Love of Music

 DJing is easy. The technicalities involved are very simple. Once you have learnt to operate a mixer and synch records to the same tempo, you are able to 'mix' records into a continuous groove. Like anything, however, with deep understanding and precise refinement, it becomes an art form. 

The most important attribute necessary to be a good DJ is a love of music. Just as to love someone, you must understand them, so it is with music. 

Those who have a passion for it pay close attention to it and develop a deep understanding of how it is constructed, how it moves and what it is saying. This evolves into an instinct for matching records together on a deeper level that transcends technical ability. Just as some jazz combos can be technically superb but boring, soul-less, rigid and formulaic in sound, so it is with the technically competent DJ with little or no understanding of music. 

The DJ with an understanding and love of music who lacks technical skill could arrange a better set than one with technical skills but no musical understanding. Granted, the mixing of a skilled DJ may be more on the beat than that of a passionate one. And although there is little more irritating in a DJ than the habit of dropping mistimed galloping clangers, there are plenty of other ways to mix without beatmatching. 

Those who have the love, understanding and skill take it to a whole other level. They bring music together in a way that flows, raising it beyond the sum of its parts into an elevated whole with the power to pass on sheer joy and positive energy to all who wish to receive it. 

Music and love are beautiful things and should be shared by all. Peace.