Mobile technology has come on leaps and bounds in recent years and paved the way for major inseparability from our iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones. Brits are spending more time glued to mobiles than ever before; they’re even spending more dosh through them, what with fast-growing online retailers wise to the fact that such devices offer another key retail platform. Is it any wonder, then, that the music industry has gotten involved too?
Clubland, in particular…. Today’s tech savvy clubbers represent an ideal, more-than-willing audience for the wide and exciting range of dance-related, DJ-backed apps that have been dropping recently. Understandably, superstar DJs like David Guetta are keen to embrace mobile technology as a risk-free way in which to engage their fans even more effectively.
In October Guetta launched an application for the iPhone alongside EMI Music, allowing listeners to not only track his gigs and download news and photo updates, but remix hit single Sexy Chick via a mini-mixing desk. “I’ve always been fond of new technologies” he explained, “and this application allows me to be close to my fans in a new and interactive way.”
Long before that, however, Canada’s inimitable prog-trancer Deadmau5 had unveiled his own pivotal ‘Touch Mix’ download. Unveiled at the start of 2009, the app offered two ‘virtual decks’, crossfader, volume controls, sound FX, and adjustable BPM. Beatport quickly heralded Touch Mix as “revolutionary” and a possible “forerunner to how DJing software on the platform should work.” Of course, users could only play with 10 or so Deadmau5 tunes but here was the start of something big.
“I suppose it’s the ease of use that has come from the rise in popularity of touch-screens that has helped a lot,” comments Tom Wiggins, News Editor at key technology ‘n’ gadgets magazine Stuff. “Many of these new music apps also offer a simple but effective way of creating your own music with relatively little experience or talent – and everyone loves feeling like a rock star or superstar DJ don’t they!?”
Deutsch dance legend Paul Van Dyk was another in on the app act this year. Rather than provide a basic mix tool, his download works as an accompaniment to real DJ sets – users can access a BPM counter, frequency analyzer, decibel meter, vibration reader and itinerary manager. The app even doubles as a torch and virtual glow stick; handy when you’re scrabbling around for music in a darkened DJ booth.
“I had great fun being part of the development team for my app” Van Dyk reflected recently. “I think both aspiring and professional DJs will have great fun using it. On a practical level it has everything a DJ needs.”
The music app revolution, then, is showing no signs of abating; if anything it’s speeding up. Only this week, Defected made its very own mobile move with an application connecting fans to the latest info about the label and its events, and dishing up audio player, pod and video-cast facilities. Mobile music specialists Amidio have also just released meaty $19.99 download Touch DJ, which puts a fairly real-deal two-track digital mixing set-up straight into your back pocket. Whatever next?
More revolution is what. Music apps are arriving bigger, quicker and smarter these days, not to mention more frequently. ‘Mobile disco’ has never been so cool….
Defected’s new iPhone app is available now to download at Apple’s App Store.
