Techno Track: "Bolivia - Foundation (Original Mix)"

Here's another one of my tracks for you to check out.  I'm still working on my website rebuild, every day, but I'm getting very close to finished.  I'll almost certainly be able to sit back and catch my breath by this weekend.

In the meantime, let's focus on this track, "Foundation."  I'll have a free download link below.

Here's a link to the track on SoundCloud.  You can also click on the down-arrow in the top right to download the mp3 directly from SoundCloud:

"Foundation" is a techno track characterized by a consistent beat and solid rhythm. From the start, the kick establishes a foundation upon which the rest of the track builds. The percussion maintains a consistent tempo throughout, providing a sense of reliability and stability. As the track progresses, subtle variations and layers are introduced, but the underlying foundation remains unwavering. It serves as a musical anchor, ensuring a cohesive and predictable listening experience.

The track's structure is built upon repetition and continuity, mirroring the reliability of a strong foundation. Each element integrates with the next, creating a mix that listeners can rely on. There are no sudden shifts or surprises; instead, the track unfolds methodically, reinforcing its steadfast nature. Like a well-built structure, "Foundation" stands firm, providing a sense of security and consistency in its sound.

As the track evolves, it maintains its solid base, never wavering from its established rhythm. This sense of reliability extends beyond the music itself, embodying a broader concept of dependability and trustworthiness. Whether on the dancefloor or in everyday life, "Foundation" serves as a reminder of the importance of consistency and stability.  You're only as good as your word.  Speak the truth to others.

In essence, "Foundation" is more than just a techno track; it's a testament to the power of consistency and reliability.

I also put up a version of this track on YouTube.  The visuals accompanying the track were done by an AI, although the music is my own of course.  These AI visuals are very rudimentary.  But thanks to OpenAI's Sora, my future music videos may look a LOT more professional:

To check out and/or download any of my other tracks, visit:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks for visiting, and thanks for the support!

- Jonathan Clark (DJ Bolivia)
www.djbolivia.ca

Distortion in Windows Media Player

Fifteen years ago, I published a post on my personal (non-music) tree planting blog, talking about how to solve distortion problems in Windows Media Player.  Some people are still using this app on older operating systems, and continuing to run into problems, so I'm going to migrate that information to this music blog.  But remember, this is for the Legacy player, not the new one!

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Have you ever listened to songs in Windows Media Player and found them to be distorted in places, so the sound quality is terrible? The same files may play perfectly in all other programs - I've had files that worked in WinAmp, RealPlayer, Quicktime, Nero, and a host of other programs with no problems, yet Windows Media Player would not handle them properly.

As it turns out, MicroSoft has a Creative PlayCenter MP3 decoder resident in the operating system which (in many but not all cases) is what causes the problem. Certain versions of Windows Media Player use this decoder, but there are compatibility problems. If you're not using that decoder file for whatever reason, you probably won't run into the distortion problems.

The simplest way to fix the problem, assuming that you're running on a Windows operating system, is to go down to your start menu on the bottom left side of the screen, click on it, then go into "search." You need to search your C: drive (or whatever drive your O/S resides on) and look for a file called "Ctmp3.acm" - if you can find that file, don't delete it, just rename it to "Ctmp3.bak" instead.

If you can't see the file extensions when you're doing searches (the default option on Windows, but one which I detest and disable immediately whenever I set up a new computer), I'll show you how to make your file extensions visible. Go to Windows Explorer, either through your Start menu or by holding down the "flying window" key (left of your left side alt key) and then pressing the letter "E" at the same time. Next, go into the Tools menu, and chose Folder Options in the drop-down Tools menu. In Folder options, click on the "View" tab. The seventh or eight option in that list usually says "hide extensions for known file types" and has a check beside it. Uncheck this, then click OK. Now you'll always be able to see file extensions in Windows Explorer and associated panels. If you're quite computer savvy, you might also want to set the other three options above and below that let you show hidden files, show O/S files, and display the full path name in the Title Bar (although this is only applicable if you're trying to conserve system resources by switching to Classic View, such as for intensive audio or video processing).

 

Anyway, now you know how to show file extensions, and how to fix the distortion problem on Windows Media Player. This may not be a problem on newer versions of Vista, but it certainly was on certain versions of WMP running on XP.


