Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Me vs. deadmau5

Don't let the title fool you. There isn't any musical collaboration going on here. No, but there definitely was SOME collaboration. Awhile ago, I heard of a little mixup between deadmau5 and Marcus Schissow (a trance producer/dj). Apparently, Schissow and a few other big-shot Djs/producers came up with a mock artist named "Deadrat6". The point was to poke fun of deadmau5 because all...and I mean all...of his tracks sound the same. Go ahead and sample some of his bigger tracks. They all have the same "bad loop". None the less. Come to find out that Schissow and mau5 were to dj together at an event, and deadmau5 had no clue he was opening for Schissow in Oslo (or visa versa, it doesn't matter). Come to find out (3 days before the gig) that deadmau5 hated Schissow so much for "deadrat6" that he wouldn't allow Schissow to play at the club. None the less, Schissow had to sit that gig out after he had made arrangements and everything.

Well here comes the juicy part. I was pissed when I heard this. I never liked deadmau5 (except his Jaded track). He's a punk/retart child who messes around on ableton live until he finds a good sound and then repeats it for the next 1000 tracks he produces. Anyways I left him a message on myspace [NOTE** I wrote this before I talked to him -- keep reading **]:

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Hey deadmau5,

Wanted to pitch an e-mail out to you to let you know that practically every track you ever made is a total rehash of the other. Granted, you've probably heard this a million times, I just thought I'd be a million and one. Seriously man, you can stack all your tracks at one time, and they would sound the same! Your beat loops...same. Synths...same. Dj talent...none. Bottom line is you suck. I mean literally, your stuff is horrible. Plus, are you so insecure with yourself that you have to go hide in a mouse suit on stage? The gag isn't even funny any more, it was old the first time around. Not to mention that bullshit you played on Marcus, who the hell do you think you are? Your mixing is train wrecks anyways. I will never, EVER, EVER...play any of your tracks again. Nor would I recommend them to anyone.

Take it easy pal.

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Well, after this, he attempted to try and make fun of me by mass sending this message to everyone on the deadmau5 mailing list. Which was what I hoped for. Then I PMed him back, and asked for a private one on one conversation. We talked for about an hour or so, and I regretted some of the things I said. His argument was that he was in the business entertainment industry and that the demands on him to make music is enormous. I don't doubt that at all. All he wants to do is just make music and get it out there. But there's nasty competition. If deadmau5 wants to make music he likes, thats cool. I understand that now, even from a beginning artist perspective. But there is one thing I pointed out. Once you make it big like that, the ideas you create, the songs you make, the tracks you publish dont become yours anymore. They are a public thing.

There is an old business ideology developed by Kenneth Galbraith. He says that wants are created by those that manufacturer them. For example, deadmau5 creates a track, people LOVE it, and he keeps producing good tracks. Once he produces a "less desirable" track, people get mad at him for not living up to his standard (same thing with dj tiesto and In Search of Sunrise 5). Deadmau5 makes the defense that he can create what ever he desires. He likes making the music that I (and others) consider monotonous. Thats fine, I concede to that point. But you can't make it a defense, simultaneously, that you're in the business entertainment industry, and you're just pumping out tracks to cover demand. You can't mount one up on the other Granted I'm not speaking from experience, but I've seen and read examples like this. If its true that deadmau5 is putting up tracks just to meet demand and pressure and as a result he uses rehashed sounds and beat loops, then I pity him. I feel bad that he's in a position where he has to do that. If he creates the music because he loves to make that "sound" that we all consider monotonous then thats great, he found his own piece of mind in doing that -- it makes him happy. But deadmau5, you can't have both. They are contradictory.

Now I feel bad for the message I sent, it was a little out of line, but I still feel angry at him. I think there is a lesson on both sides of the line. deadmau5 needs to understand he has fans. I think when you get that big you have an obligation to them. I believe that whole heartedly, so I am going to say it again for clarity. When you get as big as deadmau5, you have an obligation to your fans. I don't think he was living up to that obligation. Rehashed songs are not worth it. His claim that he is in the business entertainment industry doesn't help him either. It shows that he isn't here for music...just show...just making a profit. I don't have a problem with artists making a profit off their work, but when profit is the driving force I think there is a conflict of interest. Much of the deadmau5 haters feel that he's just pushing out tracks to make a quick buck; I can sure see that viewpoint. But like I said, if thats all deadmau5 wants to make, then power to him, I don't have a problem with that.

