Do you consider DJs/EDM artists to be musicians (lifted from another thread)

Hello esteemed forum.

The "streaming will lead to poverty" thread has a conversation happening about DJs/EDM artists their place in music.

Some say that all they do is tap on a computer. Others say that they are as much musician as guitarists or drummers.

So I lifted that point to start a new thread, because I think it could generate an interesting and lively debate.

Hope that's OK.

Thanks.

 

Prime candidate for a poll.

To answer the question, of course they are. The problem will be that in a primarily rock crowd most will only be familiar with the crappy acts that ARE just button mashers.

 

Thanks for replying. Don't think I can create a poll once a thread is started.

I'm going to plead ignorance because I have no idea how, say, Daft Punk creates their music. But I'm guessing it's more than just pushing buttons.

 

All one has to do is listen to DJ Sahdow's - Endtroducing.....And the answer is yes.

 

No

 

I actually avoided the question in the other thread as I wasn't sure if I did (although I considered them artists, which I think was really the big sticking point in that same thread).

However, when considering this deeper...are composers musicians? Because if the answer is "yes" then I would think DJ's would have to be considered musicians as well. EDIT: and as for EDM -- it's got "music" in the name so I would think that one's a no-brainer...musicians creating music.

 

What are you basing your response on? You've heard the album DJ Shadow - Endtroducing?

 

I have one DJ friend. I know how hard she works on getting a certain sound and flow. And I know how passionate she is about getting it. So - absolutely.

 

No.

 

The question is flawed because the answer of "no" is simply incorrect. It is just a person's reluctance to accept a fact.

 

Others say that they are as much musician as hip-hoppers.

 

You are right, I did phrase the question very simply.

 

Musicians ? No. Composers? Yes.

 

no.

 

Maybe we should define three words being bandied around - artist, composer, musician.

My gut feeling is that DJ's are artists and not necessarily musicians.

 

I consider them comedians.

 

Yes.

I think if you're a musician, you tend to either create a sound or try to make good use of whatever's in front of you.

The dismissal of DJ's not being musicians seems to spit in the faces of those like Kool Herc, Jam Master Jay and Grandmaster Flash, who really made deejaying an art form. So IMHO, they are musicians but I take it some of you who say "no" are anti hip-hop/EDM heads...

 

What do you call someone who hangs out with musicians?

 

A drummer.

Some jokes never get old.

 

What's greater - an artist or a musician?

 

EDM type dj's, who are creating their own stuff are musicians. They're just using more non traditional instruments like a computer, which can pretty
much replicate any sound electronically. You still have to write the beat, the sound, the patterns. Some dude spinning easy listening hits while drinking pabst is not a musician. He's just there to select the next track to play. NO art there, no skill.

 

Do I need to....I don't consider DJ's musicians as per the original question - nothing will change that opinion.

 

They may be people that create aural art, but to me a musician is someone that does that by working with musical notes, not just software, sequences, and samples.

 

Makers of electronic music are definitely musicians. Making music on computer is an extension of the electronic synth music back in the day, made with more convenient and versatile equipment.

If you have a synth keyboard that plugs into computer, you can input the sounds that way. Equally you can overdub your recordings with any instrument you want. It is not uncommon at all for bands to combine their live sound with modern computer equipment and mix on computer. The B-52's, for instance, did it on Funplex. A lot of people mix on Protools.

When playing live a lot of electronic bands (for instance Pendulum) actually do have live drummers and guitarists.

If you are an electronic musician you have probably learnt an instrument when you were younger. Personally, I play guitar, bass, drums and some keyboard and when I was younger I played clarinet and recorder, and those on top of all the music I listen to has given me knowledge of notes and rhythms etc.

That's not to say there isn't a lot of incredibly lazy crap made electronically, but that has more to do with what clubs want. There is lowest common denominator music in every genre you can think of.

On the subject of DJs being musicians, the only context I can think of is scratching, which is associated with old school hip hop and nu metal and seen as a cliché. So I guess they are in that sense. When it comes to the mixes, they do, they're probably more producers than musicians, but still often talented.

 

Honestly? Yes, I do think one should listen to an album (a classic mind you) before making snap judgments about it. It's probably not at all what you think it is. To say that someone who can create MUSIC such as this with such meager equipment is not a musician is crazy. I know this style isn't up your alley...this is coming from someone who owns and loves albums by Pretty Boy Floyd, Roxx Gang and Tigertailz. Open up and give it a shot. There is more to music than hard rock.

DJ Shadow - Stem/Long Stem (1996)