7 Useful Lessons from the World's Best DJ's and Producers

Nowadays, there are a lot of people trying to get noticed as a DJ or Producer. But the artists that are popular now, had to go through that same journey. Since they already have the experience, there's is a lot that can be learned from these people. Are you always ready to learn? Then take a look at these 7 useful lessons from the world's best DJ's and Producers.

1: DJ Tiësto

''I've always wanted to be a DJ so I could play the music I love for other people. That feeling hasn't changed, but my sets are always evolving.''

If you don't know what you're ultimate goals are, it's hard to make a good plan of action. When setting up your goals, it's important to be honest with yourself, because in the long run these goals will help to challenge you. Part of DJ Tiësto's long successful career, is his ability to set challenges and improve himself.

2: Armin van Buuren

''Who am I? I'm just a humble law student from the Netherlands, who's not into drugs or crazy after partying or making money. I'm just in this industry because I'm really, truly passionate about this music, and I hope that shines through.''

Sometimes you might wonder if you're missing out on a lot of fun by preferring to stay home for once and work on your music. Just remember that all the time spent, might pay off in the end. If you're passionate about what you're doing and you work hard to achieve your goals, people will take notice. Staying humble even when gaining popularity is a great personality trait and will increase your likeability, which can attract even more fans.  

3: Carl Cox

''I've always tried to be creative as a DJ. My schooling came from hip hop era within the hip hop parameters on house music. Always quick mix-ins, quick idea's, quick change in records just to keep the vibe alive, real and exciting. Set the record playing but also put my own soul into what I'm doing.''   

Creativity is very important, but it's also important to be recognizable. A lot of artists can be recognized by a particular sound or phrase, which is part of their own style. You also have a unique style, influenced by your favourite artists and/or genres. It may take time to find your style, but when you do, try to bring this forward as much as possible.
Think about yourself as a brand, what are you famous for?

4: Avicii

''There's always haters, no matter what you're doing - whether they're complaining that everything you do sounds the same, or it's too different.''

Probably one of the most important things to learn, is to believe in yourself. Like Avicii says, there's always haters. Don't let them hold you back from achieving your goals. Issues with self-esteem can hold back the most talented individual from achieving their full potential. Don't take criticism too personal, but also try to gain as much feedback and advice as possible. Maintaining a good balance between this can be stressful, but it will help to keep your head cool when you gain more popularity.

5: Steve Aoki

''It's a really diverse time in music, with all these different DJ's and all these different categories, and we are all taking footnotes from everyone else. There are no real genre boundaries anymore; you can put a trance idea in a trap record - it's not that uncommon.''

The recent developments in EDM certainly open up a whole lot more possibilities for DJ's and Producers. There are hundreds, if not thousands of music genres and sub-genres available to experiment with. Even if you have your own style or a preferred genre, a lot can be gained by learning elements or tricks used in other genres.

6: Skrillex

''The people who I grew up making music with, we've all grown up and become successful in different ways. My manager supported me since I was 16 and believed in me as a musician. He's been there since day 1, and there's so much to be said about doing something with people you love.''

This shows that surrounding yourself with the right people, can make a lot of difference. Although it's important to believe in yourself, working together allows you to learn from and motivate each other. Many like-minded artists are always looking for collaborations, asking around in your network is a good place to start if you want to find them.

7: David Guetta

''Every time I come with an album, I try to do something different. And obviously my life has an influence on how I feel and the type of message I want to give with the music.''

Doing the same thing over and over again can get boring.
On the other hand, changing up your procedure or looking
for innovation can freshen things up, for you as well as your audience. 

Next to that, it's also good to know where your inspiration comes from. So you can tap into that source when it's necessary. Most popular artists can convey certain emotions with their music, which is an admirable skill to possess.


These were 7 lessons from the world's best DJ's and Producers, thank you for reading!
Any other lessons that you learned from DJ's and Producers? Please share them in the comments!