Real talk with Afrojack about pre-recorded sets

• Check out my other vlogs here: po.st/RLDJLBL
• Subscribe to my KZbin channel here: bit.ly/1bhGHeV
• My VLOG playlist on Spotify: po.st/VLOGSPOT
• Tutorials: po.st/LBLTUTORIALS
Special vlog with Afrojack! Talking about pre-recorded sets!
▼ Follow me online:
/ officiallaidbackluke
/ laidbackluke
/ laidbackluke
/ laidbackluke

[@Vendoman500]

Gained a ton of (more) respect for afrojack after watching this

[@nuurnwui]

yeah, sometimes Afrojack comes off as a jerk who only cares about fast cars etc., but then he says something clever that you really didn't expect. In this vlog he said more than Luke: next-level DJing, to reinvent the art.

[@skyiearchie6964]

nuurnwui he loves fast cars but not a jerk tf

[@625bmx]

Same

[@blakezebell6054]

Zaj Vidal-Burgie and laid back luke....

[@SBardsley]

pshhh

[@fightclvbmusic]

Have to agree with Afrojack. The club and the festival situations should determine if a set is prepared. There's a lot of responsibility to your fans and the promoters at a festival as opposed to a club situation where it's way more intimate and spontaneous. Very insightful vlog! Thanks Luke!

[@mimexion]

Aaaaaay it's fucking fight clvb I friking love you guys!!!!!

[@mmafeen1860]

@@tjthegreat7 Im with you. Afrojack is boring and predictable. Great DJ not using his skills and he loves that festival money. Ill take old school Afrojack all day vs all I do is Festivals Afrojack,

[@randinonsense7360]

Do prep. But playing pre recorded ish there needs to be a special reason for it.

[@nevergone3424]

@@mmafeen1860 Check this out kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4HWY3RubLSCoZo he definitely has changed

[@SLIC3R2]

@@mmafeen1860 you literally missed the whole fucking point you pinhead. How the fuck does front of house, pyro technicians, visual techs etc improvise shit on the fly without notice or pre-planning? These people pay hundreds if not thousands JUST TO ATTEND the show. You have never been there so you have never had that responsibility weighing on your shoulders that YOU need to play the best you can possibly play at that moment and that includes making fireworks explode in sequence to your most popular song. Dont even forget the livestreams, the cameras, the crowd you cant even see. Your set will forever live on the internet and be played for years and years to come. You have that responsibility of being the best at that time.

[@markchapin2306]

I'm a guitarist turned lighting guy and I rarely understand the DJ platform as an instrumentalist, but from a lighting perspective it makes total sense to have the set list planned.

[@therealdtek5493]

I agree 100% with the difference between club and festival events. I worked at Omnia Las Vegas for the 1st two years it opened & as someone who gets to see each artist every time they perform at the venue, you start to realize the difference between who is a DJ & who is just a producer. For instance, Calvin Harris nights are always the busiest at the nightclub but for someone who sees him every Friday night they get bored of seeing him because his sets are exactly the same to the point where I could tell you what songs he was going to play & when he was going to play them. Then you have artists like Krewella, Chuckie, Martin Garrix, & Afrojack who either plays completely different sets (actually djing) or what I've noticed with Afrojack, to where he plays a portion of the same set then (Usually once he starts drinking out the bottle) starts to freestyle. You can hear him trying new things, not always having a flawless set. Me personally I like it when I can hear a dj messing up from time to time because that shows you they are actually Djing, trying new things, living in the moment & their thoughts in real time & not just acting & pretending to turn knobs. Another reason why DJ Mag Top 100 isn't an accurate source for the best DJ's but that's a whole different discussion for another time.

[@dalilbaby4238]

Afrojack's comment about looking at 1001tracklists and seeing "Afrojack Mashup" killed me. too funny!

[@noisyhalls]

Only for the 10% fans 😂😂

[@JulianspromosTV]

A lot of what afrojack said is true, also it all depends on what type of DJ you are, a producing DJ can get away with having a pre planed playlist cause 99% of their playlist are gonna contain their own productions as well as their own hit productions that are guaranteed to move the crowd. That's what afrojack meant by he rarely miss-plans a set. Cause he has had many hits in the past. BUT for DJs that do not produce and do not have there own hit songs to depend on, most of those type of djs must DJ on the fly. They don't want to play what previous djs that night may have played. So it also does depend on who you are and what type of DJ are you.

[@24MPZ]

JulianspromosTV | 2018 Music AMEN! A producer already put in tbe work creative the music. They have every right to push Ableton to it's limits and present it with synchronized visuals and incredible mashup and mixing only possible in studio prior to the set. If someone doesn't make their own music then their skill is obviously not producing, and it must be DJing itself. Live mixing, reading the crowd, etc. Gotta do something one way or another. But a non-producer who just records a playlist of music they didn't create = lame. At the minimum they should at least remix it and mash it up.

[@XX-121]

fuck that, if it's YOUR song and YOU"RE a dj, you should be able to mix it in to a set live no problem. just because you produce doesn't give you the right to pre record a set.