If you want a different approach to disabling the problem codec, here's another set of instructions:

The Creative Playcenter software rudely blocks the Windows MP3 codec. The following instructions show how to unblock it on Windows XP system. The instructions for other Windows versions are the same except the steps to get to the audio codec area from the control panel varies. Note that this will disable the MP3 capability of the Playcenter software. You can re-enable using the same steps or replace the Playcenter software.

1. Go to the Control Panel
2. Double click on "Sounds & Audio Devices"
3. Select the "Hardware" tab
4. Double-click on "Audio Codecs"
5. Select the "Properties" tab
6. Double-click on ctmp3.acm
7. Select "Do Not Use this Audio Codec"
8. Then click on the "Apply" button


Edit, a few years later:

Please note that there are a few posts online now from MicroSoft that might give you additional insight into this problem. Here are the links:

     answers.microsoft.com suggestion (June 2010)

     support.microsoft.com suggestion (September 2011)

Hopefully, between my own suggested solutions, and the comments that MicroSoft has brought forward, you'll be able to fix any issues that you might have.

Techno Track: "Bolivia - Catharsis (Original Mix)"

Here's another one of my tracks for you to check out.  I've been super busy for the past three weeks, rebuilding my main website from scratch for the first time since 2017, to make it mobile-friendly.  Not surprisingly, it's taken me about four times as long as I had initially expected.  But perhaps that's why it's taken me seven years to find time to start that project.

In the meantime, let's focus on this track, "Catharsis."  I'll have a download link below.

Here's a link to the track on SoundCloud.  You can also click on the down-arrow in the top right to download the mp3 directly from SoundCloud:

"Catharsis," as a concept, embodies the release and purification of emotions through a transformative experience. In the context of this techno track, it symbolizes the power of music to serve as a conduit for emotional expression and healing. The relentless beats and subtle melodies encapsulate the journey of catharsis, guiding listeners through a process of introspection, release, and ultimately, renewal.

Within the confines of the track, each element works in harmony to create an immersive landscape, everything from the constant basslines to the repetitive stabs.  This complexity mirrors the multifaceted nature of human emotions, offering listeners a canvas upon which to project their innermost feelings. As you lose themselves in the music, you'll be encouraged to confront your emotions head-on, allowing those emotions to surface and be acknowledged.

Moreover, "Catharsis" underscores the importance of emotional release and self-discovery. In a world where we all struggle with mental health, where we're overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, and societal pressures, it's crucial for us to find healthy outlets for processing our emotions. Whether it be through music, art, movement, or introspection, engaging in cathartic experiences can lead to a sense of clarity, empowerment, and inner peace.  Inner peace.

Ultimately, the significance of "Catharsis" lies in its ability to remind us of the transformative power of music and the importance of tending to our emotional well-being. By embracing the cathartic journey offered by the track, I invite you to delve deep within yourself, confront your inner demons, and emerge stronger, more resilient, and more attuned to the healing power of self-expression.

I also put up a version of this track on YouTube.  The visuals accompanying the track were done by an AI, although the music is my own of course.  These AI visuals are very rudimentary.  But thanks to OpenAI's Sora, my future music videos may look a LOT more professional:

To check out and/or download any of my other tracks, visit:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks for visiting, and thanks for the support!

- Jonathan Clark (DJ Bolivia)
www.djbolivia.ca

DJ Bolivia - Live in Tokyo at Velours

The other day, I was looking for a blog post from 2007, trying to find a copy of my live show at Velours (and the track listings).  I couldn't find a copy of the set on my SoundCloud page for some reason, nor did I have the full unbroken set in Dropbox.  I found a copy of the set that was cut in half, to accommodate fans who typically had to burn mixes to CD to listen in their car.  Oh what a long way we've come in just fifteen years!  We really don't appreciate how lucky we are these days when it comes to the power of computers and technology.  A lot of the "hi-res graphics" from the early days of my website are only 340 pixels square, if that.  And a lot of my photos were only 450 pixels wide.

Anyway, as I was digging around, I also noticed that I didn't have a track listing that made sense.  I had a track listing in my "Complete Track History" spreadsheet, but as soon as I started to look at it, I realized it wasn't correct (having been listening to the set).

