The mainstream-EDM collision was in full-swing earlier this week as Steve Aoki — and not-so-secret special guest, Duran Duran — took over Terminal 5. Aoki, who is better known for his theatrics than his DJ prowess, delivered a performance that rang true to this ideal. Everything about it was typical Aoki fare: Dim Mak cakes were thrown, fans crowd surfed in his obligatory raft, and champagne was sprayed everywhere.
For me, however, music will always trump stagecraft and in that regard Aoki isn’t the best. From our vantage point he didn’t seem to make much use of the CDJs — instead opting to twist the nobs on his mixer — nor were his transitions smooth, but Aoki’s stage presence is note worthy. His gimmick draws an interesting (and perhaps necessary) distinction between performers and musicians in the EDM world.
Musicians sometimes make sacrifices in the name of creating a spectacle, just look at artists like Britney Spears or Chris Brown who usually lip sync so they can dance. For Aoki, it’s impossible to deliver his crazy antics while actually posted up behind the turntables. That’s why he spends almost as much time on top of them or in front of them as he does behind.
Deadmau5 is one of the few artists who seems to have struck a balance between performer and musician; but his brand of entertainment is more tech-focused than cake-centric. If he was expected to spend more time outside of the booth than behind it, his musicianship might suffer similarly.
The Aoki situation is all about trade offs — but in his case I think it’s a fair one.
Aoki has never attempted to promote himself as anything but an entertainer or his performances as anything other than a party. Just check out the warning notice posted on the walls of the venue. How much more blatant and honest could he be? It’s safe to say that most audience members at a Steve Aoki show don’t care how well he mixes. They’re there for the Aoki experience.
(Photo Credit: Diane Bondareff)
My only qualm about Aoki’s shows is that they’re becoming too predictable. DJs have become too comfortable in delivering the same thing night after night, but Duran Duran and Aoki’s live performance proves that artists don’t need to be complacent. Aoki was slated to perform with Blue Man Group at EDC Vegas but the wind got in the way — let’s make it happen somewhere else!
This formulaic predictability is a trend sweeping the entire industry and it’s getting boring. For Aoki, it’s his cake+champagne+raft routine, for others it’s nearly identical sets, and for many it’s strings of releases that sound exactly the same.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I understand that these formulas are proven cash cows but there’s also money to be made in taking risks. Hip hop, although still relevant, lost some of its allure when artists became content with stagnancy. The same could happen for dance music if we allow it to. If EDM fans aren’t bored yet, they will be. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, or even next year, but eventually.
Download a copy of “Hungry Like The Wolf” here.
Very True. Good Article!
Couldn’t agree more! When I go to see big name DJ’s like Tiesto I want people to dance around and have fun not all face him like it’s just a regular rock concert. It’s more so the mainstream newer fans to the genre that do this but overall I think they need to start putting on “parties” and the “experience” and tone back on the “rock start concert” aspect. Just ask Avicii how well that’s working out for him haha
Not to mention his entire set I don’t believe ever strayed from his own songs. Like you couldn’t mix up your set even a little and play a few other people’s tracks?
“It’s safe to say that most audience members at a Steve Aoki show don’t
care how well he mixes. They’re there for the Aoki experience.” this is why his fans suck and epitomize (almost) everything that is wrong with dance music… anyways, great article!
Aoki sucks live. I buy a ticket to listen to good music not to watch a DJ dance around on stage and talk half the time.
Thank you for addressing this! Now address this same issue with Steve Angello from SHM! He is predictable. He does the same thing every time I’ve seen him!
Wow this is spot on… I personally feel any dj that crowd surfs (with the exception of A-Trak who normally has bro Dave take over the turntables when he does this) is not a good live DJ. There’s a reason people say DJs like Skrillex just go up there and press play, in essence that is what they are doing.
This article is the exact reason why I didn’t go see him at T5. Aoki always kills it but that’s because he’s always doing the same things. He’s the type of DJ you can’t see too many times in the same year or you’ll get tired of his shtick real fast. However, with the rate at which he releases new music these days, I’d say he’s good for at least 2 viewings a year.
What really annoys me is when he tells all his crowds that he wants to do something “really special” by having them all sit down during the break of Save the World and then drop into the Knife Party remix and have everyone jump up. I thought it was cool at Escape from Wonderland, but then I listened to his live sets after that and watched Youtube videos and literally his routine is the same. “(Insert city name), I want to do something really special tonight! I want you all to sit down and when the drop comes in, I want you all to jump up! Can we do that?” Every fucking time. How special can it get?
Spot on article. There are areas outside of the mainstream in which EDM artists are taking risks and doing things outside the money-making formulaic house beats. Its refraiching to see artists continue to take risks and be weird
I saw Aoki live last year and had a fucking great time, but I saw him again recently and it was kinda just whatever. No disrespect to him or anything but his shows have gotten extremely predictable.
Gotta keep it Fraiche. See you in the Do Lab.
Yup. This was my big issue last time I saw him. He played his own songs end to end, no remixes, just his album. So lame.
finally people are realizing that aoki is nothing more than a stupid clown
At the end of the day, it is a business. The starving artists will innovate and blow up, while the big dogs ride the wave. Thus the cycle continues.
brilliant post. Especially the part about EDM and stagnancy.
Justin you silly blogger. Go back to your Minus/Dirty Bird