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Discovering Music: How Your Kolbe Profile Shapes Your DJ Sets

Every DJ has their unique style, but one thing is clear: we all care deeply about finding music that resonates with us and, ultimately, with our audience.

Recently, I was in a conversation with other DJs about how they create their sets and look for music—a process also known as crate digging. Everyone had their own way but some did not understand why others would undertake this task in such a different way.

The truth is there’s no best way, just your way.

Through my background in psychology and Kolbe training, I’ve realised that how you approach this task isn’t just about taste or experience. It’s heavily influenced by your conative abilities.

What Are Conative Abilities?

Conative abilities refer to how you instinctively take action. It’s not about your intelligence or personality but rather the natural way you solve problems and get things done. These abilities are measured by the Kolbe Assessment, which identifies your dominant modes of action:

1. Fact Finder: How you gather and process information.
2. Follow Thru: How you organize and structure tasks.
3. Quick Start: How you handle risk and innovation.
4. Implementor: How you engage with physical or tactile tasks.

Understanding these instincts can provide incredible insight into how you approach crate digging, organize your music library, and build your DJ sets.

*For more on Kolbe and conation, check out the official Kolbe Corp website (https://www.kolbe.com) or Kathy Kolbe’s book, “Conative Connection: Acting on Instinct.”

How Different Kolbe Modes Approach Music Discovery

Let’s break down how each Kolbe mode influences the way DJs might select and organise their tracks. In most cases you will be one of these ‘types’ of people:

1. Fact Finder

• Strength: Focused on details and research. They need loads of information to be happy.
• How They Dig for Music: Fact Finders will likely dive deep into genres, artist discographies, and label catalogues. They’ll analyse track descriptions and reviews, ensuring they have all the information before committing to a track.
• Preferred Tools: Beatport filters, Traxsource tags, and curated playlists.
• Example: A Fact Finder might spend hours comparing multiple versions of a remix to find the one that fits their set perfectly.

2. Follow Thru

• Strength: Focus on making systems.
• How They Dig for Music: Follow Thru DJs build systems to streamline their process. They’ll organise their searches by energy levels, set times, or genres and stick to a structured routine for discovering and testing tracks.
• Preferred Tools: Saved artist profiles, structured playlists, and USB folders.
• Example: A Follow Thru DJ might create separate folders like “Sunset Vibes,” “Peak Energy,” and “Afterhours Chill” to keep their library neat and easy to navigate.

3. Quick Start

• Strength: Thrives on innovation and experimentation, taking risks.
• How They Dig for Music: Quick Starters love to explore. They’ll spontaneously browse across genres, take risks on unknown artists, and rely on instinct to decide what works.
• Preferred Tools: Hype Charts, “Similar Tracks” features, and remix exploration.
• Example: A Quick Starter might discover an Afro House track, then dive into the artist’s catalog, leading them to unexpected gems.

4. Implementor

• Strength: Hands-on and tactile.
• How They Dig for Music: Implementors prefer testing tracks physically. They’ll download tracks and immediately try them on their controllers to see how they feel in a mix.
• Preferred Tools: Controllers, live mixing, and vinyl digging.
• Example: An Implementor might only truly know if a track works once they’ve layered it live in a practice set.

For more insights into how music psychology shapes our preferences, check out Daniel Levitin’s “This Is Your Brain on Music” or Oliver Sacks’ “Musicophilia.”

Example: How My Kolbe Profile Shapes My DJ Process

I’m a 2-2-9-5 Kolbe, meaning my dominant strengths are Quick Start and Implementor, while Fact Finder and Follow Thru are less prominent.

This means I will be quick to collect, be quite hands-on with the tracks and avoid any systematic process.

Here’s how that shapes the way I approach crate digging and music selection:

Quick Start (9): Spontaneous Exploration

This is my dominant mode, so I thrive on discovery and innovation. I’ll:

• Browse Beatport rapidly, flicking between tunes quickly, exploring trending tracks, Hype Charts, and artist recommendations.
• Follow my mood rather than strict genres. While rooted in Organic House, I’ll often explore Electronica, Amapiano Afro House, or Indie Dance to find tracks that add a unique vibe to my sets.
• Take risks by testing out lesser-known artists or obscure remixes, trusting my instincts to guide me.

Implementor (5): Hands-On Testing

I’m very tactile in my approach. Once I find potential tracks, I:

• Download and immediately test them on my RX3 controller to see how they fit into a mix.
• Focus on a track’s physical energy and emotional impact rather than technically analysing it.
• Experiment with layering tracks live to determine if they flow well together.

Fact Finder (2): Minimal Research

I avoid overanalysing or spending too much time on details. Instead, I:

• Skim track descriptions or reviews, making quick decisions based on previews.
• Trust my gut instinct to identify tracks that resonate with me.

Follow Thru (2): Flexible Organization

I keep my systems simple and adaptable. For example:

• My USB folders are organised by vibe, such as “Warm-Up” or “Peak Energy,” rather than rigid genre categories.
• I update playlists dynamically, adding or removing tracks as I go.

Your Kolbe Profile and Music Discovery

Understanding your Kolbe profile can transform how you approach crate digging and DJing. Whether you’re a Fact-Finder diving deep into the details or a Quick Starter chasing spontaneous inspiration, aligning your process with your creative strengths makes the journey more intuitive and enjoyable.

For me, as a 2-2-9-5, my music discovery thrives on spontaneity, hands-on testing, and emotional connection. What about you? How does your Kolbe profile shape your DJ workflow?

Take the Kolbe Assessment and discover how your instincts influence your music discovery process. I am a professionally qualified Kolbe coach so share your insights in the comments or tag me in your journey—I’d love to hear how you dig for tracks and create your sets!