Quick Tips for Tougher Drums and "How Old Is Too Old?" When It Comes to Making Music

I love this question. It's perhaps the best one we've ever had. I admire you so much. I have the same thoughts to do exactly what you are doing when I'm that age, but I want to learn art history, or psychology, or something just completely new and have time to dedicate to it. It's probably a pipe dream because I don't know if I'll ever be able to retire, but hey, one can dream. I don't think you are too old at all. I think it would be sick if we rolled up to the club and there was an old dude smashing it. Personally I think the strategy to take is to finish the music and get it out there without anyone knowing anything about you. You obviously aren't in a rush, so make some amazing music that you are confident about and get it going. I was at dinner last night with a few friends—friends that owned labels and actually another new friend that has just made a number-one song in the UK—and the consensus at the table was that we all think it's not too old and that it's actually amazing and inspiring. This is actually one of the things I really like about DJing versus being in a more traditional "band"—sometimes, it's not 100% about youth, although maybe not so much lately with EDM and all this wild nonsense happening. The more I do this, I've also realized that the more people have an idea of who you are and what you do, the more it lets you be liberal in terms of how you DJ and what music you play. Whether you are an idiot like me who has an advice column and has put out a few records or you're a more real established guy, people want you to be you. Once people know you, you can be a server instead of a servant. Think about it—two people can play the same exact record and one would clear the floor. It's all about context; it's fascinating, but completely real. So I think your strongest approach would be having records that are out and then you create a story that you are the old dude that was like, "I'm retired and I make beats now." I'd write about that if I had a blog or a newspaper. And that kinda relates to most press. Where's the story? Are you interesting? If you are boring, someone probably isn't gonna want to write about you. Anyways, send me those demos when you are done. I got two dudes interested already.

Try hooking a MIDI in and MIDI out cable into your Korg. Then you can use your DAW (Ableton/Logic/Pro Tools/etc.) to send it MIDI notes. You should be able to send it triplets or play notes on a regular keyboard that aren't quantized and it will then play them back. If you don't use a computer, you could also sequence it with an MPC. It should be super easy. Also, if you MIDI in a drum pad, like a Roland or Alesis, you could play the notes with sticks on your own. *Column 46*