I had to dig deep to find it, but eventually I succeeded!  But what a challenge.  I had to go back into old data files on the Wayback Machine.  But I'm fairly OCD, so it was worth the hunt.

If you'd like to download a copy of the mix, go into my "Live Shows" folder at this link:

djbolivia.ca/mixes

You'll have to grab the 2+ hour long show as two separate segments for now, but I know that I have an original copy of the recording somewhere that I'll put into Dropbox eventually.

Here's a photo page from the trip:  Tokyo Photos, DJ Bolivia

And most importantly, here are the correct track listings:

01.  Project 54 feat. Jason Lord, "Brother" (Jesse Garcia Tribal Spain Remix).

02.  Gainer & Rogers, "Futurenature" (Original Mix).

03.  Minilogue, "In A Deeper Motion" (Original Mix).

04.  D-Formation, "Carry On" (Original Version).

05.  Robert Travis, "Seduction" (Avanti Mix).

06.  MV, "Come Back To Me" (Original Mix).

07.  Transducers, "See You Dance."

08.  Alma Matris, "Rapido" (Back In Town Edge Mix).

09.  Tilt, "Twelve" (Dousk Mix).

10.  Tone Depth & Soul Tan feat. Stephanie Vezina, "Broken" (G. Pal Safe Haven Mix).

11.  G. Pal vs. El Greco, "A Prayer Beneath."

12.  Bush People, "Nothing's Safe."

13.  Little Green Men feat. Eliza, "Through With You" (Thomas Penton Remix).

14.  Chris Cargo, "Saddle Funk" (Graeme L Remix).

15.  Piliavin & Zimbardo, "Just Once."

16.  D-Formation, "Signs And Portents" (Original BF's Version).

17.  Frank Pellegrino feat. Lauren Marie, "Pleasure" (Frank Pellegrino Original Mix).

18.  Dan Berkson, "The Other Side."

19.  Subtone Trio, "Load" (Chab Remix).

20.  North Atlantic, "Mind Filter" (Trendroid Croc Hunter Remix).

Enjoy!

 

 

I'm Jonathan Clark, known online as DJ Bolivia.  Do you want to learn more about DJ'ing and music production?  If so, visit:

djbolivia.ca/training

If you happen to enjoy techno tracks, most of my tracks are available as free downloads from this link:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks so much for visit, and for your support!  I really appreciate the fan base that I've been able to build up over the years.

Also, if you want to visit any of my other sites, here are a few links:

    YouTube:  youtube.com/djbolivia

    SoundCloud:  soundcloud.com/djbolivia

    Blogger:  djbolivia.blogspot.com

    Main Site:  www.djbolivia.ca

Techno Track: "Bolivia - Industrial Psychology (Original Mix)"

Hey everyone, thanks for visiting.  I've been super busy for the past three weeks, rebuilding my main website from scratch for the first time since 2017, to make it mobile-friendly.  Not surprisingly, it's taken me about four times as long as I had initially expected.  But perhaps that's why it's taken me seven years to find time to start that project.

About an hour ago, I uploaded a video to YouTube of one of my tracks from the end of last year.  Yesterday, OpenAI announced news of Sora, their new video generation system.  Holy shit.  AI capabilities have increased at an incredible rate over the past year.  Just think about what things will be like in four more years.  We'll probably be able to log into Netflix and simply enter a prompt about what movie genre we'd like, include any suggestions for actors (existing or AI-generated), and Netflix will use AI to generate a new and unique one-of-a-kind movie just for you.  That kind of progress seems inconceivable today, but AI is advancing quickly enough that this sort of scenario would be entirely possible that soon, based on current exponential development rates.  The only problem will be trying to figure out where to source all the raw materials to build the GPU's that will power the server farms that make this kind of processing possible.

In the meantime, let's focus on this track, "Industrial Psychology."  I'll have a download link below.

Here's a link to the track on SoundCloud.  You can also click on the down-arrow in the top right to download the mp3 directly from SoundCloud:

You may wonder what this track symbolizes.  I'll tell you a story...

In a distant future, where the remnants of nature cling to life among the steel skeletons of once-great cities, a new form of expression emerges, thanks to wispy memories of a long-forgotten techno track called "Industrial Psychology."

