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Playing Sets Outside Your Normal Genre(s)

Practice doesn’t make perfect. It makes… more practice. The more you do it, the more your skills compound. When you hit a problem or a high-stress moment mid-set, your practice takes over.

This is especially true for single-genre DJs like me, where not only do the skills imprint into your brain, but so do the songs. You naturally feel the groove and mix instinctively.

📌 If you’re already a multi-genre DJ, this post isn’t for you.

There’s a theory that all music follows the same basic structure—4×4 beats, verses, choruses, and drops. But energy levels, mixing points, and BPMs are vastly different across genres.

A peak-hour Tech House mix has a different energy flow than an Afro House set, and a Drum & Bass mix doesn’t ride the same phrasing as a Deep House set.

But what if you suddenly need to play another genre? What’s the best approach?

🎵 First: Should You Even Do It?

Saying “yes” to the opportunity depends on where you are in your DJ career. If you’re established enough in a single genre and can sustain regular gigs, sticking to your lane can work. Plenty of DJs build solid careers this way (e.g., Tale of Us, Black Coffee). But for most of us, adaptability is key. Even genre specialists often incorporate unexpected sounds to keep things fresh.

✅ How to Prepare for a Different Genre Set

1. Do you have the right tracks?

• A solid collection is crucial. If you’re playing Melodic Techno but get booked for a Disco set, your go-to tracks won’t cut it.

1. Know the classics

• Each genre has must-know anthems. These can be lifelines when things aren’t flowing.

1. Rekordbox (or other prep software) settings may differ

• Cue points, loops, and beat grids aren’t universal across genres. A House track’s phrasing might not work the same as a Funk tune.

1. Play the tracks in your headphones/on decks before the set

• Internalize the genre’s feel. You want these tracks in your muscle memory before the gig.

1. Analyse energy shifts

• Every genre has different rules for tension and release. House and Techno build gradually, while Hip-Hop and Open Format sets rely on quick transitions.

1. Study DJs who switch genres well

• Carl Cox (Techno → Funk & Soul)
• DJ EZ (Garage → House/Disco)
• James Hype (Bass → House → Open Format-style transitions)

🏆 What Open Format DJs Teach Us

Open Format DJs do this every night—going from Hip-Hop to House to Pop seamlessly. There’s no denying it’s a skill. If they can switch between drastically different sounds, we can step outside our lane when needed.

Would you play outside your genre if the opportunity came up? Or is it better to master just one lane?