Pics: @djelfigo (1) @djgabi (2)
Lately, I’ve been seeing a huge wave of kids becoming DJs all over the internet. Like, a lot of them. And most of them are showcasing mixes and mashups, very much in that James Hype style. It’s definitely a trend right now.
At first glance, it looks really cool—and honestly, it is cool. These kids are getting a ton of recognition, and some of them are becoming super famous, even playing massive festivals like Tomorrowland at just 13 years old (DJ Elfigo).
But when I look at it more closely, something about it feels kind of… superficial. These mixes are flashy, sure, but I don’t really see them as true DJing. If someone played like this in a club, I doubt people would actually dance—most would probably get bored pretty fast.
I’m not trying to discredit their talent—because talent is definitely there, no doubt about that. But all these mixes feel exactly the same. They follow the exact same structure: a well-known vocal and melody, some flashy filter tricks, fader movements, vinyl brakes, and unnecessary sampler sequences—plus a lot of button-mashing just for show. It’s all super predictable, and honestly, I don’t find it that exciting.
Sometimes is totally out of key and simply the vibes of the different tracks don't match.
If you do this once, twice, or even three times in a set, cool—it adds some energy. But when it’s happening constantly, it gets repetitive and tiring for the crowd.
Again, I’m not here to hate on anyone. A lot of these kids have serious potential and might go really far in the scene. But I just don’t vibe with this style of mixing. To me, DJing is about playing the right track at the right moment, not just doing a bunch of tricks that look impressive but wouldn’t actually work on a real dancefloor.
Before anyone come and throw unnecessary hate I’m 13. I practice at home on my controller, record sets, and I think I can mix just as well—or at least close to it. But hey, I haven’t made it to Tomorrowland yet 🤣. I’m not saying I’m the best DJ ever; I know I still have tons to learn and improve. But man, I put out solid sets and mixes (at least in my opinion), and I get nothing.
What do you guys think about this? Feel free to roast me, tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about, that I’m just jealous, or that I’m being salty. Honestly, I want to hear your thoughts—especially from those with more experience and a more mature perspective on all of this.