Scratching new music
Turntable wizards
By Veronica Li
Scratching records on turntables not only can make a piece of music sound different, but also can
create a new piece of music.
Turntablism involves manipulations of rhythms and melodies.
It is a kind of DJ mixing, linking different pieces of music together without pauses in between.
Therefore, a turntablist not only uses turntables to play music, but also uses them to manipulate special sound effects and create a mood with music.
In fact, turntablism stems from hip-hop DJ’ing.
Mr. Yuen Chi Chung is the editor of Music Colony, a biweekly music magazine.
“In the ’60s, some creative music lovers invented scratching from cueing a record back and forth to produce funky and rhythmic sound. It was a breakthrough at the time,” he said.
It was not until the early ’80s, however, that turntablism became a mainstream musical form in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Since then, in the early ’90s, new scratching techniques have developed.
Hip-hop disc jockeys keep on trying different methods of mixing, like cutting and scratching, to manipulate tones and melodies.
Mr. Pang Wing Hoi, professionally known as DJ Bee, is a turntablist who has practised turntablism for nearly 20 years.
“I’ve liked going to discos since I was 18,” said DJ Bee. “I was very amazed when I first saw disc jockeys mixing different pieces of music to charge the atmosphere in discos.
“I fell in love with turntablism immediately and soon I brought a mixer home for practice.”
Turntablism has attracted many young people.
Said DJ Bee: “Beginners have to work hard to learn the new equipment and techniques to play music.
“They also have to make an effort to be familiar with different pieces of music in terms of their titles, structures and moods, in order to make a better arrangement of the resulting mixed piece.”
He added that even experienced turntablists continually have to increase their musical sense and knowledge by reading music books and magazines.
Although it is easy for beginners to learn to scratch the turntables, it is difficult for them to become experts.
Mr. Hon Wai Man, better known as DJ Man, is a turntablist who has practised turntablism for 14 years.
Said he: “On average, it takes about 10 hours for beginners to learn the basic skills.
“However, only basic skills are not enough. What makes you superior to others is the feeling you express in the mixing.
“If the turntablists are exposed to various types of music, their feelings about music will definitely be stronger and they will have more creative ideas in arranging the mixed music.”
Sophisticated turntablists arouse the emotions of the audience, creating a better atmosphere.
They also share their own experiences and emotions with the audience through music.
To be a good turntablist, cooperation between body and mind is crucial.
“Turntablists have to, on the one hand, control the tempo of the music,” said DJ Man. “On the other, they also have to consider a proper point for linking two pieces of music together without ruining the overall mood in order to make sure the beat does not go wrong.
“Therefore, our ears have to be highly sensitive to different parts of the music.”
He said a lack of promotion and support from the mass media is one of the reasons that turntablism is not very popular in the local market.
“The scope of music that Hong Kong people listen to is very narrow,” said DJ Man. “They are mostly interested in Cantonese pop music, but they pay less attention to foriegn music.
“However, foreign music usually contains more different, special and new elements, including turntablism.”
Nevertheless, the popularity of turntablism is increasing in Hong Kong.
The main reason is that turntablism has started to penetrate some pop music in Hong Kong.
“The trend of adding scratching effects to pop music has become a hit,” said Music Colony’s Mr. Yuen. “The recording companies foresee a potentially big market for this type of music and therefore are asking the producers to have a try.
“It is just like the fashion market. When there appears to be a new opportunity, people will rush into that business immediately.”
He further pointed out that some producers in Hong Kong like using computers instead of employing professional turntablists to produce special scratching effects.
“The standard of turntable music in Hong Kong, therefore, is lower,” said Mr. Yuen.
DJ Man added, “Hong Kong music producers are keen on playing live band music, but they are not familiar with turntablism.”
Therefore, professional turntablists welcome the emergence of turntablism in Hong Kong’s pop music because they think this will help its development.
Mr. Billy Ng, also called DJ Billy, is a turntablist who has practised turntablism for 16 years.
Said he: “At least the audience can be exposed to a new kind of music.
“Once they listen to more and grasp more knowledge about turntablism, their demand for quality will increase.
“Then I believe that the overall quality will improve faster.”
Although turntablism is somewhat like playing musical instruments, it sometimes makes a negative impression on the public.
Continued DJ Billy: “The public often relates this profession with negative things such as drugs and triad activities, which are often found in discos.
“But what we do in discos is only a job to provide music and to entertain people. We are not selling drugs or doing anything illegal.”
DJ Bee agreed. “That is a reason thatturntablism is still not a very big hit in Hong Kong, despite the fact that it has long existed here.”
Therefore, it is important to educate the public to change their perceptions of the profession.
“It depends on the attitudes of the users,” said Mr. Yuen.
“Turntablism can be interpreted in various ways. For example, most people rather regard it as a street culture.
“People might actually consider it an art.
“Turntablists are like painters that create art to express their feelings, but using mixing equipment instead of brushes.”
He said turntablism is part of youth culture because it is most popular among young people.
“There should not be any barriers or restrictions to prohibit them from practising turntablism,” said Mr. Yuen.
“Instead, young people should be encouraged to practise it.”
DJ Bee said turntablism is a way to relax.
And it can train people’s ability to concentrate.
“Moreover, once people are addicted to it, they will spend less time on other meaningless things,” added he.
