one place or lifestyle like almost all other music is. I think the main impact of electronic music is that it has the power to bring together masses of people that might not otherwise have anything to do with each other. Black, white, gay, straight, Muslim, Christian, rich, poor- whatever. It doesn’t matter- just dance and enjoy yourself.
5.Do you believe there is a stereotype for people that listen to electronic music? If so, what is it?
> > I think this depends on what part of the world you are talking about. In places like the UK, Germany, and Holland, this kind of music is huge- it’s mainstream. Dj’s are like celebrities there. In Argentina, it’s one the largest music scenes- there was a festival in Buenos Aires the other week w/ 50,000 people. When I was growing up on Maui, I was one of the only people who listened to this kind of music in my school. I was doing something rebellious, just by listening to something that no one else did. In most of the USA, electronic music is still relatively underground. The point is, I think the stereotypes are stronger in places where fewer people listen to this kind of music. The biggest stereotype is probably regarding drug use- which your next question is about.
6.Why do you think electronic music is so often associated with drugs? Is there any way of changing this way of thinking?
> > Well, the main reason is that drugs like ecstasy (MDMA), marijuana, cocaine, and acid (LSD) played a huge role in the formation of electronic music culture across the world. Whether you have a problem with it or not- it’s a simple fact. Of course, you could say the same thing about the role of drugs in rock in the 60’s, disco in the 70’s, pop in the 80’s, or hip hop in the 90’s. This type of music is very euphoric in nature, and its sounds and textures are intentionally designed to stimulate your senses- you “feel” the drums, the bass shakes the floor- there is both a physical and a psychological impact that takes place simultaneously. There are millions of people who feel that drugs greatly enhanced their experience of this music, but there are also millions who never bother to find out. I feel that whether you use drugs or not is less about the music you listen to and more about what you are trying to attain as an individual. In other words, it is a choice you make, not something you have to do to be accepted or have fun. The important thing for people to know is that you do not need drugs to appreciate this kind of music. The best way for people to enjoy this music without drugs involves 3 main elements: 1) great music and/or a great DJ, 2) a proper sound system 3) a comfortable environment to dance and hang out in.
7.How do you think electronic music reflects modern society´s ideas, beliefs and needs?
> > Good question- this is a tough one to answer. This really depends again on what part of the world you are talking about. In the US, most people go out clubbing to meet other people, to be a part of something cool. It is an environment that removes social walls that are usually in place. The music is usually not the most important thing (unfortunately). In places like, say, Israel- electronic music is a means of escape. These people live under so much daily pressure that going out and dancing is a release of tension. More than a dozen countries in Eastern Europe just joined the EU. One could argue that millions of young people who used to live under communism are now embracing electronic music as a symbol of their new freedoms. China has a booming electronic scene right now as well, which is part of the youth movement to accept more culture from the rest of the world. Electronic music represents a paradigm shift taking place among young people- they are tired of being told what to do for reasons they do not understand or agree with. I think it reflects a progressive way of thinking- it focuses more on ways people from different backgrounds can exist together and enjoy themselves- not how they can be divided. Unity among different types of people is often achieved through shared experiences.
8.What changes, in your opinion, will occur in the electronic music scene in the next few years (regarding technology, styles, spreading out,ect...)?
> > Wow- so many things to say on this one. I will try keep it simple this time. Regarding technology, the internet has had a huge impact on electronic music. Because it can broadcast and distribute music to anyone in the world who is online, more people than ever (whether they are a listener or a DJ) have access to it. There are also many new fascinating tools for DJ’s and producers to make and play electronic music with. More and more people will participate in the culture, and hopefully it will grow in a way that is based on the music as the foundation for everything else.
9. Is there any place in the world where electronic music is most heard/ famous?
> > I think it is safe to say that London in the club capital of the world. However, electronic music is growing everywhere. Some of the more established places are New York, Tokyo, San Francisco, LA, Amsterdam, Miami, Ibiza, Singapore, Sydney, etc. Then you also have places where the popularity of electronic music has skyrocketed in the last 5 years or so, like Argentina, Romania, Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Chile, Turkey, Hungary, Egypt, Dubai, Beijing, Shanghai, and many more.
