Hello! Welcome back.
In our last lesson, we covered the "how" and "where" of sourcing music, focusing on high-quality audio files and the best digital stores for DJs. We established that a DJ is nothing without their music collection. Today, you'll take the first and most exciting practical step: applying that knowledge to build your own.
This lesson's goal is to build a starter collection of 20-30 liquid drum and bass tracks for analysis and practice. This collection will be the foundation for everything that follows, from learning to beatmatch to eventually creating your own music. To become the "Latin Makoto," you first need to immerse yourself in the music that defines his world. This process isn't just about shopping; it's about developing your ear and your taste.
Let's start digging.
Part 1: Your North Star – Makoto's Musical Universe
The most direct path to understanding an artist's sound is to start with their own work. Your primary goal is to emulate Makoto, so he will be our starting point.
- Explore Makoto's Discography: Go to Beatport and Bandcamp, the two main stores we discussed previously, and search for "Makoto." You will find a rich catalog of his music. Spend some time listening to the previews.
- Follow the Label Trail: As you look through his tracks, take note of the record labels he releases on. You'll immediately see two of the most important names in liquid drum and bass:
- Human Elements: This is Makoto's own label. It's the purest representation of his sound. Exploring other artists on this label is a fantastic way to find music that aligns with his specific vibe.
- Hospital Records: A legendary label in the D&B scene. Makoto has released a significant amount of music here. Hospital Records is a cornerstone of the soulful, melodic sound you're aiming for.
Your first task is to start your "dig" by finding a track from Makoto, then using the label information (like Hospital Records or his own Human Elements) to discover other artists and tracks. This technique, which we touched on in the last lesson, is how DJs develop a unique sound that is still connected to a specific scene.
Part 2: Learning from the Masters
While exploring on your own is essential, you can accelerate your learning by studying curated selections from other experts. We're going to look at a list of essential tracks put together by BCee, another giant of the liquid D&B scene and the head of Spearhead Records (another label you'll see Makoto has released on).
BCee's 12 Essential Liquid Drum & Bass Tracks
This article from Beatportal features D&B veteran BCee sharing his '12 Essential Liquid Drum & Bass Tracks'. This is like getting a private list of recommendations from a master. It will introduce you to other key artists and help you understand what makes a liquid track 'essential'.
Read the introduction and the full list of 12 tracks. As you read BCee's commentary on each track, don't just note the artist and title. Pay close attention to the descriptive words he uses, like 'perfect balance of groove, space and feeling,' 'deep, soulful, heavy and musical,' and 'Brazilian sunshine on wax.' This is the language of the genre.
This list gives you immediate access to names like Calibre, LSB, Alix Perez, and DJ Marky, who are all pillars of the genre. Adding a few of these tracks to your collection will give it breadth and historical context.
Part 3: Your Action Plan – Building Your Starter Crate
Now it's time to put this all together into a concrete task. Your goal is to identify and acquire 20-30 tracks. You don't need to purchase them all within this 60-minute session, but you should aim to have your list identified. Think of this process like a programmer gathering the right libraries and frameworks before starting a new project; these tracks are your core assets.
Here is your "shopping list" strategy:
- 5-10 Tracks from Makoto:
- Start here. Find tracks that you personally connect with. Look for his work on Human Elements and Hospital Records.
- 5-10 Tracks from Key Artists & Labels:
- From the BCee list, pick a few tracks from artists like Calibre, LSB, or Alix Perez.
- Explore the general catalogs of Hospital Records and Spearhead Records on Beatport or Bandcamp. Pick a few tracks from other artists on these labels that catch your ear.
- 5-10 Tracks for Variety:
- As you listen, consciously look for variety. Find some tracks with strong vocals, and some that are purely instrumental. Find some that feel high-energy and some that are more mellow and soulful. This variety will be crucial when you learn to build a DJ set.
A Quick Word on Acquiring Music
As you browse, remember the different ways to get music.
Where DJs Find Their Music - DJ Basics
As a quick refresher, this video from PDot gives a concise overview of the main sources for DJs. It will remind you of the landscape you're navigating.
Watch the sections on purchasing from stores like Beatport (0:00-0:28) and using platforms like Bandcamp (2:39-3:25). For now, focus on buying individual tracks to build your core, owned library. We'll explore other options like record pools later.
For this initial collection, focus on buying your tracks from Beatport or Bandcamp. This ensures you own high-quality files forever. Remember to choose WAV/AIFF or 320kbps MP3 files.
Test your understanding!
You've found a track by Makoto on Beatport. You see two purchase options: MP3 ($1.29) and WAV ($1.99). Which one should you choose and why?
Show answer
Both are excellent choices for DJing.
- The WAV file is lossless, meaning it's the absolute highest audio quality, identical to the studio master. It takes up more disk space.
- The MP3 from Beatport is guaranteed to be 320kbps, which is the highest quality MP3 format and is a professional standard used by countless DJs. It provides a great balance of audio quality and smaller file size.
For starting out, a 320kbps MP3 is a perfectly acceptable and more economical choice. The most important thing is that you are getting it from a reputable source and avoiding low-quality files.
Conclusion
Excellent work today. You've officially started one of the most personal and rewarding aspects of being a DJ: building your music collection. This is a journey that never ends, and it's what will ultimately define your unique voice as an artist.
Key Takeaways:
- Start with Your Hero: Begin your collection by digging into the work of your inspiration, Makoto, and his label, Human Elements.
- Follow the Label Trail: Use major labels like Hospital Records and Spearhead Records as gateways to discover a wider range of essential artists.
- Learn from Curated Lists: Use expert recommendations, like BCee's chart, to quickly broaden your knowledge and find timeless tracks.
- Curate for Variety: Intentionally select a mix of vocal, instrumental, high-energy, and mellow tracks to create a versatile starting palette.
Next Time
Now that you have the raw materials, what's next? In our next lesson, we will get our hands on the tools to start shaping them. We will choose and install a DJ software application (like Rekordbox) and take our first tour of the main interface. This is your digital cockpit, and you'll soon learn how to load up your new tracks and get ready to mix. Happy digging