PEDESTRIAN.TV has teamed up with Monkey Shoulder so you can create a killer house party playlist. Drink responsibly.
We all have that one song that gets us dancing, no matter what. Personally, mine’s Dancing Queen, and I still remember the abject rage I felt when the DJ at this house party did the unthinkable and skipped before the chorus dropped. Who do they think they are??
I think we can all agree that DJs make or break a party. That’s why I asked Sydney producer Boone how to craft a killer house party mix, so your friends don’t take over the AUX. It’s kinda tricky to live that one down, bud.
Boone is Sydney’s up-and-coming DJ to put on your radar. Credit: PEDESTRIAN.TV, Monkey Shoulder.
Without further ado, here are his six tips for crafting the perfect house party playlist.
1. Know your audience
Unlike a DJ working a crowd they’ve never met before, you have the upper hand of knowing your audience personally. So if your mate is into pop and yet you’re only playing heavy metal, they’re not really going to vibe to it, you know?
“At the start, I would DJ at parties with my mates and [play] just the most heinous music you knew,” Boone said. “We would jam trap music all night long, and no one wanted to hear it.”
You don’t have to go the extreme of stalking your house party guest’s playlists (even though I do), but Shazaming their fave song and adding it could make their night.
If you’re feeling lazy, you can create a public playlist and ask people to add their fave tracks before your party. Would highly recommend it.
I can feel the music bumping from here. Credit: PEDESTRIAN.TV, Monkey Shoulder.
2. Don’t stick to one genre
Listening to solely Chappell, Sabrina and Charli is basically a genre at this point, but sticking to just their tunes — however iconic — might get old after an hour or two. Mixing up your genres is key, according to Boone.
“Versatility is important because you are going to have a vast array of people there,” Boone said.
And just like a variety of music, you also need a variety of drink options. Monkey Shoulder Whisky can be blended into different cocktails to suit everyone’s taste buds, whether they’re feeling like something sweet, sour, fruity or refreshing.*
*Drink responsibly.
Cocktail night at mine, who’s in? Credit: PEDESTRIAN.TV, Monkey Shoulder.
3. Don’t be selfish
The main thing I learned from Boone is not to be selfish with your playlist. Unless you’re headlining festivals, your party guests probably aren’t there to listen to your niche songs — even if you think your music taste is goated (e.g. me).
“It’s not about you. It’s about serving the party, serving the people,” he said. “Maybe play a few of those requests.”
Even though Boone’s style is funky/disco, he “won’t go too fast, too crazy” on the tunes.
In other words: “Read the room.”
@kudetaofficial The art of reading crowd: As a DJ, it’s important to read the room before you start your set! Before I start, I like to take a walk around and get a feel for the energy and vibes of the crowd #djtips #readingcrowd #djbusiness #djtipsandtricks ♬ Breathe – Ku De Ta
4. Choose slow songs at the start and end with high-tempo
Not gonna lie — if I were a DJ, I’d just go straight in with high-tempo songs, which would apparently get me sent to jail.
According to Boone (and probably common sense), warming up the crowd with more chilled songs is a much better strategy.
“If someone jumps in energy too fast, it’ll always kill the vibe,” Boone said.
“It’s hard to come back beat to the beat.”
@djdcproductions It’s so bad it’s good! #dj #music #djdrops #djlife ♬ original sound – DJ DC
5. Make sure each song creates a moment
According to Boone, if a song isn’t creating a moment — delete it.
Like, would the song make someone dance? Sing? Have a D&M with their bestie or someone new?
Think about what you want people to do at your party, and then choose songs that fit that vibe.
I’m having mad FOMO right now. Credit: PEDESTRIAN.TV, Monkey Shoulder.
6. When in doubt, go to Outkast
Certain songs are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. Hey Ya by Outkast is one of them.
“If everything’s flopping and all else fails, you just put Hey Ya on, and then people go crazy,” Boone said.
Death, taxes, and people vibing to Hey Ya: the three certainties in life.
@kindagoodmusic01 #outkast #00smusic #00s #throwback #rewind #fyp #foryou #foryoupage ♬ Hey Ya! (My baby don't mess around) – Outkast
If you need a cheat sheet of playlist bangers, here’s one to get you started.
The post How To Craft An Unskippable Playlist For Your Next House Party, According To DJ Boone appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
