hutton@beyond-ma.com

February 3, 2025

You Need Turbulence to Reach Higher Success

The truth is, it never gets easier—performance, that is. Even famous DJs and artists still get nervous before they perform, no matter how big their careers have become. The pre-show jitters are real, but so is the post-performance adrenaline rush. That moment when you realise your body has overcome the nerves and let you play—that's the magic. My coach uses a powerful metaphor: an airplane taking off. It cannot climb to higher altitudes without turbulence; it needs...

DJ, DJ Coaching

February 2, 2025

What We Started – The History Of EDM Documentary

From Underground Beats to Mainstage Spectacles: My Take on EDM’s Journey I recently watched What We Started, a documentary exploring the history of EDM. I’ll be honest—I don’t like EDM. It’s not my scene or my genre, i've always preferred small dark venues. But I can still appreciate what EDM has achieved: taking electronic music from the underground and propelling it into the mainstream, reshaping global music culture in the process. https://www.youtube.com/embed/7yc_q20NrZg The Shift: From Underground to Top-40...

DJ, Producing

February 1, 2025

Pioneer’s The Evolution of the CDJ: A DJ’s Perspective

I recently watched DJ Mag’s documentary on the evolution of the CDJ, and it got me reflecting on my journey with these game-changing pieces of kit. You can check out the full documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/ywO7A-4CqRk While the film could be seen as a bit of an extended advertisement for Pioneer, what really stood out to me was the thought and creativity behind their engineering process. The Pioneer team didn’t just push digital technology forward—they carefully iterated to replicate...

January 31, 2025

Performance Anxiety is Normal in DJing

Anxiety is everywhere in DJing. Yet, by nature, we are all performers, so the anxiety we feel in ourselves is often invisible when watching others play. This leads us to compare ourselves unfairly, making our own anxiety even worse. I've always found clubs a little intimidating—until you're fully immersed. The heavy bass, the impending chaos as you line up. That nervousness when playing at a new location. I see experienced DJs get nervous when they...

DJ, DJ Coaching

January 30, 2025

How to Network in the Music Industry for DJs & Producers

Why Building a Music Industry Network is Essential Every successful artist and entrepreneur thrives on relationships. While talent and hard work are crucial, the people you meet can have just as much impact on your success. A strong network can help you land gigs, find collaborators, and provide the emotional support needed in a competitive industry. One of the biggest psychological hurdles for artists is the feeling of not being good enough. This is where Transactional Analysis...

DJ, DJ Coaching, Producing, Promoting

January 29, 2025

The UK’s Electronic Music Scene and Trends in 2025

The Changing Landscape of UK Dance Music I was quite surprised to read this morning that Australia had overtaken the UK in terms of listening to electronic music pushing us down to number four. Quite impressive when you think they have less than half of our population. Which led me to do some digging around. The UK’s electronic music scene has always been a hub of innovation and cultural influence. However, in recent years, there has been a...

Amapino, DJ, Organic House, Producing, Promoting

January 28, 2025

Lessons from Running Open Decks Sessions

Last year, I noticed two key issues that motivated me to set up regular Open Decks sessions. Firstly, the affordability and digitisation of DJing have led to a surge in new DJs, many of whom are formally trained but struggling to get gigs. Secondly, bars and pubs are facing challenges due to the cost of living crisis and shifting trends toward alcohol-free lifestyles. As DJs and pubs are both part of my "tribe," I decided to try...

DJ Coaching, Organic House

January 27, 2025

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...

DJ Coaching

January 24, 2025

Kolbe and DJing: Understanding Your Natural Drive

The Kolbe system is a psychometric tool that identifies how you naturally act under stress. In the world of DJing, 'stress' can be seen as the performance itself, and Kolbe helps understand a DJ's natural drive or reaction to stress. Unlike personality tests or assessments that measure skills, Kolbe focuses on your instinctive drives—what you’re naturally inclined to do and how you approach tasks. This 10-minute assessment offers profound insights into your unique strengths and working...

DJ Coaching

January 23, 2025

What is Organic House? Amani one of the best tracks ever!

You will love this song! Uroš Bošnjak is a Slovenian composer and electronic music producer known for contributing to the Organic House genre. He creates music production videos and tutorials, sharing his expertise with a growing community of enthusiasts. Under the alias "Cats in Ableton," Uroš shares his musical creations and insights on YouTube, offering tutorials and showcasing his compositions. His track "Amani" was released on September 20, 2024, under The Purr label. The track is characterised...

Organic House

Author: hutton@beyond-ma.com