@ Lunatic`s DJ-workshop

Back in November we visited Hell`s Basement for an item on the Cambion, and got in touch with Lunatic, the well known DJ/Producer from Enzyme Records, and organizer of the Hell`s Basement parties. We found out that Lunatic also organizes DJ-workshops for beginning DJ`s. As Forward Observers we`re always looking for upcoming artists, so we asked Lunatic whether or not it would be possible for us to visit his workshop someday. Lunatic found it a cool idea and before we knew it, we found ourselves in a youth center in Hilversum where we were able to check out his course firsthand. 

How it all started
Lunatic has been organizing this workshop for two years now. The workshops have always taken place in a youth center called De Keet in Hilversum. In the beginning he focused on young guys and girls that lived in the area. But since last October he also started taking in people from all over the Netherlands. While talking to Lunatic it became pretty evident that he really loves organizing these evenings and also loves supporting people who are interested in the art of DJ`ing. His enthusiasm, experience and knowledge are probably the main reasons that the courses are doing so well. He has five spots per course and these spots tend to fill up really quickly. And besides his DJ-workshop Lunatic is also starting a workshop for producers somewhere in April or May.

The courses

Volstead

What he offers is an eight weeks course, one on one, with two hours per lesson. The course days are on Tuesday and Thursday. Lunatic`s courses are laid back and informal but at the same time he really emphasizes on proper mixing. Throughout his eight week course he teaches his students how to beatmatch, which tracks work together and why, how to use effects properly etc. Besides his one on one coaching he also expects his students to study at home. Though they will obviously lack the professional equipment that`s found in the youth center in Hilversum, they can still study tracks, do assignments, or practice with software at home. Eventually the participants get the opportunity to do the opening set on one of the Hell`s Basement parties. Or Lunatic finds them a different party to perform on if they don`t spin Hardcore. In the past he had participants that played a wide variety of genres, ranging from Moombahton to Hardstyle to Hardcore. Before they get to do an opening set though, both Lunatic and the student have to be convinced that they are ready for it. When they`re ready they`ll get some time before the party starts to get used to the equipment there, the loud monitor speakers, and the feeling of being on a stage in general.

KidKat

Last Tuesday
We were welcomed by Lunatic and proper Hardcore. Exodus was behind the decks and he was recording a Hardcore set with Millenium and regular Hardcore. No better way to start any evening for as far as we`re concerned. Lunatic told us that Exodus was recording his set so that he could re-listen it at home and discover where there would be room for improvement. We had a good chat with Lunatic and shot some pics while enjoying Exodus` choice of tracks and mixing. Later on two other students came in, namely Volstead and KidKat. These two students have (almost) finished the course and they`ll be opening Hell`s Basement next Friday the 30th of January. Volstead spins early Hardcore and we were impressed by his mixing skills and, though subjective of course, his choice of tracks. KidKat, on the other hand, spins recent Hardcore with a bit of a rougher industrialish twist. When he was behind the decks he looked completely in the zone, and we were impressed again by the mixing skills. The atmosphere was really informal and though Lunatic had to divide his attention we noticed that he didn't miss a single transition the guys were making. 

Coming up

Exodus

We were pretty impressed by the originality in the track selection, and the mixing skills of the upcoming DJ`s that we heard that evening. And we`re sure that you`ll be interested in hearing them as well by now. We`ve shot some short clips of these DJ`s in action which will be online soon. And we`ll also upload some new podcasts, mixed by these DJ`s, in the future. But you`ll have to wait a bit for that as both the DJ`s and Lunatic will have to be completely satisfied with the recording first. So keep your eye on our Facebook page because there`s some pretty cool stuff coming up!

Curious?
If you want to find out more about the DJ-workshop, or the upcoming producer workshop, then you should check out Lunatic`s website Bassmachine for more info, or send an e-mail directly to Lunatic through info@bassmachine.nl.

Photography by: Bren-D