The Secrets Behind Spinning Wax: What Vinyl Teaches You

In a world dominated by digital beats and virtual turntables, the art of spinning vinyl stands as a testament to the roots of DJ culture. Beyond the tactile joy of handling vinyl records, there's a wealth of wisdom hidden in the grooves. Join us as we unravel the secrets behind spinning wax and explore why mastering vinyl can elevate your skills, even in the digital age.

Chaos and the art of keeping it cool

Nothing is more true than the reality that anything can happen at a club. It’s hard to prep for a blindside until you intentionally practice throwing yourself out of the groove. Learning how to recover from an oof  sharpens your swagger, and helps you practice keeping your cool even in a hot situation. From a drunken slip, to a spilled drink, to a track that’s whack — you can never be too prepared for a series of unfortunate events. 

Two’s company, three's a party 

Why not hook up a third deck? Whether CDJ or turntable the challenge of a third is real. A three is never an easy hoop but the juice is well worth the squeeze. Learning how to work a trio of tracks will not only help you master two, but it’ll make dealing in doubles a breeze. 

Savor the taste of unlikely combos

The beauty of vinyl is that ANYTHING can go. Well maybe not anything — but a lot can drip. Experiment without regard. This is the medium for weird. Random record pairings can genuinely cultivate new sounds full of unexpected gooey layers. Being able to think both inside and outside of harmonic mixing unleashes your creativity and frees you from the box.

Get jiggy wit’ it 

Expand your mind and understanding of phrasing and structure by incorporating breaks and altering your mixing tempo. Adventure into mixing on the high hats, pitch down, and explore different BPMs — not only as a way to challenge yourself but recognize and build a unique sound that is all your own. 

Read up at your local club

Do you know the Circle of Fifths? If you didn’t just roll your eyes — then you don’t know it well enough. Mixing vinyl isn’t only dancing, clubs, and cool lights — or is it? Bish it might be! But that depends on who you are. 

Mastering the art of transitioning between keys, balancing harmony, and injecting energy into your mixes is just as crucial as reading up on music theory. So don’t be a stranger to good ol’ fashion learning.

Future glory is nothing without analog 

No matter how convenient it is to have all your songs on one stick, it will always be cooler to have a stacked vinyl set. As we throw ourselves deeper into the digital age, don’t forget the analog that got us here.

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