So I must say it was a pretty cool evening. My thoughts on it are as follows.
Due to traffic I got to the lecture just a few min before 7, and the line up outside the lecture hall was easily a couple hundred people long. My bro used the washroom when we walked in and came and and said to me, “i think I just took a piss beside DJ Sneak?” Anywho, luckily a girl came by asking if anyone had email confirmations and we got moved right up to the front and were among the first to walk in. The could not have chosen a smaller lecture hall, it maybe sat 200 people at the most. Im sure Ryerson has rooms that can accommodate 500+ people. Im pretty sure a lot of people did not get in and thats too bad.
My bro and I were sitting in the third row, so pretty close to the guys. DJ sneak was on the panel, I guess he was a late addition because I did not hear anything about him being there. Ean was kinda the moderator of it all and guided the direction of the discussion. The lecture had nothing to do with any of the topics they stated, like how they utilize their technology in their sets, and the impact on the art of DJing. Rather the discussion was about the concept of EDM, or as Ritchie called it Electronic Pop Music. They spoke about the current state of the scene, why it is thriving more so in some cities then others, its impact on mass media and pop culture. They talked about how this uprise of EPM is good for the culture, and what impacts it could have on the future. They schooled us a little bit about how and why they got started into DJing which was pretty cool, and how the scene was different then. Sneak and Hawtin got into a debate as to wether the ease of accessibility of music today via digital distributors is good for the culture of DJing or not.
My short breakdown on each panelist.
Hawtin: very passionate, thoughtful speaker with a lot of insight and knowledge about all aspects of the industry. A little bit reserved, but once he got to talking he came alive.
Loco Dice: Really cool guy, great to listen to, very insightful about the state of the scene in Berlin and Europe, and really passionate about people trying to better themselves and be the next wave of DJing pioneers.
Carl Craig: Laid back cool dude, lots of knowledge, he kinda had to be provoked to jump in on the convo, but when he spoke you could tell he was a very intelligent guy
Ean Golden: Was more the moderator, but he did chime in with his opinion. Plugged DJTT and the MF3D a few times, he was definitely there for more of a technology perspective then DJing.
Sneak: kinda pompous, not the most insightful and intelligent guy on the panel, but interesting none the less. He talked a lot of shit about deadmau5, which he should of realized he was talking to an audience in Toronto.
wow a neighbour just took the front end off of my car!!! Just snapped some pics, this is gonna cost him a few bucks. anyways…
The after party was pretty sick, although the place was way too full, from the front all the way to the back wall.
Ean: The first bit was difficult to listen to, often out of sync, and very abstract. His performace got better as the set went on, but not all the enjoyable. Some transitions and tracks really made you shake your head. Did not look at the crowd at all during the set But to see him constantly working his controllers was cool to watch.
Carl Craig: simple set, smooth transitions, good track selection, did a great job as the 11pm DJ.
Dice: rocked it, made the place bounce, had lots of fun and was looking into the crowd a lot.
Hawtin: really destroyed the place, well thought out set, and a great peak time feel. Was buried in his technology tho, did not interact with the crowd at all.
All in all a really cool evening with a bunch of legends I have not had the chance to listen or perform live, really glad I made it out.