[@amackzie]

plus djs who aren't producers might not have production skills so they have to play it live producers on the other hand, might want to bring their own production skills to the set

[@enlightenedsoul8897]

@@XX-121 tell that to almost every successful mainstream DJ

[@globetrotting2632]

If you are a DJ and you don’t produce you will never even get to DJ at Tomorrowland

[@djTLMtv]

That was dope guys! It's great to hear the perspective of a DJ like Afrojack. I'm with you a 100% on this Luke: we have to preserve the art form. Afrojack's point about reinventing the art form could be true though. I think projects like Redbull Thr3estyle are a great example of that. We should do one of these vids one day Luke 👍🏽

[@vinnien]

Would love to see you back to back with Luke!

[@LJM2stepspain]

I agree!

[@Phuket756]

You and Luke is gonna be just pure FIRE !! PLZ MAKE THIS HAPPEN !! MAKE THIS HAPPEN !!

[@mikeybarreneche]

YES!!!!!! the two guys responsible for teaching me how to dj in one vlog!

[@IamJuniorMusic]

make this happen plz

[@notek_music]

Now I am the type of guy that would feel guilty if I didn’t actually mix Because it just doesn’t feel right. I love the satisfaction of making a perfect mix.

[@ZhounaMusic]

I've seen singers lip syncing live, I've seen guitarist playing on a guitar that's not even plugged in, I've seen DJs playing mashups all night. They're entertainers, if you're entertained then they've done a great job.

[@CoolMusicPlaylists247]

+Zhouna great point there. Your comment needs to be on top on this comment section. People might not agree but this is how the world works these days. And funny thing is people still buy tickets to see all those "fake" shows. But those fake shows deliver. It's all about the entertainment afterall.

[@SubArchitectDJ]

Yes. Who cares if people can actually perform live. Who cares if people can really act. Who cares if people can really paint. Who cares if artist can really do any artform. Fucking hell man.

[@nc818]

The problem with that is that you’re giving the credit to the guy playing MP3’s and not the actual musician. And a lot of club DJ’s are real quick to take the credit.

[@nc818]

Well to be quite honest, I do my own sound design and engineering. Also I get artists myself, I kind of am a one man show. But I think everyone involved in production deserves credit lol.

[@pyrexwhipper6237]

Laidback Luke & Afrojack - No AC (Original Mix)

[@ImmortalPiyush]

lmfao

[@klopfgeist898]

I feel like in the Techno and underground scene DJs are still a lot more respected for their DJ skills, not for the crazy scratching stuff but for their clean mixes, track selection and the way they structure their sets.

[@MattCool007]

Klopfgeis T Best comment.

[@dscoder]

Look at Palms Trax for example. Nothing is prerecorded. Or Ben UFO.

[@klopfgeist898]

exactly

[@1.2.3.4..5]

Yes also techno allows you to mashup 4 tracks at the same time which is very fun to do

[@klopfgeist898]

Yes it is, but as I said it's much more about track selection and mixing them in a cool and creative way.

[@LUMOSMUSIC1]

My respect to all those Dj's the still actually mix live

[@triXtyle]

thanks

[@kareemhassan__]

Shoutout to Laidback Luke, one of the most realest and talented DJs! Honoured to be able to see him!

[@DawnHub666]

He is a hypocrite. It is hard for me to explain if you are not a DJ. In this video he said that anybody who uses a playlist is not a "real DJ". I think what he meant was that anybody who plays a pre-recorded set is not a real DJ. But he did not make that distinction and carried on ripping on what a "real DJ" is. thinking he is more superior because he does not use a playlist and simply decides which track he wants to play at that very moment. He doesn't understand that "real DJs" have been packing their record bags as playlists for decades. And he is trying to say that is cheating. And preparation is bad. I agree that playing a pre-recorded set is cheating and not real djing. But preparation is key anmd it makes u a better DJ. He is not superior in anyway and does not know what he is talking about. Watch his how I DJed Tomorrow land video and watch him spend time Qwerty typing in letters and dropping tunes by just pressing the start button on the beat without even doing a proper mix. ANd see that he is a fuckin hypocrite who talks shit.

[@jeremiahtallant]

Kareem Hassan I'm taking it you haven't seen his bs videos about him staright sucking it up and not doing shit...

[@brandlord9955]

ur 100% right hes full of fucking garbage

[@brandlord9955]

Hes a fucking LOSER talking shit about people way more successful than him, hes an idiot, a sub 1million arist whos angry that his dumbass art of spinning has come to an end

[@Flightcoach]

With the recent deadmau5 video coming out him explaining this exact same thing... makes this video even more relevant. You guys told it first 🎉 thanks for your honesty. Must say even as a dj I did expect the big names to perform live even at major stages so this was quite something to grasp ❤

[@jannelahti106]

Awesome topic and vlog! Ps. Keep doing dj tutorials and other vlogs👍

[@JoshPalerLin]

Two legends

[@WarriyoMusic]

A good show is one that blows a viewer's mind. I think the key thing today is to realize that not all electronic music performers are DJs and a performance isn't only music-based anymore. Live acts vary from old-schoolers like Luke, who focus on a fresh auditive experience, to Zedd, who delivers the most stunning visuals I've ever seen. Then you have people in between like Flume or Madeon who deliver live music coupled with synced visuals. I guess what I'm saying is that it's important to not put a performer into the "DJ" category just because they make electronic music. That worked 10 years ago, not anymore.

