Why is everybody a DJ all of a sudden? And the worst of the lot are the 'celebrity' DJs

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Why is everybody a DJ all of a sudden? And the worst of the lot are the 'celebrity' DJs

Fat Tony14 February 2024
WEST END FINAL

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I’m not being funny but… there’s more to being a DJ than pressing play. I’ve been DJing for more than 35 years now and it all began when I blagged my way onto the decks of one of London’s biggest clubs when I was barely of legal age. It was then that I discovered the joy of going to a record store to pick up that week’s most exciting new records, the daunting prospect of creating and recording your own music, and coming to terms with the idea that the tracks you play throughout a set can be powerful enough to unite everyone in one room the same way other musicians do.

Over the years I’ve had the privilege of working alongside heroes and some of the most influential people in dance music, and the amount of respect and admiration I have for the work of legends and up-and-comers alike has never waned. I do have one question though.

How come everyone’s a DJ all of a sudden? I’m not talking about bedroom DJs or people that take it up as a hobby, I mean celebrities. I’m baffled and really trying to understand the logic behind it. Do they just wake up one morning and go “I’m gonna be a DJ”?

Most people have a passion for music, whether it’s rock or electronic, disco or RnB. But what compels these people to decide “you know what, I’m going to start playing music to whatever crowd will listen and I don’t care that others have been honing their craft for years or young producers spend 12 hours a day mixing and creating?”

Celeb DJs magically release music barely having set foot in a studio. It just feels disingenuous and a quick fix way of making money

Meanwhile, celeb DJs magically release music barely having set foot in a studio. It just feels disingenuous and a quick fix way of making money, knowing they have somewhat of a following. You might wonder, what about Fat Moss (my brief stint as a DJ duo alongside my bestie Kate Moss)? Well it’s all about context right? She’s a supermodel and we only played select fashion-related shows. You ain’t gonna see her headlining Glastonbury anytime soon.

Don’t misunderstand, there are exceptions to this of course. When Paris Hilton first announced she was going to become a DJ, the world laughed and didn’t believe it would last. She’s since held residencies in the biggest clubs in the world and played alongside some of the greatest, with the most admirable work ethic of anyone I’ve ever met. Her passion for electronic music transcends the public image perhaps she once had.

Idris Elba has been DJing since long before his acting career took him to stratospheric heights. You can just tell that these people love their work with all their being, and I respect that wholeheartedly. That’s just not the case with countless others. What if I woke up one day and said today I’m going to be a stylist, or a TV presenter, or a f***ing dentist? I’m just waiting for Phillip Schofield to announce his residency at Pikes in Ibiza next summer.

We live in the greatest city in the world with one of the richest musical cultures imaginable. We could be celebrating pioneers of dance music. People like Danny Rampling and Carl Cox who paved the way for future generations of DJs and producers are still thriving, transcending ageist tropes of our industry.

You have incredible stage presence by the likes of Overmono and DJ Seinfeld with their live mixing and creating. And then you’ve got selectors rising through the ranks like FKA.M4A, Jess Bays or Pablo Bozzi. Queer excellence from the likes of Grace Sands, Jodie Harsh or Kaytranada. The list goes on and on.

If I want anyone to take away one thing from today, it’s that I love dance music more than anything, so do the people I work with. We take that responsibility very seriously. We have one of those unique jobs that can quite literally change a person’s mood for the better and with that, the listener deserves that same love that the player feels for the art. Let’s dance.

Track of the week: Cassimm — Love Desire. See you next Wednesday.

Fat Tony is a DJ and best-selling author

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