New York DJ

“Tengo La Voz” (in English, “I have the voice”) is a spicy, swingin' instrumental that takes a traditional-sounding brassy, upbeat Mexican melody and, with a touch of thick beats, a few samples and other subtle electronic flourishes, gives it a kick in the pants to make everything more fun and festive for all kinds of ears.

Nortec Collective is a four-member band that's part of a small but critically-acclaimed scene of young Mexican groups (two others worth checking out are Mexican Institute of Sound and Kinky) that combine traditional Mexican music and rhythms with modern electronic sounds. These sounds can range from something as thorough as throwing bigger beats under traditional instruments to give an entire song more punch, to more whimsical touches, like adding in sampled vocal riffs from old Mexican radio shows from more than a half-century ago. Generally, the aesthetic of these groups somewhat mirrors that of American indie pop, as the programming and production is often used not to make a sound that is over-polished and sleek, but instead to bring a sense of quirkiness and playful surprise to freshen up familiar genres. The name Nortec Collective comes from a combination of “Norteno” (a traditional, often rural form of Mexican music using 12-string guitars and accordions) and “techno.”

“Tengo La Voz,” from Nortec Collective’s album Tijuana Sessions Vol. 3 (pictured), is not an outright dance song, yet because its fun mood is sure to move some hips, it's perfect for “teasing” a Latin vibe you might have coming up at your event, like if you’re playing some Merengue, Salsa, Latin pop or Reggaeton and you want to put it in your guests’ heads and feet that they’ll be dancing to flavors like this later.

More generally, though, the song is great for any moment in your event where you plan to have people mingling, such as a cocktail hour at a wedding, or an interlude at a fashion show or art opening, or at any kind of meet-and-greet event, as the song’s uptempo, catchy horn riffs, steady beat, and its sturdy vibe of sunniness make it perfect background for sipping a drink and chatting it up. Plus, the song never gets too brassy that it becomes shrill, or too experimental that it becomes intrusive, or too "Latin" that it becomes intimidating or exclusionary for those whose tastes might be a bit more conservative. "Tengo La Voz" has a rare balance of just enough brass, quirkiness, and traditional Mexican festiveness, but not too much of either – and as a result it's especially accessible. But at the same time, while it remains in the background it also adds a burst of spice to the atmosphere of the event – so much so that, at only three-and a-half-minutes, you might want to play it twice in a row.

Nortec Collective – Tengo La Voz

When we meet to talk with clients about music for their event, often the first thing we notice is that they've already dejectedly decided the music they really like and want to hear won't be able to be played at their event.

It may be a designer in a fashion show thinking that the music she wants to use for her fashion line will be too ethereal a sound to keep the audience interested. Or a couple who loves moody acoustic indie pop but thinks it would be too much of a downer to play a little at their wedding Or an organizer of a corporate party who worries that the employees won’t dance because they tend to like raw Southern hip-hop and their bosses wouldn’t. Whatever the case, whatever the event, it seems this kind of unfortunate premature musical censorship is everywhere.

It often comes from a good place of common sense or consideration, like an organizer at a art opening knowing that prospective buyers might not want to hear his beloved deep cuts of ‘70s classic rock all night long. But some of our clients’ decisions that their favorite songs or genres won’t work comes not from a good place at all, but instead from having met with conventional, unimaginative DJs that tend to work for bigger, more cookie-cutter DJ companies. We’ve heard from these clients that some of these DJs have told them straight up that the only way to get a party movin’ is to play disco all night.

Whatever the reason for clients' doubts in the music they love, one of the first things we tell them – no matter what their event –  is to open up their mind, revisit their CD collection or iPod, and make their “dream list” of songs they want to hear, with no censoring allowed. Put anything in you would love to hear. Not only does it make the process of selecting music easier, but also more fun. It will get you excited about the possibilities of hearing this music, as opposed to nixing songs right away and feeling frustrated that the soundtrack to the event is already not what you would like.

Now, will all these "dream songs" end up making the cut when the event arrives? Sometimes many of them do, sometimes they don't. But what always happens is that when we see these “dream lists” and talk a bit with the client to see what music is most important to them, we can then use our experience in knowing what of these songs will work given the mood that is wanted at the event, as well as what kind of guests will be there, and what kind of structure the event will have. Then we can suggest which songs to keep, which to think about not using. For example, a pair of melancholy indie songs at the more sedate moments in a wedding can feel absolutely right and even moving. So can a set of obscure hardcore punk during the more boisterous moments of a corporate party. And even a little experimental progressive rock can enhance the feeling of an art opening, if played at the right time.

By far, many more of the songs you really want at your event then you ever think you can play are actually able to be fit in, but not only that, they can be made to add to the atmosphere of the event. But to do it, you have to begin by letting the DJ know what you really want to hear. And if that DJ looks at your list, smirks, and says something about how you can't have a party without having "the Y" on your list, well, you know the time has come to find a different DJ.

