Meeting the Swedish House Mafia!

Yes!!! What an exciting evening Friday was! We were privileged to spend a 5 minutes meet and greet with Axwell, Steve Angello and Seb Ingrosso.

It was all rather funny really as the details weren't made very clear to us, so we believed we'd just be meeting Steve Angello. So nervously excited as I was, I wasn't prepared to be meeting all 3 of the Swedish House Mafia!

The time came when we were ushered up the stairs and another surprise was that we were being filmed by a Swedish guy.. for an official video I am assuming.. (will have to look out for that on the SHM youtube channel!). We got to the top of the stairs and he asked us a few questions, which was hilarious as my girlies aren't as up with the info on the SHM as a DJ would be! So after a few awkward answers and me trying to step in to help the girlies out, we were ushered down a corridor... past the dancers... to a door, which had an A4 piece of paper on it saying "Swedish House Mafia Dressing Room".

GULP! Whaaaa....? Door opens, and before you know it there is a hand in mine and a kiss on each cheek from their Manager. Next up I'm doing the same with Axwell then Steve Angello. Absolutely stunned I walk up to Sebastien Ingrosso who sweetly says "Hi, I'm Seb", and I was like "haha yeh, I know!".

When I put my bag & camera down on the table I noticed that my hands were shaking. It must have been the total shock of meeting them all.. I SO wasn't prepared. For meeting them or for being star struck!

We had our pics taken and made some small talk, I gave each of the guys my latest mix (on which none of their tracks appear.... oops!), and then we left. I wish I had had time to compose myself because I really wanted to know what kind of equipment they use (you cant see it from the pit when they are on stage) amongst other DJ tecky type things.

As I walked out the camera man was there so I gave him my excited reaction.. probably a bad idea haha, as I was still in shock. If they use the footage I do hope I dont come across like a total muppet haha! I was star struck as these guys are the world leaders in successful House music... Big up the SHM!!

Here are some videos of the most amazing stage show that I have ever seen!! Check 'em out :o)

DJing in a shop window...

Last Wednesday I did a DJ booking with a difference.. I played in the Oasis store in Brighton, a booking kindly sorted out by one of my agents, Bubblefunk.

I wasn't really sure what to expect and when I arrived I was surprised to see the decks set up right at the entrance of the store in the shop window, in full view of everyone walking in the street!

They put me in some lovely clobber, then I played 3 hours of club classix, House and Electro, while munching on delicious chocolates and drinking posh cider for ladies. The people coming into the store I didnt think would appreciate what I was doing, but you know what, they are a funky cool bunch down in Brighton, young and old alike were gettin on down!

My friends DJ Jolie & Laura Brown were also doing the same thing in different Oasis stores, here's us doing our thang:

www.annakiss.co.uk

www.djjolie.co.uk

www.djlaurabrown.co.uk

Roached Eggs Competition Winners!

Well done to everyone that entered, please click the link to see the winners - the ones that brought the biggest smile to my face!

http://www.annakiss.co.uk/comp.html

Many thanks to www.roachedeggs.com for the goodies!

The Truth About DJs

I feel that someone has to say it... I'll probably get dissed for it but I think it should be common knowledge, as maybe then things will eventually change... Every professional DJ in London that I know (minus 2 or 3) are moaning at the way things are right now. Perhaps recession has just kicked in to our profession.. or perhaps the fact that everybody is a DJ these days is the cause.. Actually there are probably 100 factors...

The truth is... the up and coming DJs that are playing the circuit and have gigs all the time - its not because they are good or in demand, it's because they play for peanuts (or commission from selling tickets). (they might be good - I'm not saying they're not - I'm just saying that because you see them on a flyer every weekend, doesn't mean that they are big in the game!)

It didn't used to be like this. 10yrs ago you started off playing for free, then you got £50 once you had made a little name for yourself. DJs that used to get £250 5yrs ago, are now down to £125. Because promoters don't care about the quality of DJ.. they just want people through the door, i.e. money! (I don't think its conscious greed, I think it becomes of living in the greedy culture of the UK - handed down from our corrupt government).

So there you go.. thats it.. it's not even my 2 pennies worth because you should note that I haven't actually said what I think about it! I'm just telling you how it is :o) xxx

NEW Podcast on Lifted UK - great site!

Check it out:

http://lifted.uk.com/podcasts/?p=3063

I just discovered Wordle....

File Sharing

Following up from my blog entitled Radio Show Downloads, Promos and the Law which provoked a huge response from my readers and listeners, I thought I'd copy you in on an email I just received from a promo list I am on.

I am really pleased that something is finally being done, and I really hope it deters DJs who should feel valued to be on these lists.

"We are aware that the internet is a huge source of information and a great way to share files, however we have a reputation to uphold with the labels we deal with. Much the same as you all have reputations to uphold as a great DJs. We cannot do this if the promo tracks we service to you get leaked, as has happened with one of our recent exclusive tracks. The labels we work with have Anti-Piracy departments and will follow up any pirate activity with a heavy hand which will throw a shadow over your integrity as a DJ receiving promos from Club promotions teams. (This does not only mean us, but all Club promotions teams our labels work with.)