[@Joelthinker]

Warriyo someone has to witness the Paradox! 😎

[@hamishcarter1660]

viewer?

[@nicoelpran]

Zed's set is the same shit every time. He is garbage, not a dj

[@ItsGrantM]

Have you ever seen Prydz?

[@siddharthnatrajan]

well said exactly my point

[@djlys8150]

I've been a "freestyle"/"on the fly" DJ since the start. I love it.. the freedom is great. it's about 4 months ago for the very first time I actually went in to a gig with a setlist pre-arranged in the right order and everything.. (With a handful of extra tracks at the bottom for substitutions). Having narrow down my list from 3000+ to less than 40 gave me a lot more time to engage with the crowd in do you able to read the room even better and thankfully I had those substitution tracks at the bottom because I needed them!

[@DjSmoothNY]

I’m glad u shared this. I’ve been djing for 43 yrs and there’s no way I’d ever bring or had to bring thousands of songs when I know an average night of a 6hr set I’ll only play roughly 40-50 songs. My music is arranged in folders for different themes and I’m an on the fly Dj which allows me to engage with my listeners. Your on the right track.

[@noelbohlin3163]

I think Afrojack is correct. You should know the art but with the big festival crowds it's all about the production. It's important to keep the classic art alive but you should put some newschool stuff above it.

[@edwardwilliams9619]

keep the classic art alive... then join a dj battle... this is much bigger than simple dj'ing live, 99% don't care

[@charliervrs]

So what's the newschool? Throwing heart signs and yelling into the mic? Lame

[@vanderhooftamvl6587]

I don’t think that pre-rec’d sets are just for people that can’t DJ. I think that pre rec’d sets are useful for timecode for lighting and visuals. That’s also an experience for the crowd.

[@SBardsley]

and no doubt very useful for those who dont understand the first thing about mixing

[@Audeonpv]

Fair, but don't act like you're really mixing on the decks.

[@Waltrus]

The main part of a DJ is to entertain the crowd. I don't think is does matter so much if it is prepared or not. If Im at the crowd and I really enjoy the set, I don't really care if it is prepared or not. The thing is, if you already made your playlist and the people don't like it, it's gonna be hard to adjust, because you only have the one playlist you made. So you kinda need both. Be prepared but also put some other stuff on your playlist, so you can read the crowd and play the style they like. Mixing isn't the hardest part... Reading the crowd is what shows real talent. What do you think Luke & Afrojack?

[@paulristuccia675]

True, Afrojack said it too. At the the big festivals where most of the crowd doesn't even know what a CDJ is, they want the raging loud experience/atmosphere which is set by the music. Also, those crowds are so big that everyone is going to want to hear a different kind of sound and feel diff energy. So I get how afrojack feels the pressure to plan sets in advance. But that doesn't have to mean it is pre recorded. Having playlists and deciding when you want to play a track with X effects or samples might not be be 'real' DJing but also isn't prerecorded either. It's accommodating since you can't see everyone's individual face. Personally, I think this is where the scene has become too mainstream or for whatever reason it's like this bc it is attracting so many people that you can't please everyone the same way. But I still like afrojack's music and support him because he does know how to actually DJ by reading people and freestyle. It's not just mashups, its samples, its FX, its mixing the instrumental of one song with the lead vocals with a second song. All in all, I like Luke and afrojack both cuz they are honest and open with fans about EDM's evolution(good and bad) and have the skills to DJ in the most real definition.

[@MRTIBURONTIBURON]

Waltrus Also, the majority of big name DJs are producers. I am sure that they also want to show case that part of themselves because they worked hard on their stuff and many people know them because of their productions.

[@alexbroking9252]

the main part is to play music

[@pizzamangargatuloth4804]

This this this this this this.....

[@richardblanco4091]

Bullshit.... you cant cal lyourself a dj if you rely on preparing your set. you should be able to pack your back and just go with the flow!

[@mobilereef]

The art is not lost. My 6 year old daughter is working two SL MK5 turntables and a basic Pioneer 2 chanell DJM 300 and killing it. It is because of you guys, and old dudes like me who have a ton of killer vinyl records from the last 40 some odd years. Everything swings full circle young men! Thanks for the great videos.

[@jhamm9568]

Thanks for being such a great guy and inspiring DJs like me! Can't wait for that controller "In my mind"! Too bad its not Serato! ;)

[@groovetonight1848]

100% agree. Respect the art, practice, become a master of your craft, continue to learn, share your knowledge with others to keep the real djing alive...