Our dismal grey scene is the home of the Reclaimers, a group of digital nomads who traverse the desolate landscapes, seeking to restore balance between technology and the natural world.  Their mission is guided by the belief that the soul of humanity lies in its ability to coexist with Earth's dwindling ecosystems.

The genesis of "Industrial Psychology" unfolds in the mind of Kai, a young Reclaimer with a talent for weaving the sounds of the old world with the digital streams of the new.  Kai discovers an abandoned factory, its machines silent and still, but within it he finds inspiration.  Sampling the whispers of the wind through broken windows, the drip of water reclaiming space, and the distant call of the wild, Kai constructs a track that is a mosaic of the world's forgotten corners.  Little does Kai know that his track, "Industrial Psychology," is based on a deeply repressed cultural memory of an earlier track of the same name, by a forgotten DJ named Bolivia.  However, Kai's music serves as a fourth-dimensional bridge between past and future, a call to remember and rebuild.

"Industrial Psychology" resonates not only as a piece of music but as a symbol of the Reclaimers' ethos. It's played in the reclaimed zones, areas where technology has been harmonized with nature, powering vertical gardens and purifying air, turning the ruins into havens of green amidst the grey. The track becomes a beacon, drawing people from the shadows of the cities to join the Reclaimers' cause.  Each thumping hit of the kick symbolizes past destruction, and subtly underscores the delicate balance between human ingenuity and the natural world.

The climax of this story sees "Industrial Psychology" echoing through the heart of a massive, revitalized city-park during the Equinox Festival, a celebration of the equinox when day and night are in perfect balance.  Industrial Psychology is the theme song for the festival.  It's the soundtrack of a cultural movement, an experience that encapsulates the hope and resilience of a society striving to forge a new path where technology serves as a steward of the earth, not its conqueror.

But in the end, everyone succumbs to acid rain.

Happy Saturday!

I also put up a version of this track on YouTube.  The visuals accompanying the track were done by an AI, although the music is my own of course.  These AI visuals are very rudimentary.  But thanks to OpenAI's Sora, my future music videos may look a LOT more professional:

To check out and/or download any of my other tracks, visit:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks for visiting, and thanks for the support!

- Jonathan Clark (DJ Bolivia)
www.djbolivia.ca

Dune, Part 2 - Walking Without Rhythm

Growing up, Dune was one of my favorite science fiction books.  The Dune timeline turned into a fairly lengthy series of books - six by original author Frank Hebert, and another twenty or so written by his son and co-collaborators.  And to be fair, the quality of the books went downhill fairly quickly (in my opinion).  The second book was panned by many, and that seemed to set the tone for the series.

Yet it survived.

Dune has recently been turned into a couple of movies, as I'm sure that anyone with any connection to modern culture is well aware of.  I guess I can show you the trailers, on the odd chance that you haven't heard of them.

But what you might not have known (because I didn't realize this until earlier today) is that in Dune part 2, Christopher Walken plays the role of Emperor Shaddam IV.  Why is this relevant, and why am I writing about this?  Simple.  When I reminisce about the days of old, and start playing YouTube music videos at 2am, this particular video is always one of my weapons of choice:

One thing that I always liked about this song is the lyric, "Walk without rhythm, and you won't attract the worm."  When Fatboy Slim released this back in 2001, I immediately realized that Norman Cook was referring to the story of Dune.  Hardly anyone else did though, probably just me and about one million other science fiction fans.

Well, now that Dune's worm-riding is about to become entrenched in contemporary pop culture, the lyric should make a lot more sense to everyone.

That's all that I have to say.  Just a brief reflection on one of my favorite music videos from two decades ago.  I'll leave you with the trailers for Dune Part 1 (released last year) and Dune Part 2 (coming out in a couple weeks), and for those of you that missed Part 1 and need a quick synopsis of the story before you head to the theatre, I'll share that below.

 

As promised, here's the Coles' Notes version of the Dune story:

Dune is set in a far-out future where the galaxy is basically a mix of medieval vibes (Middle Eastern influenced) and super advanced tech. The entire universe is hooked on a valuable resource called "spice" or melange. It's only found on a desert planet called Arrakis, which is also known as Dune. Melange can extend a person's life, boost their mental powers, and even let pilots navigate through space without needing a computer.  Needless to say, this potent drug is in high demand.