18 comments:

notatnikinwestora said...

Hmm. I think you grudge Deadmau5 his fame ;-)))

Maybe the deadmau5 mixes sound the same, but they okey and people have great time with them.

You never make own tune, am I right? So please don't say anything. Show me your songs and then commmnet other.

Anonymous said...

You're blog wreaks of loathing and envy. Stop being such a hater and let people enjoy the sound Deadmau5 has created for the time being.

I'm sure down the road his natural drive for production will push him into some new material. Not to mention the commitment he has made to touring the club scene over the next year... can you say booked?

He probably doesn't have half the time he used to when it comes to producing new material.

I don't care for people willing to pass down judgement on someone else's creativity when they themselves aren't even worthy of judging the person they're critiquing.

Piss off... for real. I can't believe you even wasted Joel's time. I hope to be half as adept at making my own beats one day.

Loved the show in Kansas City!

Joel said...

Dude check out his "project 56". He's capable of producing all sorts of stuff. There is IDM, chill, funky house, all sorts!

Just because the famous tracks sound the same, doesn't mean he's got no skill.

Anonymous said...

Seriously, you are one twisted person. People like you annoy me a lot, but make me laugh at the same time, because you're so pathetic. Why would you even spend time trying to be a bitch towards a producer/DJ. If he likes to produce what he wants, then let him. If you don't like his sound, so what. You're being so disrespectful towards him by sending that message.

Why would he not have any talent or skills or would he suck so bad at producing and DJ'ing if there is such a huge amount of people all around the world that really like his music? You're just one of those people that don't know what their talking about. You even said it yourself in the blog, that all of his big hits 'sound the same'. So you obviously didn't check out all his other stuff. Because he is more than capable of producing more than his big hits.

Furthermore, it's not 'Schissow' but 'Schössow' you idiot. My God, you're so pathetic. Get a life, grow up.

Anonymous said...

What a load of rubbish, please man, get out more, your insults were harsh, and the way you back tracked after actually speaking to him and realising he is an incredibly talented and intelligent person is a testament to Joel. I cant think of anyone who has been so diverse in their music in the last year, the guy does trance, house and techno all in one set...

You need to read up before you write a blog like this,

And correct, SchOssow, who wasted his own time trying to mock someone else....

Remind you of someone...? ;0)

Anonymous said...

Dude, sorry but you're such a loser...

Anonymous said...

Whussup, DJ Moronski

Anonymous said...

The core of your dissatisfaction towards Joel is simple: You are a selfish, evil wasted sperm. period.

"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides with the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he (Joel) who in the name of charity and good will shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and with furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know that my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

Anonymous said...

Youre an idiot dude..... Stop fuckin bitchin about his tracks. More people love his tracks then hate them. you can tell theyre not rehashed by really listening to his music. thats REAL SKILL boy. get talent them come talk hater. Stop drinkin all that HATER-AID.... shits bad for you.

Unknown said...

Who the hell is DJ Polanski?

You have to remember how different BSOD sounded before. Deadmau5 has been in this game since you were in middle school, so if he sold out, you really gotta ask yourself if you would've done the same.

Anyway I agree with what you said about deadmau5's last 80 tracks sounding the same, but for some silly Wisconsin trance-addicted, trekie, bedroom dj to diss a real DJ takes some nerve. Furthermore the fact that Deadmau5 took the time to even talk to you shows how cool that kid is.

Grab some balls, move to Miami, LA, Chicago or NY and try to make ends meet as a DJ, then you can go start trolling around real producers websites.

Kieran said...

A couple of things..

1. How do YOU write a track? Sit and wait for divine inspiration and magically produce amazing and completely original tracks in minutes OR mess on Ableton/Logic/ a bunch of synths for hours until you find a signature sound (which in itself is difficult) that you like and use that (Like ALL artists)? His sound is distinctive and instantly recognisable, but the tracks don't "sound the same".

2. Schössow deserved everything he got, the cheeky pr!ck! He and those nameless Dj/producers (cowards) acting like a bunch of sneaky teenage girls laughing at the Mau5 behind his back was pitiful and blatantly jealous. What Joel did was petty perhaps, but in his situation I would have done exactly the same thing...

