Skip to main content

Why I’ve Always Looked Forward to Playing " New Old " Music You've never heard – And Why DJs Today Should Too by DJ Alex Gutierrez


DJ Alex Gutierrez

After more than 45 years behind the decks, one thing has never changed for me: the excitement of discovering new " Old"  music and bringing it to the dancefloor. Back in the day, that’s what was expected of DJs. We were the tastemakers the ones who dug through crates, scouted obscure record shops, listened to promos, and stayed up all night searching for that next sound that would blow people’s minds. It wasn’t just about playing hits. It was about introducing hits often before anyone even knew what they were.

Today, it feels like that spirit has been lost.

Walk into too many venues now, and you’ll hear the same 30 tracks played in the same order, night after night. Audiences, oddly enough, have started to expect it too. Many come wanting to hear the exact same thing they heard at the last place they visited. But to me, that’s never been what this job is about.

Every time I program a set, I’m thinking: how can I make this different? How can I make people feel something new? I’m constantly changing my playlists, weaving in tracks people might not know alongside the ones they do because that’s where the magic happens. That unexpected track, that left-turn moment that’s when you see heads turn, feet move, and people feel something they weren’t expecting.

Too many DJs today are more concerned with twiddling knobs and throwing their hands in the air than actually curating something fresh. That’s not DJing that’s pressing play on a pre-approved playlist. And let’s be honest: one of the biggest complaints I hear about DJs is that they’re predictable. That you can guess the next track before it even drops. That’s not entertainment that’s routine.

As a DJ, I see myself as part magician, part storyteller. I want to pull rabbits out of hats—to surprise, delight, and challenge my audience. I want them to walk away thinking, “What was that track? I’ve never heard it before, but I loved it.” That’s the feeling I chase every night. And it’s the reason I still love what I do, even after all these years.

So to the next generation of DJs: dig deeper. Take risks. Don’t just give people what they already know give them what they didn’t even know they wanted. That’s the real job. That’s what makes DJing an art, not just a performance.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Los Quinces by Alex Gutierrez

It’s funny how an old picture can pull you straight back into a moment you thought time had buried. Suddenly you’re not just looking at it—you’re there . You feel the same rush, the same ache, the same quiet hope you carried then. All those emotions and experiences, the ones that shaped who you became, come flooding back at once. This picture did that to me. This was my inspiration. Chapter 1 I wasn’t very popular in high school. Not tragically unpopular , more like Cuban-background-noise unpopular. I was there, but no one acknowledged my existence unless they needed an extra chair or to chase the ball when it went out-of-bounds.. I hung around some popular guys, hoping popularity was contagious, like the flu or bad cologne. Nothing rubbed off. For most of 10th grade (which I hear they now call freshman, because apparently everything got renamed), I was completely invisible. At lunch I’d sit quietly, pretending to be deep in thought, while eavesdropping on the table next to me liste...
Post a Comment
Read more
  The Cover Charge: A Retrospective and Modern Challenge for Baby Boomers For Baby Boomers in their 50s and 60s, the club scene of yesteryear holds fond memories of a simpler, more affordable time. In the 70s and 80s, nearly every nightclub had a cover charge, with some venues like The Limelight charging $5 on regular nights and $8 when there was a live act. Other beloved spots like Pete n Lenny’s, Flanigan’s in the Springs, and The Playpen were no different. Even in the 80s, places like Club Mystique, Gabriel’s, and Alcazaba required a cover to get in. The premise was simple: pay a set fee to enter, and the rest of the night was yours to enjoy. Fast forward to today, and the concept of a cover charge still looms large in the club scene, but the dynamics have shifted. Baby Boomers, many of whom are facing retirement and managing a fixed income, are finding it harder to justify paying cover charges for a night of dancing and socializing. On top of that, the cost of drinks has skyroc...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Disco for Us Old Folks? Michael Gray - You Got To Remember (Featuring Tatiana Owens)

  Michael Gray - You Got To Remember (Featuring Tatiana Owens) DJ Alex Gutierrez ( Miami) Watch the Video at this Link  https://youtu.be/0yUSpzFcxQY?si=J4CAxX9k9gq9OgqK As a DJ who's been spinning records for over 45 years in Miami, I've seen the evolution of the scene firsthand. The love for Disco music here is stronger than ever, and during my sets, I’m constantly looking for those "must-play" tracks that keep the energy alive while avoiding the trap of sounding predictable. This is where the Disco House genre comes in—allowing me to stay fresh and distinct, blending the nostalgic with something new and exciting. With subgenres like Nu-Disco, Funky House, and French House, I’ve found the perfect way to maintain a classic vibe while introducing modern flavors. That brings me to a standout track that has earned its place in my playlists: Michael Gray - You Got To Remember (featuring Tatiana Owens). For a Disco DJ like myself, finding songs that capture the essence of...
Post a Comment
Read more