Annie Mac follows around Tiesto for a few days (Video)

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From Youtube (Via Inthemix):

*Update* Seems like the video was taken down. Sorry to those who didn't get to see it. But honestly if you wanted to see something similar with the same production value go check out 'in the booth' series. The link is below.

*Update #2* Here's a new link to the video.

Didn't learn too much about Tiesto himself because most of these bases were already covered in the 'In the Booth' series but I did learn a few things about Annie Mac. For one, this encounter was the first time Annie Mac had met Tiesto, and number two, it was also her first time to Las Vegas.

Ghostwriting in EDM

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I've been reading rumours about famous DJs using ghostwriters for a long time now and this article from Mixmag is one of the first I've read describing how widespread the activity has become. 

..."some [DJs] are much less knowledgeable and just bring the Beatport or RA Top 10 and a sample of an old record and say, ‘I want one like that using this sample’ and let me get on with it, stopping occasionally to refer back to the reference tracks to make sure I’m going in the right direction."

Unfortunately with the bottom falling out of record sales, some sound engineers have no choice but to ghostwrite in order to pay their bills. What's shameful are the DJs using these services and taking full credit for works that they paid for.

The author of the article is named Ben Gomori, and his personal blog can be found here.

(Source: Mixmag)

Are there too many EDM festivals?

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Dancing Astronaut engages this question in an editor roundtable.

I don't think we've reached a breaking point in Canadian festivals yet. What I do agree with Dancing Astronaut is that there are opportunities for new festivals if they create a unique experience for fans as EDC and Tomorrowland have successfully done.

The question that I ask myself is whether there is enough fresh music created to justify seeing more than 1 or possibly 2 festivals a year? With so many DJs using the same tracks and mashups will EDM fans begin to tire of the whole experience?

What I like to see is some promoters taking a bit of a risk and seeing what sticks. Digital Dreams is a perfect example as they introduced a techno/house heavy lineup in Toronto for Canada Day and were rewarded with a successful event. I await to see their 2013 lineup but I hope to see even more next year. If you have a big enough to hold a festival to cater to all tastes then that's great, but if you need to make some decisions, then it's better to have a point of view than none.

Random thought: I'd love to see something like the Warehouse Project come to Canada.

Dillon Francis: "Trap is basically minimal dubstep to me"

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From Lessthan3's interview with Dillon Francis:

"Trap is basically minimal dubstep to me. I’ve always been into minimal house, and there aren’t a lot of kids who are. In a similar way, it takes away all the high screeches and just lets the listener groove...RL Grime, Flosstradamus, and Baauer are really the guys pushing the sound right now, but I see it going in a more Jersey/Baltimore club direction with guys like DJ Sliink in the future. I expect more techy sounds too, with more bleepy, EDM-type influences."

Very funny interview, check out the rest of it here.