Rana June Sobhany believes she may be the first iPad DJ in the world. While I’m sure there are many DJs experimenting with the iPad, she may well be the first to have used such a setup for an entire set.

I remember buying my first set of Technics SL 1200 turntables and a cheap Behringer mixer ages ago and learning to DJ on that. Since then I’ve tried a number of more modern hardware alternatives – starting with CDs, then looking at computers and even iPod mixers. Nothing compared to my turntables. Will the iPad change that? I think not.

But when it comes to live production, which is more of what Rana is doing, then the iPad undoubtedly offers some advantages, especially given the low price of software for the device when compared to their hardware equivalents.

Before the launch of the Apple iPad many potential uses were postulated for the device. The most prominent of these was in publishing as people perceived new applications and media delivery to tablet devices that would impact on the world of magazines and newspapers. Movies, textbooks and social networking were all correctly predicted to be the kind of things that the iPad would be good for. But few guessed that the device would mean big things in the world of music. (more…)

The following is a response to the discussion surrounding the exploitation of South African musicians by event organisers. More specifically, it tackles some of the points made by someone I have the utmost respect for, Richard Mulholland, in this post of his. I agree with Rich 99% of the time, but I differ with him on this one.

Here is my take on things:
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The first time I travelled to Europe I was 14 years old. I fell asleep on a flight to Vienna with my airway headphones on and the in-flight system played East 17′s ‘Around the World’. Something about the track hit a chord with where I was at the time and what I was doing. It was before I knew what pop was and drew lines around what I liked and didn’t like about music. It was before I discovered metal, got lost in electronica and sold my soul to breaks. It was just a song that captured a time for me, even if it is a weak piece of drivel from a forgotten boy band. (more…)