Tuesday 17 August 2021

5 Boiler Room Sets To Rescue A House Party

We've all seen that friend of a friend whip out their new DJ controller at an after-party. What's worse is when someone can't decide what they want to hear and the song keeps changing every 45 seconds. Not to mention all of those annoying Youtube ads!

For over a decade, Boiler Room has been broadcasting videos of different DJs featuring a range of music genres, styles, and DJ equipment. With now more than 30 new performances uploaded or streamed every month, Boiler Room has become a reliable source to discover great tracks and talented DJs. Each performance is filmed from start to finish and allows viewers to witness various mixing techniques whilst watching the live audience dance and react to the music. What could be more entertaining? 

For those of you who don't have a sound system, turntables, and an awesome vinyl collection, here is a list of 5 Boiler Room sets to keep the party going. 


1. Motor City Drum Ensemble - London, May 2013 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIBBEggIXBw&t=127s)

Real name, Danilo Plessow, this German DJ currently has 4 performances on Boiler Room's Youtube channel. This mix is his first time in London and his second installment for Boiler Room and it's definitely some of his best work. Not only a genius with 'get up and dance' vibes, it's common to hear electronic disco and rare grooves in Motor City's sets. His own music is made up of soulful and funky melodies with some jazzy/hip-hop samples. His feel-good tracks are somewhere in the 120's bpm range and are guaranteed to entertain you and your guests. 

In the video, it feels like you are there in the room with all of the bottles and drinks surrounding the decks. If Motor City Drum Ensemble has done a good job, any available surface at your party will also be occupied by empty beer cans. 

More recently, at events such as Dekmantel festival, he has been seen using an E&S DJR 400 mixer. This is a powerful addition to his setup and overall sound. The effects include a live high-pass filter and low-pass filter, which he now uses often during his mixes. Along with this, his song choice, and energy, MCDE continues to deliver amazing techno and house sounds. 

'Help Is On The Way' by The Whatnauts was Danilo's last song choice - what a sexy way to end a set!


2. Hunne - Berlin, February 2013 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDX_eYOKe4s)

Who is Hunne or Hun Choi? Only one of the best german-born, feel-good DJs! And what better way to get people dancing than Disco music. According to his Resident Advisor bio, his 'sole goal is to enrich the lives of his listeners.' This guy enjoys what he does and looks good doing it!

This Boiler Room edition is full of electronic beats, acid-house influence, with disco vibes to finish. It is an upbeat and cheerful experience. While it would be much better to attend one of his live events, this mix is sure to keep the two-steppers two-stepping. 

At the end of the set, the host states on the mic, 'I don't think anyone in here can wake with a bad mood for at least the next 2 weeks,' and he's right. 

Hats off to Hunee's top supporter in the white shirt! Dancing from start to finish and feelin' the groove. 

 

3. Kaytranada - Montreal, December 2013 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5EQIiabJvk&t=801s)

 
This Canadian record producer started DJ'ing from age 14 and began making his own music and remixes soon after. Kaytranada, (Louis Celestin), has since collaborated with artists such as Craig David and opened for the likes of Madonna. 

This mix definitely contains party vibes along with some cool remixes. His music tends to have glitchy beats and grimey bass lines. No matter what you like to listen to, Kaytranada is sure to get you moving and help your guests get their freak on. 

In this mix, Kaytranada is using a Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2, one of the smallest DJ controllers seen on Boiler Room. But with his 80's feel, recognizable vocal samples, and side-chain skills, Kaytranada can easily get people dancing. 

Music aside, this is one of the most entertaining audiences featured on Boiler Room. This crowd just wants to have fun. Dancers are coming and going throughout the video, with people occasionally getting rejected. If humans were on the discovery channel, this is what mating season would look like. 

Thanks, Montreal. Your crazy moves and camera awareness will go down in Boiler Room history. Keep throwing those shapes. 


4. Skream b2b Disclosure - London, November 2012 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8WVP3ClDsM)

Another famous mix from the golden era. When dubstep was changing, but elements were still being heard in techno music. 

The young Disclosure brothers, (Guy Lawrence and Howard Lawrence), go b2b with Skream, (Oliver Jones), in the presidential suite at W Hotels in Soho, London. Throughout the mix, we can see people stumble up to the decks and have a word with the disc jockeys. The atmosphere here is lively, as viewers basically watch another party take place, encouraging your guests to join in with the audience. 

Skream was a major influence on the UK Dub scene and global Dubstep sound throughout the '00s. He released his first album 'Skream!' in 2006 and incorporated more techno-friendly sounds into his mixes in the years that followed. 

In this Boiler Room, you can expect to hear dirty bass synths, compressed beats, and rewinds. You can expect to see general waviness and feathers! Yep... feathers. 

People make various attempts to get the crowd moving more, and eventually, fluff erupts from several pillows. That's when the feathers come. No violent pillow fights, just a lot of distractions and mess for the DJs - fun to watch though. "Lowe the fluff!"

Whether it's pre-drinks or the after-party, this set will have gun fingers pointing and positive vibrations flowing. 


5. DJ EZ - London, February 2014 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OraL6lKoyXE&t=3991s)

This set is the longest one on the list, so if you need over 3 hours of energetic garage beats, look no further! 

For more than three decades, DJ EZ, (Otis Roberts), has graced the world with his musical genius. In 1989, he began DJ'ing on pirate radio at the young age of 15. He has since become a pioneer of the UK garage scene and has helped share this music with the world. From Glastonbury to Coachella, DJ EZ  has traveled the globe with his timeless tracks and trigger-happy cue fingers. 

In this impressive set, DJ EZ uses CDJ's in the first half and finishes off his mix on turntables. Garage MC and resident Kiss FM DJ, Majestic, grabs the mic and keeps the crowd going midway through. 

If you are the unfortunate one to host the after-sesh, we recommend you play this mix. Shoes off and bass faces on  



There is over 6 hours of great music here to assist your social gathering further into the night, or the following morning. While we wait for clubs and festivals to return to normality, we hope this collection of beats helps you and your friends party through the pandemic with positive and prosperous intentions. 



Bonus mix! 

Channel One - Notting Hill Carnival, London, August 2017 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJMH-tpjmO8)

At the start of the 4th mix on our list, Skream gives a shout-out to Subdub, which is a Dub, Reggae, and Drum n Bass event held monthly in Leeds, UK. Skream has performed a few times at Subdub, which happens to have the biggest sound system in town!

Channel One also have an impressive sound system that is well-known across the UK. These guys play uplifting reggae tracks and dubplates for hours on end. 

There aren't many videos of Subdub online, but this Channel One Boiler Room at Notting Hill Carnival is the next best thing! 


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