The main character of the story is Paul Atreides. He's a young prince whose family is given the job of managing the planet Arrakis, taking over from their rivals, the Harkonnens.  Of course, there's a catch: this is basically a setup by the Harkonnens and the Emperor to wipe out the Atreides family, which they believe is getting too powerful and popular.

As Paul grew up, he was trained by his mother (Lady Jessica) in politics, combat, and some other phenomena that are difficult to explain.  Lady Jessica is part of a secretive sisterhood called the Bene Gesserit. The goal of the sisterhood was to manipulate bloodlines and politics to create an entity that they call the Kwisatz Haderach.  And it seems that Paul might be this prophet.

The Harkonnens attack and basically decimate the Atreides forces.  Paul and his mother escape into the desert where they link up with the "Fremen" (free men), who are the hardcore natives of Dune. These folks have adapted to the brutal desert life, and they're very xenophobic, but they start to believe that Paul might be the rumoured Messiah.

While in hiding, Paul's powers increase, due to being around so much spice.  He starts to get visions of possible futures, and starts to see the role he might play in the future.  He takes on the name Muad'Dib (the Mouse of the Desert) and becomes a leader among the Fremen, teaching them advanced combat.  Their plan is to take back control of Arrakis from the Harkonnens.

Muad'Dib and the Fremen warriors storm the capital, and successfully overthrow the Emperor.  By controlling Dune, Paul now controls the spice, and by controlling the spice, he controls power everywhere. The book ends when Paul seizes the throne, and hints at the challenges ahead.  I don't know where the movie will end.

Despite the sweeping cinematography, "Dune" isn't just about savage battles and desert warriors.  It has some deeper themes linked to environmentalism, the dangers of hero worship, and the complexities of political and religious power.  The Fremen planned to transform Dune into a more habitable place, and are deeply connected to their environment.

I won't go into what happens after the first book, but basically it's a space opera and political thriller which is set on a desert planet that's as deadly as it is beautiful.  It's a coming of age story, laced with deceit, mysticism, and the fight of David against Goliath.

And there you go, now you can go watch Part 2.  But if I were you, I'd watch Part 1 first - it was pretty good.

---

I'm Jonathan Clark, known online as DJ Bolivia.  Do you want to learn more about DJ'ing and music production?  If so, visit:

djbolivia.ca/training

If you happen to enjoy techno tracks, most of my tracks are available as free downloads from this link:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks so much for visit, and for your support!  I really appreciate the fan base that I've been able to build up over the years.

Also, if you want to visit any of my other sites, here are a few links:

    YouTube:  youtube.com/djbolivia

    SoundCloud:  soundcloud.com/djbolivia

    Blogger:  djbolivia.blogspot.com

    Main Site:  www.djbolivia.ca

Techno Track: "Bolivia - Stephen Hawking (Instrumental Mix)"

Here's a bit of info about one of my older tracks from a couple years ago, entitled "Stephen Hawking."  If I remember correctly, I believe that I shared this online in 2018, a few months after Stephen passed away.  You could call this a tribute to a brilliant mind.

Here's a link to the track on SoundCloud.  You can also click on the down-arrow in the top right to download this track directly from SoundCloud:

Sometimes my blog posts are semi-serious, sometimes they're bordering on silly.  Stephen Hawking was [mostly] a serious man, so this will be a serious look at his life.  Don't just glaze over; his accomplishments were incredible.  But you can always listen to the track while you're reading.

Stephen Hawking was born near the end of WWII in the town of Oxford (England, not the one in Canada near my hometown).  He eventually emerged as one of the most preeminent theoretical physicists in history, not just for his brilliant mind but also for his indomitable spirit in the face of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.  ALS was a condition that rendered him almost entirely paralyzed. While Hawking's early life was marked by academic excellence and a burgeoning fascination with cosmology, it's been his contributions to the understanding of the universe that have cemented his legacy.

Hawking's academic journey took him to the University of Oxford, then later the University of Cambridge.  At Cambridge, he began his ground-breaking work which included studying the nature of black holes and the framework of cosmology.

His ALS was diagnosed during his graduate studies.  That condition perhaps drove him in his relentless pursuit of knowledge, allowing him to transcend his physical limitations and explore the deepest questions of the nature of the universe.

