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| DJ CARL ALLEY |
Genre: R&B, Hip Hop, Reggae/Dancehall, Latin, EVERYTHING and ANYTHING GOOD
Number of years on the Decks: 25
Any Mixtapes:
►NONSTOP FLAVA VOL. 2,3,4 & NONSTOP FLAVA PRESENTS. (Unofficial)
►DJ CARL ALLEY PRESENTS - SOUL CONTROL (Hardwax, Central Records)
►STATE TO STATE (Hardwax, Central Records)
First gig: Can't remember but it would have been a birthday party or a South African New Years Eve.
How did you learn the art: A natural progression from what was originally back in the day called the 5 elements of hip hop 1) Art/Graffiti;2) Emceeing; 3) DJing/ Turntablists; 4) Clothing and 5) Dance/Breaking. I was involved with it all, maybe not the emceeing but one led to the other. Being inspired through others that were already in the business but the skill of learning only comes from trial and error. There's no other way but to just go out there and do it, develop your style, expand on your influences and create something that is uniquely you
Do you practice at home: Yes, regularly
Your favourite type of music: Have learned not to let a genre, type or style of music determine who i am as i DJ. Over the years i have developed an eclectic approach to music, as long as it feels good I will play it.
Your favourite track of all time: I don't have favourites. I enjoy the fact that most tracks/music play an important role in my life. It acts as a timeline, depicts a moment or memory in my life of People, places, what i was doing, where I was and mostly joyous occasions
Favourite gig: So many but the one that stands out is 2000 Sydney Olympics and Paralympics. The energy and excitement both in the athletes villages and clubs around Sydney was an experience that has stayed with me
Career Highlight: It's not over yet, still living the highlight. I have been blessed to have achieved a lot as a DJ. Being associated with some of Sydney's premier R&B/Hip Hop clubs, some of the longest running clubs nights, concerts, after parties and promotions.
What do you think about the music today compared to when you first started Djing: So many changes. I think music lost its way, lost its substance and quality of earlier times but hopefully its on its way back. Pressure to get signed and make sales has been put ahead of artist's individuality, to conform to the way of mass marketed, overly processed and at times, poor remakes of music. That rare talented artist is pushed aside therefore, we have not progressed in music especially with every artist jumping onto the next fad. I understand that most people can be like sheep and need to be told what is good but not exploited. I have never needed a label, TV or reality show to determine what is hot, they were used as avenues to get music out. People made up their own minds to whatever appealed to their particular taste in music. A few years back people were excited to go out and hear new music, you would have them coming up to the DJ box asking "what track was just played" now its more like "Can you play" regardless to whether they just heard or how many times they have heard it.
What can the people expect to hear from you set: I bounce from R&B, Hip-Hop, Crunk, Reggaeton, Dance hall, Latin, and everything in-between, breaking new tracks, dropping current hits, and bring back timeless classics.
Get out of trouble track (Dance floor clearing, you drop it the crowd jumps up): Not a fan of the get out of trouble track. In doing this you only training the crowd to react to just club hits and we all know how boring it gets after awhile of just the same repetitive handful of hits. Nothing wrong in losing a floor, its good for rotating the crowd, sending people to the bar and helping read the crowd.
What's hot for you right now: Soul and R&B, that whole grown and sexy feel. their is also some quality hip hop coming through. Love to see new hip hop and R&B breaking through on their own merit, doing everything on their own.
Radio Show: Not at this point
Places the people can catch you: All That -Thursdays
NEXT WEEK - DJ MK-1
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