Rhythm and Ray: A DJ’s Journey

[Chapter 7: Nightlife]

"Nashville's nightlife is pretty vibrant. There are a few well-known bars, historic pubs, and lounges, but no nightclubs," Joel explained as he drove his Toyota Corolla.

At that moment, the vehicle cruised down Nashville's Music Row, with bright neon signs glowing on both sides. This area thrived with singers and drinkers, and the entire street was lined with bars. The Bluebird Cafe, known for its strong live performance atmosphere, was said to be the spot where Taylor Swift was discovered by former Big Machine Records executive Scott Borchetta.

Perhaps it was this thick live performance vibe that made nightclubs less popular around here.

"Country music can be considered 'adult contemporary music.' It doesn't have to be played just in country spaces. Electronic music, though, is only really listened to by young people and is mainly suited for nightclubs," Joel explained.

"That's why I said you should go to Florida or Los Angeles. They've got famous DJs and massive nightclubs that can hold thousands, filled with the prettiest girls. But the real paradise for electronic music is Ibiza. I dream of buying a mansion there someday."

Everyone needs a dream; you never know when it might come true.

...

Before long, their car pulled up to the entrance of an alleyway. The area was a far cry from the neon-lit bar scene, looking quite desolate. Men congregated nearby, smoking cigarettes. They donned stylish outfits with New Era baseball caps, comfy hoodies, and sneakers like Dunks, Air Jordans, and Vans Old Skools.

From a distance, Ryan glanced over and instantly recognized their outfits. As a former model, the original person was good at dressing up and familiar with these trendy pieces. He had bought many in the past, but Ryan wasn't really into fashion anymore; he preferred a casual and comfortable style.

"Vanderbilt University is right around the corner. You'll find plenty of young people gathering here every weekend," Joel commented.

As they reached the nightclub entrance, a line had formed, not because of any great popularity, but because security checked everyone's outfits. Joel was practically an employee here; he led Ryan past the guard until Ryan was stopped.

"Hey, big guy! He's my friend and performing with me tonight!" Joel said, pushing Ryan inside and finally gaining entry.

"Face control -- you know what that is, right? They selectively let in those who look more appealing. If you're a good-looking girl, you can cut in line, and sometimes you don't even have to pay cover. But to be fair, your outfit doesn't really meet the dress code," Joel said, eyeing Ryan's large GAP logo on his shirt.

...

The pair descended the stairs into the basement, where the walls were covered in graffiti. Two couples lingered in a corner, whispering to one another.

As they walked through a large door, the muffled sounds became clear -- it was two robotic voices repeating, ♫Push me And then just touch me 'Til I can get my Satisfaction♫

"That song is Satisfaction by Italian DJ Benny Benassi. The vocals were synthesized using Apple's PlainTalk technology. It peaked at number two on the UK charts and was the first electronic song of the new millennium to hit the mainstream. It's one of the standard tracks I picked for this nightclub," Joel explained.

They finally entered the main area of the nightclub, which was much smaller than Ryan imagined. It formed an L-shape, featuring only five tables and a bar. Further inside was a dance floor surrounded by iron railings, with a DJ booth at the far end.

It was still before nine o'clock, and only two tables were occupied, while the dance floor remained empty.

...

"Hey Joel, how much did you earn last month? My salary has dropped for four consecutive months now," the Black bartender greeted Joel from behind the bar.

"That's because you're selling less and less alcohol..." a well-dressed manager passing by remarked.

"I'm a bartender, not a salesperson," the bartender retorted, eyeing a table closest to the dance floor, which was surrounded by seven or eight young and attractive women. They wore fitted dresses and high-heeled sandals, boasting slim figures and vibrant looks.

...

"The attractiveness of a nightclub doesn't come from the decor, the drinks, or even the DJ's fame. It's all about how pretty the ladies are," Joel whispered to Ryan. "The more beautiful the women, the richer the men they attract -- simple but effective economics."

"The manager, bartenders, and security are essentials in every nightclub. Plus, there are promoters. They aren't employees of the club but have a working relationship with it. They bring in girls, reserve tables; some just enhance the scenery, while others serve drinks and even go home with patrons. Top promoters often run in circles of the elite, so they have access to the best-looking girls!" After greeting the bartender and manager, Joel nodded to a bearded man in the booth, indicating his connection as a promoter.

"As for the DJ, he's just a performer -- not essential. Did you hear the manager's complaints? Business isn't great this year, especially with two more nightclubs opening nearby. It's currently 8:45; we still have 15 minutes to get ready..."

...

Joel and Ryan finally reached the DJ booth, where they spotted two electronic devices; precisely, there were two turntables arranged horizontally, with a series of buttons and sliders in between, resembling a control panel for a sophisticated instrument.

"This is the Pioneer DDJ-RX, standard equipment for DJs today," Joel explained, spinning one of the turntables. "This is called a CDJ; it functions similarly to early record players. This is a turntable, used to adjust the speed and sync the beats of two songs.

The mixer in the middle controls the output of the players. For instance, Song A may only output high frequencies, while Song B only outputs low and mid frequencies, creating a seamless transition between the two -- this is the basic job of a DJ; do you understand?"

Ryan shook his head.

Joel tossed him a pair of monitoring headphones. "You'll understand after a bit of watching."

...

For the next three hours, Joel crafted a non-stop musical experience, spinning everything from Around the World (La La La La La) by A Touch of Class to Push the Feeling On by MK and Nightcrawlers, and the disco hit The Rhythm of the Night.

From Kernkraft 400, frequently played in stadiums, to the striking visuals from last year's Coachella featuring Daft Punk performing HARDER, BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER, and Tiesto remixing classical music with ADAGIO FOR STRINGS, as well as the classic in the electronic genre -- L'Amour Toujours.

Joel was truly an electronic music enthusiast, curating a setlist filled with classic tracks of the genre.

Ryan also noticed another special aspect: all of the electronic music, its creators, producers, and audience, predominantly thrived in Europe. It felt like American popular music existed in an entirely different parallel universe.

"Exactly, America is a barren desert for electronic music since the Disco Night disaster thirty years ago..." Joel explained the awkward position of electronic music in America.

*****

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