The core of his scientific achievements is probably his work on black holes, which revolutionized our understanding of these bodies. Before Hawking, black holes were thought to be the ultimate endpoints of gravitational collapse, regions from which nothing, not even light, could escape. Hawking's introduction of quantum mechanics into the realm of general relativity led to his discovery that black holes are not entirely black but emit radiation, which is today known as Hawking radiation. This prediction was ground-breaking, as he was able to provide a quantum mechanical explanation for black hole radiation.  He also suggested that black holes could eventually evaporate, albeit over the course of astronomical timescales.  Hawking's work on black holes was not just an academic exercise.  Most importantly, it bridged quantum mechanics and general relativity, giving clues to a unified theory of physics.

Another monumental contribution of Hawking was his work on the origins and structure of the universe.  His no-boundary model of the universe, developed with James Hartle, helped explain how the universe could have arisen from the quantum fluctuations of the vacuum, which offered a framework for understanding the Big Bang and subsequent evolution of the cosmos without the need for a singular beginning point.  Hawking's studies also contributed to the inflationary cosmology theory, which describes the rapid expansion of the universe immediately following the Big Bang.

Beyond his scientific contributions, Hawking's was great at communicating complex scientific ideas to the public.  His 1988 bestselling book, "A Brief History of Time," brought the intricacies of cosmology, black holes, and the fabric of the universe to millions of hobby astronomers and other readers around the globe. Hawking inspired generations of scientists and enthusiasts to explore the mysteries of the universe.

As we continue to explore the cosmos, Hawking's insights serve as a guiding light, reminding us of the power of human intellect and the endless mysteries awaiting discovery.  Although the Earth is our playground, and our individual psyches are our own individual universes, in reality we're a completely insignificant spec within the immensity of everything.  But don't let this get you down.  It didn't get Stephen Hawking down.

I put up a version of this track on YouTube.  The visuals accompanying the track were done by a human this time, although the music is my own of course:

To check out and/or download any of my other tracks, visit:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks for visiting, and thanks for the support!

- Jonathan Clark (DJ Bolivia)
www.djbolivia.ca

Experimental Techno Track: "Bolivia - Inca Stargazer (Original Mix)"

Today I want to share another of my techno tracks, which is called Inca Stargazer.  I'll have download links below.

Here's a link to the track on SoundCloud.  You can also click on the down-arrow in the top right to download this track directly from SoundCloud:

Once upon a time, in the high mountains and lush rainforests of South America, the Inca civilization thrived.  Picture this: A realm where clothing was brilliantly colourful, and llamas were the real VIPs.  When I think of it, it almost reminds me of Burning Man.

The Incas were master builders and engineers.  I also like to think that they were party planners, managing to improvise massive feasts on terraced farms that would make any modern-day event planner green with envy.  They had a knack for cutting trails across mountains without horses or wheeled chariots.  Instead, they relied on the strength of their legs.  Think of all the time that they spent running up and down steep mountains!  Every day was a leg day.  At a modern rave, they'd be on the dance floor all night.

I have no doubt that the Incas' social gatherings were the talk of the Andes.  Chicha (a kind of beer made from corn) probably flowed freely, and drum-based music that we can only dream of understanding.  Imagine their tunes, probably a mix of melodic rhythms that could make a stone statue dance.

What would happen if a DJ could go back in time to visit an Incan party with a set of turntables and a collection of techno music?  Assuming that they didn't run in fear, the scene would be electrifying!  The Incas, ever curious and innovative, would probably be baffled by the strange sounds coming from the speakers. But it wouldn't be long before their innate sense of rhythm and love for a good beat had them all facing the booth, grooving to the four-on-the-floor beat.  They would probably dance all night, grooving under the starlit skies.

And that's where we stand now.  Inca Stargazer evokes an imagined dream of what could have been, if only the Incas had a pumping sound system.

I also put up a version of this track on YouTube.  The visuals accompanying the track were done by an AI, although the music is my own of course:

To check out and/or download any of my other tracks, visit:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks for visiting, and thanks for the support!

- Jonathan Clark (DJ Bolivia)
www.djbolivia.ca

Advice for Wedding DJ's (and Brides!)

