The identity of Early Hardstyle

It seems that slowly but surely the term ‘Early Hardstyle’ is getting a different definition. Organizations, artists, news sites and fans have used the term Early to describe the ever growing popular style originating from 2005-2010 more frequently. Unaware of the damage they’re causing the ‘old’ Early Hardstyle.  

The Hardstyle from the period between 2005 and 2010 is growing in popularity as of late. Parties like “De Tijdmachine” are expanding on a yearly basis and tracks like ‘Josh & Wesz – Retrospect’, which is clearly inspired by the specific style from that period have reached the highest ranking positions in the hardstyle.com top 40.

Ofcourse, it’s Hardstyle, but it definitely sounds different from the present-day Hardstyle. That’s why there seems to be an urgent need to classify this specific style as a genre of its own. In fact, I believe that ever growing popularity of this specific 2005-2010 style is due to the discontent with the Mainstream Hardstyle of today. However, what I would object to is the appellation of the term ‘Early Hardstyle’ for that specific style.

More and more artists, organizations, news sites and fans are applying that term to denote the style of the last years of the past decade. With this denotation it would seem that there is a shift in the definition of ‘Early Hardstyle’. The term was (and is still is being) used to define the Hardstyle as it was in the early days when it all started (roughly around 2000-2004). With this shift in the definition it would seem that history is repeating itself.  

Fans who remember the very beginning will undoubtedly know about the (first) bifurcation in the Hardstyle scene. A lot of Hardstyle enthusiasts didn’t want anything to do with the ‘new Hardstyle’ and for a lot of people it was apparent that the new Hardstyle (as a genre) would soon sever from the old Hardstyle. Seeing that organizations and artists wanted to continue with the name Hardstyle at any cost, they invented the name ‘Early Hardstyle’ to define the music from the early days of Hardstyle. The scission has left a huge mark on the Hardstyle scene and till this day there still are people who won’t accept the term ‘Early Hardstyle’ and therefore refer to the music of 2005 and onwards as ‘nu-style’.

This makes it all the more painful to see a similar scenario play out in the present-day. It would seem that the very same style that took away the identity of the original Hardstyle, is trying to do the same thing all over again. This has been in motion for quite some time now and it seems that only time will tell how this all will play out. 

But how does the shift in the definition of a word affect the overall situation in the scene? To real enthusiasts the changes are very noticeable. Because of organizations (as well as some artists) going along with the shift, it would seem that the original early is doomed to disappear into oblivion. This would mean that a lot of DJs who normally would play the original Hardstyle will most likely share its fate. Me personally would like to see something in the line of a new term to be devised up for the style of 2005 to 2010, perhaps millennial Hardstyle? If it would save an entire style, why not? To quote William Shakespeare: “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. Because in the end all that really matters is that we all love this music called Hardstyle whether it would be from the year 2000 or 2016. If you will excuse me, I think I hear ‘Lady Dana’ pumping through my speakers!!!

The fully automated DJ!

The fully automated DJ!

It’s Saturday night, beer is flowing, the beats are pumping, I’m in the middle of getting my freak on as I am listening to the DJ, pulling off yet another smooth transition, when all of a sudden I look up and realise that there’s no one standing in the DJ booth. Suddenly I wake up to find myself in my own bed realising it was all just a bad dream. But in the near future this might all change…

Two young Dutch entrepreneurs have developed an app, that might possibly make DJ’s as we know them obsolete. This new smartphone app called Synkick analyses the musical tastes of anyone who downloads it and adjusts the music that is playing accordingly.  Not only that, but Synkick is said to also be able to calculate the average of everyone’s musical tastes that is present in the room, for example a club. By using this method, it is possible to play the music that everybody loves. However, the owner of a club still has the last say in all of this, he can for instance make a list what music can and cannot play, to prevent jokers from instantaneously liking Justin Bieber.