[@diegoartazcoz2390]

I actually pissed that Laidback doesn't get the attention that he deserves. Nowadays he is probably one of the only guys that goes totally freestyle in their sets and doing it extremely well. Hope everyone could see that and appreciate how unique you are in the cabin. Btw i need an Afrojack Laidback Luke b2b set that is uploaded to KZbin.

[@hiimacrazyguy]

I must add that his music on Spotify is amazing too, he's a pretty good producer as well!

[@diegoartazcoz2390]

hiimacrazyguy absolutely he is a good producer but we all know that he is "famous" mostly for his live DJing.

[@prodj.mixapeofficial6431]

guys, LL taught afro with producing and djing. His just not being commercial shit. he is very famous before but now he is more focused on his label and helping other producer like afrojack release their tracks. Check his other vid where he came from.

[@hiimacrazyguy]

I know Diego, people love him because of that but I just wanted to point that out, he's truly amazing in both... +prodj.mixape official We weren't bashing either of them, we were just saying how great Luke is lol

[@prodj.mixapeofficial6431]

oh ok ok . sorry guys.

[@smurphio]

I respect producers who produce good music. That’s way harder than mixing two records or reading a crowd.

[@sm6909]

I share your point of view on this. It's all about what my ears are experiencing, not the performer's actions on stage.

[@iamstd2]

I think DJing isn't as cut and dry as people make it out to be. A good DJ does need to have mixing skills, but he can still be a terrible DJ if he does not have good music or the correct music that people want to hear. It is disappointing that some people do not care, but if all they want to hear is that one track they like, give it to them. Kind of like a comedian: some jokes work everywhere, and some jokes can be offensive to a specific crowd. There's a time and place for everything. DJs are just entertainers after all, and not catering to the audience would be doing a disservice not only to them but to the DJ himself. This is what I think.

[@DjAxellEDMBrasil]

A.M.C.(4 Cdjs) e Dj Marky(performático) são os maiores em ser Djing e ponto final.

[@MrBusfahrer22]

If i would DJ infront of a crowd i would give them MY music taste because I AM the Dj and not give them what they want to hear...

[@paradoxx80]

I appreciate the honesty about the festival scene. I do like that you preserve the art in the club scene.

[@Funky1ism]

You got to give respect to Afrojack for always being real! He just says stuff like it is.

[@garethevans566]

He wank pop shit dj

[@XX-121]

how is he "always beeing real" when he pre records sets?

[@modz9373]

I started DJing in 1986 with a belt drive turntable using my fingers to beat mix lol.. I just got back into it after stopping back in late nineties.. I am 50 now. I realised how much i love the art. I totally agree with Afrojack & laidback luke.

[@nank9081]

Totally understandable for dj's in your tier to pre prep a set as long as you still have that real dj skill set at your disposal that's what counts imo

[@djrolixtraordinairmusic3037]

I agree 100%. I started with vinyl, later incorporating computers. I love both platforms. Take full advantage of technology. Lots of fun. Brings your creative level up a few notches.

[@syperxmusic]

Obviously I understand that afrojack prepare more his sets on important occasions, but I think that part of the essence of the DJ profession is knowing how to mix songs according of the crowd, what do you think?

[@ismanieto99]

The crowd of a big festival i think needs some prepare and play something new, its not the same play at small party as a big festival...

[@DawnHub666]

Preparation makes you better. Faking it with a pre-recorded set is cheating. Understand the difference.

[@neurobits]

And it looks like doing that. He's not preparing a playlist for an underground club. He's preparing for a specific festival, year, country, live and future youtube viewers. That's what he said. It's fair. I mean, Wonderland is about party, pop and show. It is not like Detroit Music Festival,

[@JanMiedema88]

@@DawnHub666 Well this was definitely true the last decade. BUT.... technology makes deejaying so extremely simple now that preparation is actually very, very close to "pre-recording". If you already know your song order, you already set the cue points, you already know exactly when hit "play" to get a nice transition. You already know everything, you don't have to do much on the stage. Except for being focussed and not miss your original idea (not pressing play too late). Technology has made the deejaying SO easy, with sync feature on, all the deejay has to do is press play on the right time. Put off the bass EQ of the incoming track, put it back on at the right time. That's about it. I am a deejay myself. And I'm a bit lost really. From vinyl to CD's to the sync-is-already-done era. It's too easy. It's so easy that your statement "its cheating" is almost not true anymore. Deejaying is cheating, whatever you do. Live or not. It's too easy.

[@lunarthespacecat7772]

the one thing i appreciate is seeing all the producers slowly come out on camera and reveal themselves.

[@mitxva115]

To me, this was the Best Vlog that I 've ever seen. besides DJing this explanation was awesome

[@chrisogrady28]

I personally never go to a gig/rave/club to just get pissed and listen to music, I only go to events where actual artists are performing, be it a rock band or a hardcore DJ. Seeing the likes of DJ Gammer scratching and fast mixing, clearly dead focussed the whole time, or standing behind Kerri Chandler as he live mixes 4 tape decks reel to reel playing godly house I"ve never heard before. It's a special experience and I'd always much prefer that even if there are mistakes or famous songs missing, than some soulless producer that just pops a playlist of their famous tracks on. Always perform live, we fuckin pay for it.

