"There's individual turntable setups devoted to piano, bass, drums and a set for soloing as well. We like to try and explore the gamut of what a turntable can do"
About this Quote
Eric San is selling the turntable as an instrument, not a playback device, and the specificity matters: piano, bass, drums, then a dedicated setup for soloing. That lineup reads like a band roster, a quiet rebuttal to the old sneer that DJing is just “pushing buttons” or riding someone else’s record. By assigning the turntable the roles of a rhythm section and a lead voice, he reframes the entire practice as composition and performance, with parts, restraint, and interplay.
The subtext is a kind of militant craftsmanship. This isn’t the romantic myth of the lone genius with one deck and a crate; it’s modular, almost orchestral thinking. Multiple rigs imply labor, planning, and a willingness to engineer limitations into the creative process. A “set for soloing” signals virtuosity, but also discipline: solos require space that has to be carved out of the mix, not piled on top of it.
Contextually, this comes out of a moment when turntablism fought for legitimacy alongside jazz, rock, and later electronic production. San’s phrasing, “explore the gamut,” leans exploratory rather than defensive, aligning the culture with experimentation instead of novelty. It’s also a nod to the turntable’s unusual physics: torque, friction, pitch, and touch become expressive variables. He’s arguing that the instrument’s range isn’t a metaphor - it’s mechanical, audible, and still under-mapped.
The subtext is a kind of militant craftsmanship. This isn’t the romantic myth of the lone genius with one deck and a crate; it’s modular, almost orchestral thinking. Multiple rigs imply labor, planning, and a willingness to engineer limitations into the creative process. A “set for soloing” signals virtuosity, but also discipline: solos require space that has to be carved out of the mix, not piled on top of it.
Contextually, this comes out of a moment when turntablism fought for legitimacy alongside jazz, rock, and later electronic production. San’s phrasing, “explore the gamut,” leans exploratory rather than defensive, aligning the culture with experimentation instead of novelty. It’s also a nod to the turntable’s unusual physics: torque, friction, pitch, and touch become expressive variables. He’s arguing that the instrument’s range isn’t a metaphor - it’s mechanical, audible, and still under-mapped.
Quote Details
| Topic | Music |
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