I just added a comprehensive guide to the Training section of my main website, to help wedding planners and brides who need to select a DJ.  The guide will also help a developing DJ realize the critical importance of making sure things go right if you're selected to provide the music and/or be the Master of Ceremonies.

The page on my main website goes into far more detail than this blog post, so I'd suggest that you click on the link below, and visit the website right away:

djbolivia.ca/weddings

Basically, here are some of the things that I cover on that page:

The Importance of a Professional DJ:

- Time commitment required.

- Planning.

- Providing professional sound and lighting systems.

- Surveys from brides demonstrating how important the Entertainment is.

Challenges & Key Considerations:

- Equipment Required.

- Lighting.

- More than just playing music.

- How a DJ's credentials are vetted.

- Cultural sensitivity.

You've Picked Your DJ.  What's Next?

- Deposits & service contracts.

- Pre-planning & consultation.

- Documenting requirements.

Picking the Music

- Categories for specific parts of the evening.

- Hundreds of suggested tracks for various special songs.

I think this information will be really useful to anyone involved in event planning for weddings.  Trust me, it'll be worth your time to review it.  Again, here's the link:

djbolivia.ca/weddings

Thanks for visiting!

I'm Jonathan Clark, known online as DJ Bolivia.  Do you want to learn more about DJ'ing and music production?  If so, visit:

djbolivia.ca/training

If you happen to enjoy techno tracks, most of my tracks are available as free downloads from this link:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks so much for visit, and for your support!  I really appreciate the fan base that I've been able to build up over the years.

Also, if you want to visit any of my other sites, here are a few links:

    YouTube:  youtube.com/djbolivia

    SoundCloud:  soundcloud.com/djbolivia

    Blogger:  djbolivia.blogspot.com

    Main Site:  www.djbolivia.ca

Techno Track: "Bolivia - OCD (Original Mix)"

I'm posting this page to share one of my techno tracks, which is called OCD.  I'll have download links below.

Here's a link to the track on SoundCloud.  You can also click on the down-arrow in the top right to download this track directly from SoundCloud:

In the realm of techno, where each track is itself a voyage into the unknown, "OCD" is a mystical odyssey, etched with vibrant hues of eastern oriental landscapes.  It isn't just a song, it's a trip through the sonic landscapes of the mind, where the familiar repetition of techno beats meets the mystical allure of the East.  The track unfolds as an amalgamation of digital and traditional, where the beats blend seamlessly with the melodic hints of eastern instrumentation.  This fusion isn't just music - it's a journey.  Think of it as a meditative loop that lures the listener into a state of relaxed tranquility, akin to those repetitive rituals that provide comfort to those with OCD.  And I know about those rituals.

At the heart of this musical tapestry is a line that, at first glance, seems misplaced in the context of a techno track: "You broke my heart, my dreams are broken too. So why am I still thinking of you?"  You may search for a deeper meaning to this lyric, and wonder what dissatisfied bewilderment is rooted deep in my soul.  Well, the truth is, there's no meaning to it at all.  It's just a sample that I found, and I certainly wasn't thinking about anyone that this could allude to.

Regardless, in the grand scheme of "OCD," this lyric transcends its apparent simplicity, perhaps becoming a metaphor for the relationship between the artist, the music, and the intricate dance of creation and obsession.  It's not referring to a lost love - it's about the frequent frustration of the creative process, the relentless pursuit of perfection that terrorizes producers.  I often advise other producers that, "You've got to draw a line somewhere.  The track will never be perfect.  At some point, you have to acknowledge that it's good enough and then move on to the next track."  Just as a person with OCD can fixate on specific thoughts or actions, a producer can be drawn to a search for perfection that may never be reconciled.  Nor should it be.  We're human, and our tracks shouldn't be mathematically and sonically perfect.  So basically, this lyric recognizes the paradoxical bond between creation and obsession, where the very act that creates can also destroy.  In "OCD," I present to you not just a simple little track, but a reflection on the nature of art, the dark power of obsession, and the never-ending quest for creative acceptance.

I also put up a version of this track on YouTube.  The visuals accompanying the track were done by an AI, although the music is my own of course:

To check out and/or download any of my other tracks, visit:

djbolivia.ca/tracks

Thanks for visiting, and thanks for the support!

- Jonathan Clark (DJ Bolivia)
www.djbolivia.ca