[@marcv.8295]

I dont really have a Problem with prerecorded sets. The only thing i dont like is that most Djs play their same set over and over again. It gets so boring to hear the same songs in the same order without any changes.

[@tricia7171]

Marc V. That's a pre recorded set P it's pretty embarrassing when everybody yells out one more song and the DJ goes back to his opening part of his set because I can't get to a song because it's all pre recorded or when you go to 1 city to see him because you love him and hes your favorite DJ and is the exact same set with the exact same songs in the exact same

[@chrisb4907]

Contradiction in terms

[@brentkarlsson6349]

100% correct. big festivals need to be prepared, especially when your on a short timeframe. But you definitely have to know how to read a crowd and play what everyone wants.

[@sashlynpather6287]

Loved this talk with Afrojack! Been a fan since the Bangduck days.

[@kaeli1983]

Sashlyn Pather Yesss!

[@Neckbrah]

same

[@zpllighting642]

They touched on this briefly though a bit vaguely but one of the things most fans may not realize is the amount of production that goes into a major festival. Though the fans are there for the DJs, they also expect to see the visuals, lasers, special effects, e.t.c and they want them to be on point. For the whole production to be in sync, everyone needs to know what's happening and what's about to happen. No matter how skilled a lighting designer, video jockey or laser jockey someone may be, it is impossible to give the quality of production the fans want at a major show or festival without at least parts of it being pre recorded. Lighting and laser cues need to be set up ahead of time, video clips need to be arranged ahead of time and everything needs to be timed to a fraction of a second so that someone doesn't miss a drop or come in too soon with a particular effect. When it comes to club shows and underground shows where the production is much smaller, the DJ as well as the lighting and effects crews have more freedom to do their own thing so there's no need for pre recorded sets. But major events like festivals have very little room artistic license outside of what's already been planned. That's how the production can be so impressive with everything working in sync.

[@boltair3]

The important thing is you make "music" you're an artist, so it's ok to make pre planned sets

[@only_1_kinobi]

I’ve watched this a few times just because it’s Great to see 2 very technical djs just having a casual chat and learning a few things along the way

[@djoliashman3638]

Luke, you are spot on with the fun aspect of doing it for real. Personally I have prepared and practiced sets and then come to do the actual gig and found it a bit of a let down for me (the crowd enjoyed it as the mixing was perfect). Now, I tend to have tracks that I know mix well and group these tracks in my head. Then when djing I can move with the crowd and between the groups of tracks. In my mind I have bridge tracks between the groups so it flows smoothly. Interesting to hear Afrojack's opinion and your own, I guess it really shows that djing really is an art and people will find different ways to do that art. Thanks for the VLOG

[@daivat97]

Really loved the real talk. No bullshit, all real talk. Respect to both of you, since usually artists don't talk about it fearing backlash from other people. I'd really like to see more real talk vlogs like these in the future :D Cheers!

[@dj_paultuk7052]

Im with Luke. Im an old school Vinyl large Club DJ from the 1990's and love doing real mixing, scratching, beat matching, and playing on the Fly to a crowd. Dont do it anymore as im old and retired, but kinda wish i did. HUGE respect to Luke for what he does. I listen to his music all day every day and absolutely love it. LL's No.1 UK Fan.

[@Parafinelia483]

Paul Taylor do what you love. Were you a London DJ?

[@ivanmartinez632]

Do you like old tiesto and Paul Oakenfold?

[@bigdaddy4302]

DJ_PaulTUK no one cares what you are

[@Cyber_cvlt]

I started djing 5 years ago and I find it a lot more fun to mix live than have a prerecorded set. You can learn from your mistakes , as they said you can play in on the crowd to see what they like , they know you're a "real" dj and so on. I mean it's just way more fun to see all people going wild on a set you played live than just pressing play and acting like it's live. It gives me a much better feeling about myself.

[@JohnPaul-cr9ye]

Do one with Alesso....Ask him WTF is happening

[@RowledAVA]

with that?

[@maharnuprimavasa]

What happen with Alesso?

[@moneym3]

??????

[@kasheYT]

he's talking about his sets, what else?

[@nonamebrand2079]

he probably just in it for the money at this point. sets just become a money bag, and hes focused on the money. every set for him is atleast 85k so if he played the same set over and over its just easy money.

[@DUHvendra]

Afrojack is so articulate, perceptive, knowledgable, balanced and walks a thin line everywhere between everything with such grace. In a sadistic way i appreciate he understands the weight of his fans expectations that lie on his shoulders and that he takes his responsibility seriously.

[@marcelnubaum4885]

The two most talented and most honest dj's on this planet love u both❤

[@hamonrye9823]

I like how laidback luke pushes to keep an edge and learn the art. My djing skills have increased dramatically since watching all these laidback luke vlogs

[@djfxnc]

That's so true Afrojack, thanks for be real...

