SOUNDBLOSSOM: Music addict and strictly vinyl DJ - A short story

Dear fellow Steemians,

As long as I can remember, I'm obsessed with music. From a very young age, I played records from my mother's collection, over and over again, which I inherited later. Soul, funk, disco, french chancons (songs), some jazz and a wide range of classical music have had a big influence and is the foundation of my current collection and wide taste.
In addition, I can remind I composed cassette tapes with tracks that I recorded from the radio. Often half-poorly recorded ... but it meant the world to me.
In retrospect, I found out that music (besides and in combination with drawing) was my ultimate exhaust valve. Until today, there are established values in my life. No life without music for me!

Checking out some new albums, laying on the floor. just to feel the vibrations of the bass more deeply. It's something I often do to experience the music to the fullest.

VINYL IS DEAD, LONG LIVE VINYL!

Vinyl has been declared dead several times when launching compact disks, mini disc, mp3 (players), and others. And during the march of new sound carriers there were a lot of people who dropped their record collection. Mostly they sold it, but I saved different trash dump collections because people suddenly did not care about it. Logically, during these periods my collection grew visibly. And not just in quantity also in diversity.
I learned about new music and styles I would (otherwise) never buy. But just because it was within reach and I could take the time (in my own atmosphere) to dig in it to the bottom, I had this luxury to satisfy my addiction even more.
It was a great time!

FROM COLLECTING TO MIXING

At one point, in an early stage of my adolescence, the radio recordings on the cassette tapes no longer fulfilled my needs and that was the moment I wanted to select my own tracks and mix them together. And, if I have something in my head it's hard to convince me of something else. As a stubborn Capricorn I take immediate action.
In no time I scored two turntables and a mixer and it was actually even less than basic. With two different record players (from two end-of-life stereo chains) without pitch and my mixing desk had survived the two world wars, I guess. But hey, believe it or not, it's on these two turntables I learned how to beat mix.

It was only many years later, when I had a permanent job, I could install myself professionally. When purchasing my SL MK-II Technics + 2 Ortofon concorde needles+ Nuo2 Eclere mixer + Beta3 studio speaker, all previous limitations felt away. And soon I practiced my scratches and sophisticated my beatmixes.

MMMM... DROP!

When it becomes known you're dj-ing, you are promptly asked for parties. Starting with small house parties, squat parties, than cafés, openings of new businesses, nightclubs and even festivals. It was an intensive wild time with a lot of fantastic memories...
In that festive time of my life, my roommate also started his own radio show on urgent.fm, for over 15 years now. And during that time I have frequently filled his radio shows with various types of mixes, so I also have experienced the art of making radio. And more... It's about the only thing left over from that intense period. Because about 7 years ago I stopped playing on parties and/or for a live audiences, but on irregular times I'm still a guest at the radio show. And after many nightlife journeys I'm happy with how it's evolved.
I can say that I'm just mixing for my own recreation (A man also needs a hobby!), with the focus back to mere listening and collecting. Because music is something I need every day for all kind of reasons and that will never stop ... not in this life.

Radio gig @ Urgent.FM - 2015

In case you would like to hear some of my sets, I've selected three old mixes in different style.See the links below.

Full radioshow on Urgent.fm.
First part by SoundBlossom - dubby breakbeats
Last part by Hecticcc: Noisy dubstep and Drum 'n Bass:
https://soundcloud.com/soundblossom/tracks

Highlight mix from the radio show, a b2b set with King Sojo:
https://kingsojo.bandcamp.com/track/urgent-file-2012-06-part-07

Home session at a Wu's place. Chill afternoon session.
https://soundcloud.com/wu-mingh/wus-place

Thanks for your attention, enjoy the tunes and till next time!

Warm regards,
@romaan-namoor aka Soundblossom.
Proud member of the Lions Legion