Piracy is illegal. If the DJ that has leaked a track is found to come from us we will be forced by law to release your personal information to the courts, should anyone chose to make a claim.

Please, do not put tracks we service to you on blogs or file sharing websites."

Before you all panic, they are referring to DJs who post the whole track up for everyone to nick instead of buy. To my knowledge it is fine for me to mix the track into my radio show, which you can then download. If not, I hope someone will tell me before I get threatened with court!!

One door closes... many more open!

OK well after yesterday's cathartic release of a blog, it was as if unloading all that onto you lot opened the door for many more great opportunities!

So ditching dodgy promoters is something that has to be done, for my own self-respect and to move onwards & upwards, and to stop working with amateurs. Time moves on and we stagnate if we stay still with what we've got, if what we've got isn't going anywhere.

Same goes for friends... and love too.

Yeh there may be quiet times in between, but these times should be used to rest and relax before all the exciting new things start happening. The important thing to have is HOPE...

So here's to the future!!

Why am I doing this?

For the fans... and for the love of the music...


I've been DJing professionally for 10yrs now and I'll be honest with you. The only reason I am doing it is because of the touching support from my fans around the world.

I've had a really tough past few weeks, SO many shit things have happened, including several promoters ripping me off and being unprofessional. It's disappointing as one of them I considered a friend. He owes me £50 - which is such a stupidly small amount to fall out over. He agreed to pay me it but when I asked for it he was rude to me. Well, he can keep it. I valued our friendship more than that which I guess was wrong. Is there really no friends in business?

Likewise other promoters I played for recently. My kindness in helping them out has been returned by ducked calls and me having to chase around after €50. Next time I won't be so kind & generous. I will just look out for number one... who cares if people think I'm a bitch, I know I'm not!!

There also wont be a next time playing for either of these promoters, because in their eyes I have done wrong. People see what they want to see, regardless of the truth or what is right. That is something I have learned this Summer.

I am writing these experiences so you can have an insight into my world - no other reason (dear reader please do not read anything more into my words!). This is what happens in this job... always has - always will. Perhaps my best response would be to pretend nothing has happened, be nice and go feed these guy's egos for the possibility of more bookings off them...

But alas, that ain't me. I've never been one to be nice to someone who doesnt deserve it. I just wash my hands of them and remove them from my consciousness. I always forget about the bad things people did to me. I don't carry around resentment or unforgiveness.

The sad thing is how I feel about DJing now, I find it hard to be positive sometimes. I have been doing this so long and now I'm tired.

I do this for very little reward and with this credit crunch it seems people want to pay DJs even less than they did 5yrs ago! Half-naked female "DJs", who offer extras for even lower fees than us real female DJs, don't help either.

Recording & promoting my weekly radio show, making tunes and trying to source DJ work takes up the majority of my time. Yes music is my dream and it's taken me around the world and I've had some wonderful experiences. Something has to give now. Last week I felt like giving it all up to get a 'proper job', I would have so much more materially if I did this, but my soul would die.

Then I got the usual lovely guestbook comments from fans and Facebook messages... so many people said "please don't stop doing what you do", "don't ever stop" etc - almost in reply to my feelings. There seemed to be more of them saying that than usual, so I reconsidered.

I know music is my calling, so I wont ever give it up, you lot will be pleased to know!
It's just not my number one - not until I get my lucky break.

I am different now... I'm not sure if it's "no more Ms Nice Guy" (to quote Miss Piggy), or if it's a more time is money approach... or both! I'm going to do what is required, and change my angle. I'm out of the negativity of the past few weeks, I have learnt from it, deleted and moved on.

I'm grateful:
To have worked with so many lovely promoters so I know there will be more.
To have played in so many great places so I know there will be more.
My production is getting better and better so I know there is hope.

It's so important in life to see the positive things. Without hope there is nothing: or as Paulo Coelho (my favourite Tweeter!) said this week:
"I believe that without hope we r lost. I hope that the day will come that peace will be everywhere"

And today's quote is quite aptly:
"07/09: you can choose to be a victim of the world or an adventurer who faces challenges. Up to you."
I choose the LATTER!!

"paulocoelho@annakiss I also have off days, they are part of life. If you don't feel down and out sometimes, it is because your heart became a stone"
Ok so he didnt really answer my question but it is a great answer anyway!


And last but not least, for positivity I look no further than the wonderful Joey, my facebook friend, who is the most positive person despite whatever life throws at him. Joey, you are a total inspiration. What I have seen on your facebook page this week has really opened my eyes to true positivity, I aspire to be like you.
Read his blog here:
http://joeyla4d.blogspot.com

Thanks for reading... until next time
xxx

Finding myself on Youtube and stuff

Over the past week through using this wonderful website Reverbnation which has untold amounts of useful tools, including a feed that brings up things mentioning me on the internet, I have discovered support from people all over the world.

Wow, thank you! To all these people here that have supported me in what I do. It really means a lot.










http://www.house-mixes.com/artists/DJ_Darren_James_/