[@kennyzail6224]

Nice to hear to the truth!!! Knowing that the light cues, the dancers, the special effects, all have to be sync'd. That is why it has to be pre-planned. The crowds knowing they are going to hear the hits is so important. Great job!!!

[@bradmiller3552]

Got a lot of respect for Afrojack talking about this as bluntly and honestly as possible. Great vid

[@XX-121]

*cuntly

[@beta171085]

I love Afrojack's style of DJ and the beats he chooses and prepares, the effect on how we perceive and interact with the set and beats is all planned like an 'orchestra' if you will. It's all about timing and I feel the energy off him! Keep up the great work!

[@maharnuprimavasa]

Afrojack is monitoring this Vlog and comments on this Vlog now as he said during live broadcast on Facebook 😊😊😊😊😊

[@foxploxfox]

As a non fan, this honest opinion from these guys is appreciated! Clears up a lot!

[@erickauffmann_official]

Great stuff Luke! Thanks for doing this :)

[@mattcgarland]

I love this discussion. Such a clear and practical view touching on what makes an artist vs DJ.. and a good read on what's important to the audience in different contexts.

[@marcanthony520]

opening a can of worms ... love it ! respect both guys!

[@lYoLoSwAgl]

This is why afrojack is such a good DJ, he's good prepared and makes every party to a banger! It's great to hear how he prepares and chooses his songs! Love for both of you! :D

[@ofcAlejandroFlores]

Never clicked so fast on a vdeo

[@maharnuprimavasa]

full version in fb btw

[@FUTrading]

when you're pulling in 20k crowds i don't think they're there for your dj'ing abilities, let's be real.. they just want a good time

[@maartenvanheumen6808]

Ben niet altijd even fan van Afrojacks muziek en houding maar hier heeft hij wel een mooi inkijkje gegeven in de industrie. Thanks Luke en Nick!

[@pleban833]

I have mixed feelings now. I get it what Afrojack said, and have nothing against that, but at the same time my respect increased for Laidback Luke for his sets which are non prepared. Think is up to dj as well to keep peace with himself inside. I know for most of people makes no difference if you play acapella, loop and track on three separated decks and mix them, or you prepare them before and then play, but... inside myself I will feel soooooooooo much better if I do it right at this time. Sorry for my English. Love the video and can't wait for denon controller set from Luke cause I own one, mc 7000. Peace.

[@roygaribay7331]

Laidback Luke and A-track still keep it real 🙏👌 you remind me A lot of me when I use to dj 2007 - 2014 always live sets with 3 cdj's some people thought I would be playing prerecorded mixes 😅 I love djing and I miss it, that's why I get goosebumps and almost cry when I listen to you dj. I feel the same way that the real most important part of djing is quickly being forgotten. Keep real djing alive for us!! 🙏

[@shahik.s3251]

I LIKE the thought in between . 🙋 Ü should prepare 50% and do it live 50 %

[@thisisjdos]

The art of dj is very much alive! While some of us can't scratch, there's a variety of skillets that go into djing that we ALL learn eventually. It's awesome to hear Riddim artists and house heads come together and mesh ideas and make jokes about faders and beat matching and cues etc. A lot of people are coming to rely on sync and automation, but that doesn't mean there aren't passionate kids behind the decks who want that perfect live blend. And for that I say thanks Luke you've taught me and a ton of other passionate DJ'S the skills needed to jump in the game!

[@jayhaven1850]

I've seen dj play the same pre recorded set at a pool party on the same day at EDC Vegas this year. Or dj play the same/similar pre recorded set every other month at club shows and festival.

[@desireedoubleyou]

JAY HAVEN WHO?! SO I KNOW NOT TO FKN GO & WASTE MY $$$$ lmao

[@luisitolasvegas]

I'm a little late to the conversation, but as an unknown old school DJ, the best times I've ever had were the impromptu sets, where you have an idea of what you wanna play, start and then you read the crowd say "Well this ain't workin'" then you switch out to something that moves the crowd and thats when the party really starts. Thanks for this really cool VLOG.

[@rixbills1912]

I am 51 now, started DJing when i was 15, took a break in the mid 90s, 20 years later I have a mini studio again in my home. I was amazed how different it is now and how many young "DJs" dont know how to really 'DJ.' If you have never used vinyl on a turntable and had to beatmatch, while trying to find, or know, a song that mixes well with what you are playing, and if you have never made people get off their butts and move while doing that, then you have not truly "DJ'd." And you are missing out. Keep the art form pure, even while being creative with technology! I love EDM music and am often in my mini studio making tunes and trax, never to old to learn new things, but always remember the old ways, because without them, we wouldnt have what we have today.

[@ItsGrantM]

You can't knock his honesty, bravo! The bottom line is, you cant please everyone. Do what you are happy with, and if people are entertained by what your doing then your doing a good job. Simple.

[@XX-121]

i just did.