Dutch DJ’s have conquered the world with their tracks and excellent mixing skills. For crying out loud, even in the top 10 list of the worlds best there are 6 Dutch DJ’s. You would think that would mean something. Is it in our DNA? Perhaps. The guys behind Synkick have stated that they want to lead the pack in a new era in which computers will share the role of a DJ.  Synkick is meant to be the worlds first real fully automated DJ. However, I have to say that it lacks the charm of a human DJ and will probably fail to get a crowd as hyped as any DJ could, but it will be quite a bit more affordable than hiring lets say a Hardwell or Armin van Buuren.

Currently Synkick is still in its beta phase, which means that they will now test it with a live audience to get the last kinks out of its system.  Club Poema’s manager Jean-Pierre liked the concept so much that he decided to host this first test for a live audience at his club together with Synkick’s founders. When the test proves successful, it will become a returning monthly event at club Poema, where computer algorithms will fill in the role of the DJ.

For the time being it would seem that Synkick is only limited to use in bars and small clubs, but what is to say that the day won’t come on which technology will eventually replace DJ’s playing at festivals? I for one am looking forward to that, watching peoples years of hard work get ruined in a matter of minutes. In order for DJ’s like myself to remain relevant we will have to develop certain skills that a computer for now cannot. I will now take my leave and practice my poses in front of the mirror J!!!

Disunity in the Hardstyle scene

Disunity in the Hardstyle scene

Early, Mainstream, Raw: Hardstyle has been divided into different subgenres for quite some time now. Besides the already established subgenres there are many more popping up daily, such as Classics or Industrial Raw. With the number of subgenres constantly increasing the number of opponents of these movements seem to increase alongside of them. The growing diversity has its benefits, but the question remains: are there any cons to this diversity?

Many loyal Hardstyle fans must have noticed the great numbers of fans who are against the subdivision of their favourite genre. In general the subgenre Early Hardstyle seems to be tolerated by most, but the terms Mainstream and Raw are generally avoided by most. I personally am amazed of the heavy resistance towards the subdivision in the genre, which in my opinion brings along mostly benefits.

Advantages

A name of its own provides for a unique style and identity. By giving a subgenre a name of its own, it is able to distinguish itself from other styles. Over the years many organisations have taken advantage of this subdivision by hosting parties devoted to a single subgenre. Examples of this being: Loudness, Euphoria and HardClassics. Perhaps the most practical argument for the subdivision within the genre is the ease of use. The biggest differences between styles (tracks) can be made noticeable, which in turn makes communication a lot clearer as both Hardstyle enthusiasts and laymen alike tend to look at me funny when I tell them that I listen to Hardstyle. And I’m sure I’m not the only one, seeing that there are a large number of people that really love a certain subgenre of Hardstyle (e.g. Mainstream) and totally despise another (Raw) and vice versa. The fact that groups like that exist means that there is a need for subdivision within Hardstyle.

Another benefit mainly refers to new listeners, who are very important for the scene as a whole. If there is a clear distinction between different subgenres, it can help people who are new to Hardstyle find a style that suits them. If there is no clear distinction 9 out of 10 people would probably only get to know the most popular tracks, which in many cases will probably be of one and the same subgenre. This way it might even take people years for them to have their first encounter with Early, which might suit them better than the other subgenres. Or maybe people will even abandon Hardstyle after only listening to a few tracks that were not to their liking, never knowing about the other subgenres that are available.

Disadvantages

The argument that’s mostly heard whenever talking to someone against the subdivision of Hardstyle will have to be that it limits the ‘creative freedom’ of artists. I strongly believe that it’s not the subgenres that limit the artists’ creative freedom, but rather the artists themselves (and in certain extent the expectations of their fanbase). Nobody is forcing the artist to create music within one specific subgenre and besides there have been plenty of artists that have been successful in different subgenres. Even if subdivision in Hardstyle wasn’t an issue fans would still have expectations of their favourite artists. A lot of artists choose to stay within their own subgenre, it shows that certain artists have a particular style in mind whether it has a name or not. Another argument that has been tossed around a lot lately is, that there are a lot of records that don’t fit into 1 particular subgenre.