As we’ve said before on this blog, one of the best things about being a DJ in New York City and the surrounding area is that often we spin for clients who, for a number of reasons – cultural or religious background, personal style, their guests’ music tastes, or a combination of these – want a mix of music at their events that’s very unique and personalized to them. Not that this doesn’t happen to DJs in other cities; it’s just that because of the sheer number of people and cultures and attitudes living here, the new and different in New York is a asked for and expected a lot more.

You may think that these fresh and creative approaches would be expected at events we perform at, like fashion shows, cultural events for city agencies, entertainment industry “wrap” parties, and the like. But you may not think they apply to weddings as much. To many, when they think of music at a wedding, they think of the same old stale combination of songs that often boil down to a mixture of overplayed oldies, disco and a steady dose of often vapid current Top 40 hits. But we’ve found that the opposite is mostly true – the couples that we DJ for always come to us with a unique and fresh vision of the music mix they want. And while this often, yes, includes some accessible “crowd pleasers,” the overall feel of the weddings that our clients demand is one that is highly unique. This can be due to a very specific vibe that the music needs to accentuate, or a component of ethnic songs and dances, or the couple’s insistence on a dance set of more obscure, less “wedding-friendly” genres that they know their friends will love, like hardcore punk or moody indie pop.

This more personalized approach to weddings even applies to what is often the most delicate part of  a wedding – the ceremony processional. Many times couples who meet with us initially think they have to use classical songs here, as that’s what they’ve seen at weddings both in real life and on TV and in the movies. Classical for the ceremony is the default that most all tend to accept – it’s just a matter of which composer or symphony you want to choose from, right? Well, not quite. Over the years, more and more couples are coming to us – and we’re also suggesting to them – music for processionals that in different ways offer a newer, more adventurous take on this moment in the ceremony. (For more on how to add some freshness to your ceremony music in general, and not just the processional, go to our blog post on that topic here.)

These options usually either are classical versions of pop songs, or a pop or ambient electronic song itself. Now, if you are a couple who this appeals to, be careful – you still have remember that the processional songs or song is indeed a delicate and sensitive moment and the music should feel right. The couples we’ve seen use pop songs don’t just throw in any pop song – yes, they make sure it is one they like, but also that it has the correct atmosphere for the processional. And this atmosphere, regardless of the wedding, tends to generally be, not surprisingly, one of calmness and beauty. That doesn’t necessarily mean the song you choose has to be a meek, quiet song, but let’s just say the feedback and dissonance should be held to a minimum, unless it can somehow sound pretty. (Which is rare, but it can be done – current indie bands like The Raveonettes, and ones before them like My Bloody Valentine, Jesus & Mary Chain and the Velvet Underground all accomplished it.)

Below are three examples of songs that can freshen up the processional but still keep it friendly and even make things surprisingly pleasant for those like the grandparents who might not appreciate such non-classical sounds. The first tune, “You Are Beautiful and Amazing,” is by a new-ish group from Austin, TX called  The Candlepark Stars. From their second album Shimmer and Gold, this instrumental is comprised of not much more than piano and a shimmering, U2-ish sounding guitar playing a simple melody line and some slight variations on it. But the melody line is a such a gorgeous one that it quickly draws you into its calm, reflective mood. The repetition of the basic melody also lends itself perfectly to the rhythm of a processional. We’ve got a bride-to-be using this song as her processional for her bridal party and for herself in July, and, like me, both she and her sister were quite moved by the song. The mood of “You Are Beautiful and Amazing” elicits so much more than the sum of its parts – the song sounds dreamy, cinematic, lush, tender, and, most impressively, slightly melancholic but always uplifting.

An example of a more mainstream vocal pop song that we’ve used before for the processional moment and has felt very natural is Bjork’s “All is Full of Love.” This song begins quiet and ethereally, and then gradually and beautifully builds to a more orchestral, sweeping middle and finish, and the calm but intense repetition of the song’s title is ideal for creating a mood of dreaminess and drama that both young and older guests can appreciate.

Finally, if you want a classical feel to your processional but are in search of an original take on it, a group out of L.A. called the Vitamin String Quartet is a perfect fit for you. This group creates classical arrangements to famous pop songs, old and new. One example we especially like and have used at processionals before is their “classicalized” version of Coldplay’s “The Scientist” from their second album of tribute to the band. In addition to being a great choice for a classical arrangement since “The Scientist” has both a reflective atmosphere and an orchestral feel at its core, the great thing about this version is that for the first several seconds, before the melody comes in, guests think it’s just a pretty classical song. Then, when they recognize it, they’re pleasantly surprised that they know it as a pop song, and you can feel them wondering where in the world the couple were able to find it.

The Candlepark Stars – You Are Beautiful and Amazing

Bjork – All Is Full Of Love

Vitamin String Quartet – The Scientist