[@jacxx108]

As long as I have the time of my life, whether it be a club or festival show, I couldn't care less if the set was prerecorded or not

[@about30llamas]

High key, you guys just gained so much respect in my book for making this video and absolutely agree with what you guys said! I've been listening to all walks of EDM for over 13 years and there is no doubt that there's something missing from some "DJ's" sets lately. I completely understand why artist are making pre-recorded playlist but I give alot of respect to artist/DJs who are doing stuff outside the box and out of their comfort zone! Great video Luke keep it up man! 👌

[@fra2699]

Who else want an "Hardwell & Laidback Luke - Dynamo" follow up??😍

[@shankzdank]

Being able to watch talks like this is amazing. Seeing what really goes through the heads of the people behind the turntables/laptops/mixers as a fan is awesome. I've been a huge fan of EDM my whole life and, being a dj myself, when I go watch a set, I not only have a good time, I listen to exactly what the artists are doing. I am part of the 10%. I live in Miami and I HATE festivals like Ultra Miami. Artists go out to Ultra to bust out the craziest sets they've ever performed, but I don't feel the vibe and love of a festival at all. It just feels like a huge party filled with drunk and drugged out people. Seldom are there festivals where you can feel that the crowd around you really love the music that's playing as much as you do. And it's at these festivals where the artists and the fans really have a good time and feel the PLUR vibes

[@HybridTrapMusic]

Love this vid thanks guys!

[@sissiwasabi]

i dj for about 2 years now and i try to do it „the old fashioned way“. you guys inspirate me to continue it that way and i hope that i can be one of many people, that „reinvent the art of dj‘ing“. thank you, dj tlm, laidback luke, afrojack, qbert, and so many more for all your youtube videos.

[@christopherfernandes8938]

Yes I am one of the 10% of your fans Afro

[@marcdsvx9]

i thought a hair was on my screen with you profile pic

[@XX-121]

@@marcdsvx9 i thought it was a pube when i saw his comment.

[@kebabassajanas6268]

@@marcdsvx9 gššų

[@olegiezer]

Love this blog! Thanks guys. Growing up in the 80s I was a Hip Hop Electro DJ, that was what I really liked to do, but whenever I was DJing a party only a small section of my play for the night involved me doing what I really liked to do. As a DJ who is getting payed to fill the dance floor you don't always get to play what you want all the time. I imagine it is very different for you guys. People are showing up to watch you perform, that is very rarely the case when you are DJing a wedding, special function, etc.. None the less when I get to do what I want is usually in a private set at the house. In the old days it took work to organize your crates and put a playlist together, It still does, just much quicker. I appreciate any set I hear that required someone investing time to put it together. Technology is good, I still think you need to be able to DJ well on the fly to be considered a quality DJ. Just my opinion. Thank again!

[@ghostwreckeriii6074]

Pre recorded mixes xD hahahahahah. That title made my face crumble apart uwu

[@XX-121]

he does it. that's why luke wanted his comments for the vid.

[@terrypring8862]

It’s taken me a while to getting round to watching this video but it was amazing seeing both my Dj / producer idols keeping it real. The amount of times I’ve traveled around the uk following these guys and seriously it was worth it. When these guys play live you never forget it. You could hate dance music before they come on to do a set but by the end of the night your hitting up Spotify to get the back catalogs of what you have missed. I know the music will always change and technology will move forward but staying true to the 10% of hard core fans you have is worth more than any record could ever make you. Proof is here, as I’m still on the afrojack / laidback Luke rave train and will always be thank you both for taken the time to do this video.

[@u_mad5135]

ITS A FACT that now a days their is no fuckin djing ... new kids are 120 % focused on production side they know this gonna give them gigs and shows not learning djing ,, as MARTIN was at tommorowland .... what he was doing like just filter out the drop and new tracks kicks and he is like fully sweatty that he just scratch n mix fucking 500 songs in a hour ,, actually he was sweaty because in 3 minuites of track for say, 15 sec holding knob of filter and 2 sec changing the track rest he is jumping and smiling ....jumping .... smiling... and likewise those GREAT audience of tommorowland ,, they just are very honoured to see martin on dj booth for an hour they dnt give a shit about djing ...(respect for him as an incredible producer (Y) )...... BUT That thing sort of hurts man really but still people are the real power holders... I KNow for sure in coming time soon the real djs like you and me= (which are not visible ) will come to light because people cant see same shit for ever then real DJs goona be like headliners but then these so called DJs goona be so long gone in production AnD all that stuff they will never get that experience or learning of vinyls scratching or even on a media player because they never seen that or try to see.. they born with button sync and all ... OR we gonna be the last Ancesstors of real DJING ...!!! WHO KNOWS TIME will tell...!!!

[@captaindon23]

Can you guys make sure the ART doesn't go away! It's great that you are talking about this and enlightening people of what the true foundation is. Luke keep interviewing "real" Djs! Much respect Afrojack

[@swiftleigh9706]

is that just taped harddrives to the back of afrojack's screen??