In my opinion tracks don’t have to belong to a specific subgenre and there should be some leniency when defining a track. Besides, there are even a lot of tracks that tend to lean towards Hardtrance or even Hardcore. According to this logic, it would mean that Hardstyle wouldn’t even be considered a genre of its own and if you would exaggerate this notion even more there wouldn’t even be a need for different genres, because music will always be music. Or…..

How the word DJ has changed from Disc Jockey to Digital Jockey.

How the word DJ has changed from Disc Jockey to Digital Jockey.

Everyone has their own distinct image of what a stereotypical “DJ” is. Some might immediately think of the “old school” persona, introduced in the era of hip-hop music, whereas others might think of the more modern “EDM DJ” usually seen at festivals nowadays. Whichever image may resonate in our minds, one thing is certain: the art of DJing has developed over time due to morphing musical interests and the constantly increasing technology in this digital age.

Throughout the years I personally have experienced the rapid changes in the DJ industry regarding technology. When I started playing my first records at the age of 18, vinyl was at the edge of its decline and CD’s took its place. Later on even CD’s were to be replaced by USB, digital vinyl systems and DJ-controllers.  When digital vinyl systems were first introduced back in 2003 it allowed DJs to use a laptop, an audio interface, and time-coded vinyl or CDs to play Mp3s, thus eliminating the need to carry CD’s or 12-inch LP’s to every gig.

The DJ software concept emphasises on giving the DJ access to more music while still mimicking the feel of playing on a traditional set-up of two turntables and a preamp mixer. This technology caught on quickly and it made becoming a DJ much easier and more affordable. There are now several DJ applications for smart phones and tablets making the culture even more accessible. These developments have made it possible for a lot to spice up their mixes, but on the other hand it has also made it easier for people to start DJing as “Synch” buttons and BPM counters included in the newest gear has made it almost impossible to match beats.


These developments in technology have made it harder for DJ’s to stand out, seeing mixing has been made so easy anyone can do it. This had lead to many producers taking the stage and forcing event organizers to choose for popularity over quality. I find this rather offensive seeing that I know a lot of good DJ’s who mixing wise are better then a lot of “artists” who take the stage nowadays. I’m not saying that most of the popular artists didn’t deserve the fame they have today, but a lot of people will never have their 15 minutes of fame because technology got in their way. But that might be a story for another day. As for me I am going to keep spinning records and making music just for the fun of it!

Music and Feelings

Music and Feelings

Whenever we are in pain, be it psychological or physical, we often tend to drown it in waves 

of sound called music. I personally am known for wallowing in my sorrows while listening to 

euphoric music. It makes me feel better, but I often wonder if euphoric music is my only option?

According to recent research from psychologists at the universities of Kent and Limerick has found that music that is felt to be ‘sad' can help people feel better when they are feeling down. The results showed that if someone intended to make themselves feel better through listening to 'sad' music, they would often achieve this by first thinking about their situation or just to distract themselves, rather than feeling better by listening to the music chosen.

Unlike previously mentioned studies, the studies done by the Tokyo University of the Arts and the RIKEN Brain Science Institute show that sad music might actually evoke positive emotions. Music that is perceived as sad can actually induce romantic emotions as well as sad emotions. Emotions experienced by music do not cause any direct danger or harm, unlike the emotions experienced in everyday life. Therefore, it is even possible to enjoy unpleasant emotions like sadness. If people experience unpleasant emotions evoked through daily life, sad music might help them to mollify their negative emotions. In my own life I often experience the narrow line between romance and sadness, so I can imagine how 'sad' music could evoke positive emotions as well as negative ones.  

Other studies, as the one done by the University of California show that respondent’s preference for sad music was significantly higher when they had lost a personal relationship. People tend to seek and experience emotional companionship with music as a substitute for lost and troubled relationships. 

Although several studies seem to contradict each other, they show us that people can even use ‘sad’ music as a means to ease their suffering. It has shown me that it is possible to brighten up my day by listening to something completely different for a change. Every person deals with sadness in their own personal way and using music is one of them. Whether the music is sad or euphoric depends strongly on the way that you are going to deal with your emotions and differs from person to person. So if you do not mind, I am going to listen to some James Blunt. J