Pick Up that Board and Get to Scracthin’

Ethan McConnell 

Music Journalist 

The history of Disc Jockey runs back to 1935 with no single creator, but continuous evolutions from various individuals and techniques over time. At first, it was only used for entertainment on early radio programs with record playing with seamless transitions between tracks. Later, it developed a multi-use of radio personalities, club promoters, and DJs like iconic DJ Cool Herc and Theodore Livingston. The scene has evolved since its emergence to the point where having a DJ is lowkey an essential for any function being thrown. You see someone mixing at block parties, clubs, the roller rink, and it just boosts the atmosphere. So, what are you waiting for, get that turntable and mixer and get to it!!! 

Overall History 

In the beginning, DJ’ing was reduced to a tiny set up of just a single record player with the intent of just being played for small parties or gatherings. It was not until the 70’s that it became a major part of the music scene with the rise of hip-hop and dance music. With this, techniques like beat-matching, scratching and loop manipulation were created, turning a turntable into a musical instrument. Moving on to more current years, the digital age further revolutionized the mechanism with the introduction of CDJ and software, giving DJs a music library catalogue and the ability to manipulate tracks in real-time. With all this, DJs can call themselves musicians, taking existing music and creating it as their own. 

Now I am personally a fan of dance music and vinyl playing myself. On top of that I have gone to many raves in the scene along with day parties where multiple San Marcos locals just show off their mixing skills and the feeling is never dead when I attend. It inspired me too, as I continue to grow my collection in physical media, to also upgrade my sound system with new speakers, receiver, as well as subwoofer and another turntable. I’ve self-taught myself how to mix and the feeling is just oddly satisfying when you play a track and seamlessly transition to the next. Playing vinyls on a player was already aesthetically pleasing but with this, it elevates it. The best part about it too is that anyone can get into it, whether you mix with turntables or an all-in-one mixer board connected to your laptop and some speakers. So, I encourage y’all to go out there and get into DJ’ing and if not that, watch a Boiler Room set, go to a show where there is a DJ and just dance.