[@federicofarsura5605]

yes they are

[@Daveyo89]

where else to put all the vengeance samples ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@estuardoalpirezbock121]

Glad to hear you two talking openly about this. One problem with pre-recording instead of improvising is that pre-recorded sets become very predictable as many artists use (almost) the same pre-recorded set in multiple occasions. This takes away the surprise factor from the set, which imo is one of the most important and fun things about watching a dj that you like-not knowing what to expect! A dj set/show might get a bit boring and not worth attending to anymore as the surprise factor gets lost. But at the same time, imagine going to Alesso's show and not hearing Calling, If I lose myself or I wanna know. So the guys do need some good preparation for their sets-I just don't think I'd watch the same dj twice in one year (or even two). Really cool video guys! And happy birthday Afrojack!

[@EricBishard]

Afro Jack does not prerecord, let's not mix up these terms just because laid-back like did on the title of the video. Preplanned is word. And laid-back Luke, like it or not already preplans. To a different level. But still, he mentioned in another video he was given several tracks for his Mexico set(that he played) that is pre planning. I played a set last night that was 80% planned a far as the set list and order, but I ended differently because I felt an energy change and I also asked the next DJ what he was going to play. I worked harder on the decks than the other two DJs I was the most experienced, they did a lot of genre mixing where I went from tech house to bass house progressively. I ended up playing a about 4 extra bass house tracks rather than a few tech house tracks o thought I might play. But every track involved looping, scratching and mixing then on a way that I was doing on the fly, feeling it. Did I plan a lot, yes, did I DJ, YES, did I plan to the crowd, yes. Did anyone there know that there were 5 tracks that I set clear mixing cues on? No, did some fucking amazing, yes. Let me know if you want to hear the set.

[@RowledAVA]

Afrojack had a point. All i can say

[@XX-121]

yeah that he's allowed to pre record a set but if someone else even pre plans one they aren't a real dj. but he still is. man f*** that guy. what a douche nozzle.

[@XX-121]

his s***s trash anyway. afroslack.

[@DJChristo3lektric]

Great words on the topic @Afrojack & @LaidbackLuke Reminds me of our conversation last year, it truly depends on the situation. Some people, especially label owners have a vested interest in promoting the latest records they are releasing as well

[@matsynthr1433]

Mine opinion about is as a DJ and Producer in the club you NEED to play live so you can make the party go crazy! But in a festival where people come for YOUR music its okay to use a pre recorded set!

[@Cerberusarms]

I preplan all my sets in terms of tracks and BPM sections/samples. I'm fairly new to DJing and find having the sets planned help a lot to play a really good show. Free styling is great and shows a lot of skill but I feel like planning the set is a nice medium ground to what we call DJing today. Anything is better than pressing play on a hour long mp3 and pretending to press button.

[@rogerbarks5118]

5:31 Hahahaha

[@carlosmengod6222]

This video really opened up my mind and i got to see things a lot differently than i used to, i’m an upcoming DJ from Venezuela and i really learnt a lot from you guys in the 13 minutes of this video... you changed my whole perspective and thaught me what i have to do to be a real DJ, both of you are my idols!!

[@DJmilianomusic]

Hahahaha '' welcome to my life '' 😂😂 so sad

[@russell6075]

And being a wannbe dj isn't sad

[@jackyleneshah2271]

To be honest, this is the first interview of Afrojack I have ever seen. He made very relevant points (fan base hates when you switch the original drop!). Although it may not be a popular opinion, an artist is worth the crowd that they are capable of attracting. Very interesting video. As always, thanks for sharing a slice of your life with us Luke!!

[@djrolln]

AfroJack makes Laid Back Luke nervous. Dude got sweaty pits soaked enough in that shirt to stop the thirst in Africa!!

[@matisonica1574]

so humble of you to share that moment with afrojack.....blessings and keep it up

[@Daniel-yb9to]

There is a huge difference between prepping and pre-recorded.IMO If you have a set list prepped I see absolutely nothing wrong with that because you are still carrying the burden to beat match,make sure your pitch and BPM are at their right levels,your loops are there when needed and your transitions are top notch.You are still DJ'ing and are still showcasing your skills to the crowd,even with a set list prepare.As for pre-recorded,now you are not a DJ.You are now pushing a button and fake knob touching for the crowd and pray to god the photographer doesn't got a shot of the crowd from behind you and see that only one CDJ is on and has a 1 hour track loaded.So great to hear from two DJ's I grew up watching for so long

[@tenrohle]

I saw Afrojack in Ultra Festival in Tokyo. He played a set exactly like what he's talking about, with one addition. He played a mashup of Ace The Space - 9 Is A Classic. That shit blew my mind. I knew it was a 10% of the crowd moment but for me it was the high point of the set.

[@F4FRoOGLE]

Afrojack looks like Alistair Overeem Jr. haha

[@THEcolewright]

FRoOGLE PoWER bro I've always thought this

[@normallyimnuts767]

Probably the only "EDM EUROTRASH" DJ I respect. Dudes got skills. Luke's the man.

[@christopherboyle2711]

Here's to the 10%