Photos by Karl Schonemann
"Why you don't have Serato?" Uproot Andy asked me before our special gig at El Museo two weeks ago. I couldn't give him an exact answer. I have random thoughts when it comes to the use of that vinyl emulation software that allows DJs to play digital files through the turntables. The easiest way to face the discussion of "why vinyl when you can have more in MP3" is to hide behind a collector's pathology I think I have. That is bullshit. Although I collect and only play vinyl, I don't prefer them to CDs or MP3 files. Of course a vinyl is a beautiful object to have and feel, but I love to have music in any form. Anyway, I started to DJ with vinyl and have never been in the need to use something else. I always find good records to play, and -even in recession- have the money to buy them.
Being a soulful house music DJ helps the cause. They still print vinyl in the US and the UK. Andy, on the contrary, plays music from countries like Colombia, where vinyl printing stopped years ago. (To play traditional music from a developing country using a high-end technology is quite a paradox.) It makes complete sense that Serato and portable hard drives are part of his equipment.
After watching Andy so comfortable, skillful and happy with Serato, I thought in crossover to digital for the first time. At some point I would like to play music that I don't have in vinyl. Moreover, house heads friends and big time collectors like Karl Schonemann and Santamaria -who use Traktor- keep talking about the great new music that is being released now in digital. These are good reasons, but I'm not going to do it though. At least for now. I have no brain for the dilemma plus last Saturday Moodyman and some other DJs played a fun only vinyl underground house party.
No offense to my fellow digital DJs but you gotta love Moodyman's T-shirt text: "Hey laptop DJ, your girlfriend prefers 12 inches."