3. The minute you start making music as an "obligation" to your fans, you have failed! You make the music YOU are happy with, coz if you don't like it, what's the point. Otherwise, you're just another businessman selling pieces of his soul song by song...

Looking forward to hearing a series of instantly recognisable yet completely individual (with no common elements WHATSOEVER) tunes from DJ Polaski on a radio near me soon, once you break europe that is, but that should be easy, right?

DJ Happy said...

I totally support you man...
Deadmau5 is a selfish motherfucker who does not care about his fans, his OWN music, and he pre records everything... Daft Punk is a great band that you can trust and they do deliver AWESOME sets whether they DJ or do concerts... Deadmau5 is just another loser in the music industry... You should of seen his video of him getting a tattoo... he was hanging out with Tommie Lee... FUCKING HELL... He thinks he's all punk/rock and stuff... FUCK YOU DEADMAU5!!! YOU ARE SELFISH!!! YOU HAVE FANS!!! THEY CARE ABOUT YOU!!! WHY DON'T YOU SHOW A LITTLE RESPECT TO THEM!!!

Lee303@live.co.za said...

Fuck all you Deadmau5 haters, can you fuckers even produce anything? except a racketing sound from your shit filled mouth!!!!

Joel Zimmerman done what he loves and became famous for it not cause he asked for it....

and you talk about his dj`ing skills, his mau5 head and that stuff, firstly he believes in the ravers commandments if you pricks even know what that is....

#6 REJECT THE MAINSTREAM

just cause he uses a laptop and a controller with the most expensive and hitech mixer you can get on the market, which propabbly is your salary for 5yrs worth...

he`s a DJ
he`s a PRODUCER (all genres!!!!)
he`s a fucking ENTERTAINER
and a human being just like you or anyone else....

you people just piss me off, but i bet if he walked up to you in a club and greeted you, like he did to a group of 'haters' you`d probably go home and tell all your friends how awesome it was to meet him which is exactly what happened...

oh and one other thing if you knew Joel at ALL, you`d understand his music, song titles give a hint... but yet then again the world is "not exactly" as it seems, people are a little "jaded"

any way i`m defending him when all this shit doesn`t even bother him so i won`t carry on wasting my time....

respect to Joel Zimmerman aka Deadmau5

i`m out
Lee303@live.co.za

Anonymous said...

You people trying to justify deadmau5's obvious repetitiveness by calling polanski jealous or bitter are just looking for a scape goat. I have no bias to either person, nor do I know either of them personally. I have loved electronic music my whole life, I even recently attended a deadmau5 concert in Toronto but I can honestly say after gigs and gigs of deadmau5 tracks he is pretty repetitive, the concert was alright for me because of my lack of exposure to deadmau5 but lets just say it aint making my playlist @ home or on the pc anytime soon

Anonymous said...

Youre a fucking bitch kid... Deadmau5 breaks into the mind to find sounds and beats that not only surpass the thoughts of others but open up a new world of music... Youre a fuckin peice of shit spending all the time talking shit about him... die you dumbass motherfucker

Anonymous said...

Haha totally agree with the OP, as it seems when you wrote this 3 years ago, you predicted the future. Deadmua5 has not changed a bit, he still makes the same crappy music he did 3 years ago

av3ry said...

roman polanski hmmmm,,,,,,,if you all would have heard his podcast that sounds like an early 80's electronica freestyle on crack, you wouldn't even bother arguing about this dude about Deadmau4's talent...

Anonymous said...

First comment - hilarious. Learn english before using it to insult people. Otherwise, type in your mother tongue and I'll use google translate. I totally agree that all of Deadmau5 sounds the exact god damned same -because it's a fact and that can't be debated. Listen to the songs. There's no way he gets artistic satisfaction out of making the same song over and over - making music is about exploring creativity and taking chances, not feeding the machine. If you're making music as a job, stay behind the scenes and make music for commercials, TV shows, etc. If you're trying to build your own brand and represent yourself and your abilities - have more than one loop. Moving on to character assination - Look at the poor kid. He has video game tattoos for christ sakes. Whose life is that uninspired to where not only do they get tattoos of commercial things, but fantasy characters from the 8bit era. There's no way space invaders means that much to you, if it does - well that kinda proves my point.