On Wednesday November 7, 2012 the University of Windsor experienced a new musical tradition. This event took place far from the building of music within the walls of the Ambassador Auditorium in the CAW. As guests entered the auditorium, sounds of a fresh and brisk techno track were getting their attention. After the auditorium had filled up the event was underway.
This was the educational component of Richie Hawtin's North American Tour CNTRL: Beyond EDM. The intention was to connect with fans and talk about the world of techno music with topics ranging from its origins, present day styles and genres, to the future of the music and the role of technology.
After two brief talks from Sennheiser and Dubspot (New York School of DJing and Producing), the guests were ready to be introduced. One by one they took the stage, each a leading artist in the field with years of experience: Ean Golden, Carl Craig, Eddie 'Flashing' Fowlkes, Loco Dice, and the Plastikman himself.
The audience to this event are anticipating the insights from their favourite techno and house music DJs but there is an unexpected surprise guest with a word of honour. The mayor Eddie Francis comes out from behind the shadows and awards Windsor's Richie Hawtin aka Plastikman with the key to the city. Richie comments that he hates surprises but is very grateful for the gift from our mayor. He is awarded the key and is recognized as an ambassador to the city of Windsor. As an artist who has lead his own perspective of the techno music paradigm, and created a vast amount of music, this title as ambassador seems very fitting and well-deserved.
"Richie and I have known each other for a long time." - Carl Craig
The introductory comments are made by Ean Golden and Richie starts speaking to the audience about his own perspective on techno music. He starts off by telling us that his involvement in this music has been active for the last 25-30 years; the deep roots of techno stemming primarily from Detroit and a little bit from New York and Chicago. The present day implications of the music is that there is a desensitization of people to the sound of the music. On one hand there are a lot of artists getting mainstream attention and this says little about the genre as a whole because house and techno go much deeper than that. On the other hand this mainstream coverage is targeting individuals who otherwise would not have heard of this music and is opening them up to listen to more techno and house; which is seen by Richie as a good thing.
Carl Craig takes the floor to talk about how techno music entered his life in the mid 80s. His insight is that the people of this era were very much influenced by the electronic sounds coming into their lives through an array of technology and household appliances. At some point, young and creative individuals like himself started making the best of this by using the sounds to their advantage and creating their own music out of it.
Richie takes back the attention of the audience to describe his own history with the music. He speaks of how the scene for techno was very small in the 80s and there were only a few small clubs. According to Richie it was 'a tight-knit scene' and 'people just came to dance.' He tells the audience of an epiphany moment that he had with his brother in a club called Music Institute. He saw people of all different types, of different ages and ethnicity. Regardless of any differences among the people they were all there for the music and to dance.
Plastikman also speaks of his own introduction to the music scene following his days at Music Institute. He was a very creative individual and his mind changed quickly about the path he wanted to take. He tried different things but once he tried out producing music, the music held on tight and didn't let go.
"It was a very pure time." - Richie Hawtin
"Music Institute was like our temple, our church." - Carl Craig
"Back then everyone just wanted to have fun; it was not about a having a career." - Eddie 'Flashing' Fowlkes
Loco Dice starts telling the audience about his learning experience as a DJ. He was originally a hip-hop DJ and in his current sets he still seeks to have that hip-hop edge. He tells us about how he has been touring in the USA since 2001. According to Loco Dice, techno and house has often seen its days of being strong, then fading for a while, then coming back strong again. Loco Dice loves representing his own music and culture as a DJ coming from Europe.
"Radio played a big part in creating awareness for this music." - Eddie 'Flashin' Fowlkes
"Jeff Mills - The Wizard was and still is huge for me." - Richie Hawtin
Ean Golden poses another question for our favourite DJs. What is your take on modern EDM artists like Skrillex?
Richie is not hesitant in developing an answer. He says that the music now is still very much connected to his generation of artists but comments that it came through a different filter for these new artists. "We used to listen to artists like Kraftwerk,' he says, " We built our careers on what we heard from them. And indirectly new artists like Skrillex have built theirs on top of what we have built."
Touching upon a new topic now, Hawtin mentions the Canadian artist Grimes and how he loves her sounds. Richie says that we don't need to fit in a certain mold of music but that all a new producer these days really needs is the most basic of equipment, a few great musical ideas, and passion.
"If we only play electronic music then we get lost; it can't just be about one style." - Carl Craig
"We have a vast selection of EM and creating something with two different records through the art of mixing; that is our gift as DJS." - Loco Dice
At this time there is a question from the audience as Communications student Nicole Beno asks "Is there a lot of pressure to conform to mainstream?"
Loco Dice replies with the example of David Guetta. He tells us that Guetta used to be a great house music DJ. He develops it by saying that Guetta was actually THE house music DJ in Paris at one point. Loco Dice doesn't know how someone like David Guetta has gone from what he was doing to finding himself in the mainstream. "Sometimes you find yourself in it. It just happens."
Richie Hawtin reminds us that each DJ shall have his own path. "Maybe this is just David Guetta's pathway. If it is the dream and passion of an artist to make it big, then go for it." He personally doesn't want to be pigeonholed in the mainstream. He makes another reminding comment about following our dreams before the topic changes.
Eddie 'Flashing' Fowlkes passionately describes what he calls 'the third song.' It is the individual element that two different tracks can create within a live mix. It carries its own flavor and vibe and can't be reproduced. Loco Dice gives us a demonstration of what he is talking about as he mixes two tracks from different genres and an acapella of 'True to Myself' by Chilean-German DJ Ricardo Villalobos. He is not sure if he has been able to re-create what Eddie was talking about but by adding:
"It works in the club; people freak out." - Loco Dice
The question of whether or not its best to stay within the rules comes up.
"If you're making the walls sweat then there are no rules. Just gotta be who you are; no rules." - Eddie 'Flashing' Fowlkes
"There are expectations but it''s not always about fulfilling them." - Richie Hawtin
"A DJ like Theo Parrish would play a John Coltrane record in the middle of his set and let it play for like 45 minutes. Make something special and unique like nothing else in the world." - Carl Craig
The next question from Ean Golden is: Where is EDM going?
The Plastikman answers by telling the audience that he has been meeting with young producers and DJs lately and he is very excited about the future of EDM.
"I can only see it getting weirder and more futuristic." - Richie Hawtin
"DJing is like storytelling, like a journey." - Richie Hawtin
The auditorium, after having heard their favourite DJs speak about the vast field of EDM, and having heard a few samples of what DJs are up to behind the decks, are more than happy with the results of the educational component of Richie Hawtin's CNTRL: Beyond EDM. A photo is taken with the audience members , who then get a chance to meet the artists.
"My theory is that the best music was when I was 15; I want to know what underground is now; teach me." - Carl Craig
Dear Carl Craig,
my answer to you as the host of EDM on CJAM would be to tune in live on Tuesdays from 10:30pm to 12:00am. This is what the best of EDM looks like to me at the moment.
