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Showing posts from November 20, 2016

A Lonely Night - The Weeknd

Speed: 114 bpm Recommended bpm range: 110 to 115 bpm The DJ's Take: Smooth, danceable track with legitimate hit potential. The only way this doesn't make its mark is if it's competing with the other singles off the album. One interesting mix / mashup possibility is double-timing over slower songs like Needed Me - Rihanna , March Madness - Future , CoCo - O.T. Genasis , Birthday Sex - Jeremih , Man of the Year - SchoolBoy Q , and Loveeeeeee Song - Rihanna ft. Future . If you're staying key-compatible at a similar bpm, try bumping up to about 117 and mixing with singles like:

Sidewalks - The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar

Speed: 75 bpm Recommended bpm range: 70 bpm to 75 bpm , 75 bpm to 80 bpm The DJ's Take: Beat sounds like something from a Tarantino movie, and The Weeknd sounds like he's going a little T-Pain on us. Definitely worth a spot in the new music playlist. In fact, this album is a pretty spinnable one - I'll cover a couple more tracks in the days to come. If you're staying key-compatible around 72 bpm, this should sound good with Pop That - French Montana . If you're in the 75 to 80 bpm range, here are some other hits to mix with:

Nothing Without You - The Weeknd

Speed: 55 bpm Recommended bpm range: 50 bpm to 55 bpm , 55 bpm to 60 bpm The DJ's Take: Slow, dramatic, brooding - this sounds a little more like The Weeknd we know. Probably best suited for a movie / tv soundtrack, a recorded / streaming mix, or a gig where there isn't pressure to get people out on the dance floor. If you're staying key-compatible in the 50 to 55 bpm range, try mixing with Rise - Katy Perry , Kiss It Better - Rihanna , and Bitch Better Have My Money - Rihanna . If you're doubling up the pace, you can half-time into tracks like:

Rockin' - The Weeknd

Speed: 113 bpm Recommended bpm range: 110 to 115 bpm The DJ's Take: Has kind of a Disclosure-like Euro sound - a good fit for a swanky lounge with a dress code. But it also has a bounce and a groove that should offer a wider appeal. If you're in the 110 to 115 bpm, some key-compatible hits to mix with:

Throwback Thursday: Big Pimpin - Jay-Z ft. UGK

Speed: 69 bpm Recommended bpm range: 65 bpm to 70 bpm , 70 bpm to 75 bpm The DJ’s Take: One of my favorite Timbaland beats, and a true banger in every sense of the word. If you spin hiphop, this needs to be in your library a.s.a.p. Btw, interesting video on Timbaland's Middle Eastern music sampling . Here are some key-compatible tracks worth mixing or mashing up with:

Safe And Sound - Justice

Speed: 115 bpm Recommended bpm range: 110 to 115 bpm , 115 to 120 bpm The DJ's Take: Sounds like a remix of D.A.N.C.E. , doesn't it? So there's an easy mashup right there. Probably better suited for the car, a hipster bar or an art event than a Top 40 dance floor. Some other key-compatible tracks worth mixing with:

Gear Review: Pioneer DJM-350 Mixer

Looking for a feature-rich mixer that won't break the bank? The Pioneer DJM-350 could be an interesting mid-range option. It recently won the 2016 DJ Mag Tech Award for Best Mixer Under £600 (which translates to this much in US $ ), and the reviews are positive. Here's a closer look and a sampling of the reception from around the web:

Never Give Up - Sia

Speed: 91 bpm Recommended bpm range: 90 to 95 bpm The DJ's Take: Hey - if a certain key and bpm work, why mess with success? No idea if this'll be a hit, but at least you've got a slam dunk mashup with Cheap Thrills . You can also try mixing with a long list of other key-compatible hits:

Rockabye - Clean Bandit, Sean Paul, Anne-Marie

Speed: 102 bpm Recommended bpm range: 100 to 105 bpm The DJ's Take: For a second there, I thought this was another Sia / Sean Paul collaboration. Light, peppy pop with a little Caribbean flavor. Plus, it's doing well on Spotify, which means a Top 40 crowd has probably heard it before. Try mixing with key-compatible tracks like: