It’s never been easier to become a DJ, with all the technology in the world, online tutorials and physical spaces. DJing is often a first start at being more creative, particularly when it comes to music production. These days, many are both; think of Fred again.., Kaytranada and Nia Archives, all accomplished beatmakers that can light up the dancefloor any given night with their talent on the decks. The world of DJs and producers is incredibly connected, but what skills do you need to be one, the other or both?
We’ve teamed up with PIRATE – one of the globe’s leading studio spaces for DJs, artists, producers and podcasters – to learn more. In this series, we speak to three DJs and producers on their journeys, looking at how gaining confidence on the decks can harness your success in other creative forms of expression. In our third and final chapter, we talk to Giulia Tess, an Italy-born, London-based DJ, producer and PIRATE Ambassador who makes forward-thinking electronic club music with a percussive kick. A seasoned veteran, she has been doing both DJing and producing for over a decade, balancing both perfectly with a number of EP releases and mixes.
In this article, we asked her to share her top technical tips for DJ producers at all levels, based on her own experiences. She also shares just how much DJing has helped her along her music production journey. “I wanted to start DJing because I spent a lot of time in clubs,” she says. “It seemed like they were having a really good time so I wanted to get my hands on some of the action. DJing really fast tracked how I hear music, as well as understanding the basics in terms of audio effects. It’s also really useful when learning time signatures and tempo. Even though I was familiar with this from learning drums when I was younger, it really gives you a boost because you have to think about all of these things when you are playing so things run smoothly.
I started producing as a natural progression; I quickly realized it was something I became obsessed with! I learned by trial and error that you have to really try to master the basics very well. This being, drum programming, sampling, editing, sound synthesis and audio FX. Once you have a grasp of these then it will make your life easier!
When I was first starting out DJing, my style was mainly incorporating beat juggling and cutting techniques pioneered in Hip Hop and Dancehall DJing. Once I started producing, I found myself moving in a completely different direction from my sets becoming more electronic. In the end, it made more sense for me to reflect my music production in my DJ sets. Not only because I wanted to play my own tunes out, but because my musical tastes had changed. I guess I wanted to play more of what I was listening to myself!”
Listen to music closely
“Try to listen to tunes from a production standpoint. Find songs you really love. Whether that be a full, multi-instrumental band recording or a tune that was made entirely on a computer. Try to understand what it is you like about those songs in terms of elements. Pay attention to what type of plugins they might’ve used. What the arrangement of the music might be, how each part might have been recorded, how the layers fade in and out. Get a grasp of the arrangement and which instruments slot in. Once you start picking apart these elements you can incorporate them into your production more easily.”
Record as much as you can
“Record sounds you like – that being literally anything you like the sound of. Whether that’s a percussive element, background noise, wind, anything really! Even if it’s on your phone. Utilizing these organic elements can really elevate your sound beyond what you can achieve just with a laptop. Your tracks will instantly have more depth and a human touch to it!”
Make music in a comfortable place
“Get a really comfortable chair because you’re going to spend a lot of time craning over a screen or hardware! If you want to produce you’re going to need good ears. So if you go to a lot of gigs then get some earplugs! Without spending a fortune, consider making some acoustic adjustments in the room you are producing in. This could be as simple as adding more books or records or even making your own sound acoustic panels. Things that can break the sound on the back wall (the wall opposite where the speakers face). Ultimately, I would say have a little read about acoustics, nothing over the top. It just really really helps you to avoid initial hiccups in your production. Lastly, bounce. All. Your. Stems. These will become your own personal sample pack and obviously your signature sound. Trust me, you won’t regret it!”
Get creative with your plugins
“In terms of music production, once you get your head round a plugin, you can try and use it in a way that it might not have been specifically designed for. I think this can be very fun and creative at the same time and also help you when it comes to creative blocks. For example, all the glitchy sounds and textures that I feature in many of my tunes are made with a combination of an arpeggiator, a frequency shifter and some automation. Although, I can’t divulge too many secrets! All of these tools are not necessarily designed to be used in the way I do. But in the end they made me discover an unconventional and creative way to create certain types of sounds that I really love.”
Don’t lose your original audio files
“I use Ableton for producing but also for DJ studio mixes when I’m traveling, touring or just out and about. For when I can’t physically record a mix anywhere. It’s my savior! When you are working in parallel to the original sound source, you are creating a copy of your sound source that you don’t need to worry too much about when it comes to adding effects or processings. The main advantage is to preserve the original sound source and its transients (peak of volumes in samples). So you aren’t running the risk of destroying the original. It’s especially useful with drums, bass and vocals. In vocals for example, adding saturation in parallel can really help add body to the voice you are working on. It helps to be more in control of your audio files while using creative processing.”
Find a sound that works for you
“Producing is, to be honest, a school that never ends. Whether that’s finding a new plugin, figuring out new tricks or just understanding your software better. It’s pretty endless in terms of learning. Try to achieve a sound texture, notes etc that you have in mind by trying over and over again until it works for you.”
Use the same gear found in the world’s best clubs at a Pirate DJ studio near you, available in 30+ locations. Learn, teach, record a mix, or simply practice — solo or with your crew.
Book recording studios equipped with everything you need for music production and access artist opportunities within the community. Get started at Pirate with 20% off your first session. Use code: MIXCLOUD20
Find out more about finding confidence as a DJ and why DJing will make you an amazing producer with Pirate Ambassadors TAYHDSN and Swami Sound.