10. What are the major festivals?
> > Every country has it’s own major electronic music festivals, or festivals that feature electronic music stages/tents. I have played at one’s like Coachella and Ultra (US), Fuji Rock (Japan), and Big Day Out (Australia, New Zealand). Creamfields is a huge festival- they started in the UK many years ago and now do festivals all over the world. There's Sonar in Barcelona, and Mutek in Montreal- both are very cool events. In Brazil, I think the biggest one is Skol Beats, which is held in Sao Paolo every year.
11. Is it hard to become successful in this business? What were your greatest difficulties?
> > That depends on your definition of success. To make a lot of money in electronic music these days is extremely difficult. It’s almost like winning the lottery- so many people have great talent, but only a fraction get recognized and then go on to make a career out of it. There are a lot of people who make and play this music that have other jobs. They may just put out a few tracks per year, purely out of passion for the music. There are also a lot of DJs that have a “normal” job that they can’t wait to quit as soon as they start getting more gigs! The greatest challenges I have faced is to not get discouraged with how hard it is to stand out from the rest. As a DJ who works in my field, it is important to constantly stay updated with the latest music every week, and adapt to new trends in music styles and technology. And that’s just the beginning- you also need to know how to network, how to promote yourself, and how to budget your time wisely. That being said, I will always enjoy DJing no matter what- regardless of my commercial success- because I love music.
12. What would you suggest to a teenager that wants to follow the DJ carreer?
> > I would suggest that they pursue another career- haha! No, really- I would suggest that they take it up as a hobby first. No one should start DJ’ing thinking they are going to make a living out of it. If you love doing it and stick with it no matter what, chances are you will get better over time. Hand out some demo mixes to promoters and club owners, or to anyone you want for that matter- get yourself out there. Start a simple website with your bio and music on it if you can. Start your own weekly party somewhere, or perhaps even your own small record label. There are many ways to go about it- the important thing is to make sure you have another way of making enough money that does not depend on your DJ work. Many DJs I know in New York (that aren't famous) are also waiters, bartenders, or work in a record store.
13. Could you describe your feelings about electronic music?
> > Electronic music saved my life. I went through some hard times when I was younger, and electronic music helped me to have a more positive attitude and a healthier lifestyle. It created a sense of wonder within me, and enhanced my creativity. It gave me an outlet for self-expression, and way to relate to other people and other places. I have also met some amazing people through our mutual appreciation of electronic music. It always has been (and probably always will be) my natural way of getting high- drugs are not necessary. Music is the universal language- anyone with an open mind can understand.
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10.15.2003
Lollapalooza Resident DJ Alex Graham Rocks Crowds with FinalScratch® and Laptop
Hollywood, FL, October 4, 2003-When the 2003 Lollapalooza tour hit the road this summer, so did Stanton's FinalScratch® system. According to the tour's resident DJ Alex Graham, the FinalScratch® system "creates a synergy between the convenience of digital and the preferred feel of vinyl." This allowed him to bring a vast library of music needed for the tour while being able to spin using his turntables and laptop computer. According to Alex, "With FinalScratch® , you can have your cake and eat it to."
Alex was a natural choice for the Lollapalooza DJ gig, having been the touring DJ for Lollapalooza organizer and Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell since 2001.
The 26-year-old DJ originally from Maui and now based in New York City has played clubs, festivals, underground events and concerts throughout the U.S. and other parts of the world for 10 years, but the Lollapalooza tour was certainly one of his crowning moments. "I DJ'd the main stage of the festival throughout the day whenever a band wasn't playing," says Alex. "I was on tour for all 29 cities, and played for crowds that numbered in excess of 15,000 per show."
Alex found the Stanton FinalScratch® system to be the ideal choice for his Lollapalooza gig, allowing him to bring massive amounts of music along without having to carry crates of records and CDs. "FinalScratch® was the heart of my entire DJ booth," says Alex. "Although I did have a pair of [CD players] at my disposal, I rarely used them. I found the combination of FinalScratch® with my PowerBook G4 to be far more preferable." The number one reason Alex cites is that, for him, the FinalScratch® interface is truer to the feel of spinning actual vinyl than playing CDs.
Alex also composed original tracks on his laptop and made custom edits of existing tracks while on the road, all of which were easily imported into the FinalScratch® library as audio files. Since the tour had a wireless network running, Alex was able to download new tracks and samples in between sets and have them loaded and ready to play from FinalScratch® by the time he went on again. "FinalScratch® conveniently combines form, function, versatility and style," says Alex. "It is the most impressive DJ technology I have used to date."
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