Friday, March 30, 2012

DJ Sneak versus Swedish House Mafia

Ok, here goes. First "tweef" I will address. So DJ Sneak is one of those seminal producers who made vicious, awesome floor killers in the 90s. A time where house + the rave scene reached new heights, and was NOTHING like it is today. I didn't know Sneak was on Twitter for quite some time, but when I did start following him, I noticed a few of his tweets were of the curmudgeon variety. I never really investigated where this bitterness was coming from, I just left it as is.

But then I noticed during WMC 2012 an exchange between him and Junior Sanchez (who has at least one track that I know of signed to Steve Angello's SIZE label). Sneak referred to them as "Swedish Fish Mafia." I chalked it up to him just not liking their style.
But then I heard that he gave a quote in for DJ Mag stating "It's a sad thing when the Swedish House Mafia is being paid BIG money to come to the US to play house music. For the record, they DO NOT play house music." http://www.djmag.com/news/detail/3244
First of all, grammar! SHM are, not is. Second, I was crushed. Sneak was called out in Daft Punk's "Teachers" as one of their influences, so his opinion counts for a lot in the electronic world. I took to Twitter, regrettably I might add, to ask him what the deal was. I didn't really get left with much.


So basically, he couldn't really name what kind of music SHM makes. If you ask SHM, they will probably say house music.  I know a lot of people have been labelling it progressive house, which I don't understand because I thought the sound of Sasha, Digweed, Emerson, and other contributors to the "Global Underground" sound of the 90s was progressive. I understand it is hard to label this music sometimes, but the people making it want to be filed under the House category. I don't understand how Sneak feels entitled to step all over that, just because of the one facet of the sound he contributed. I respect him and his artistry, don't get me wrong, but I feel like he is going out of his way to prove some inexistent point. His music and SHM's music are completely different. But are they both styles of House? I think so.
After our Twitter exchange, Sneak continued, by posting a link to DJ and producer Scott Diaz' blog, where he too bashes SHM, and Steve Angello in particular: 
DJs like Nick Curly, Guti, Ramon Tapia, and I'm sure others, have vocalized how they stand behind Sneak's comments. This really bothers me because it just seems like a case of jealousy. Only once did I see a response to the "haters" from SHM, and it came from Steve Angello via Twitter after being attacked for being a "fake DJ." I don't necessarily see them responding to Sneak's bait. And I will bet that they listened to Sneak growing up. I would be crushed if someone I looked up to was trying to undermine me. They didn't get influenced by polka musicians (maybe they did, who knows), they listened to House producers for inspiration!
I'm sad that the DJ/producer greats like the Belleville Three for instance, may not get the same cash that SHM gets paid for headlining gigs, but that's just the way the industry has evolved. Yes it sucks, but I don't see why one legendary House producer needs to slam those who came after him. Just seems wrong.
I'm a big SHM supporter (and David Guetta while we're at it). Before the industry blew up, which I would say WMC 2009 being the turning point, SHM made great music. Under different monikers too, like Buy Now, Who's Who, Supermode and many others. They still make great tracks (I will admit Save the World was not one of my fav though). And as for the accusations of them not being humble?  They take to Twitter to often thank their fans. They have contests to give their fans chances to go see their shows. Just recently Sebastian Ingrosso co-created a charity DJ football game with Tiesto to raise funds for (Red). DJ R3hab posted a recap video of the event and Sneak replied on Twitter "2 times wack!" Chances are that reply will get lost as R3hab has 175000+ Twitter followers. Again, why?!
Alright. I think that's enough for one blog post. I'm sure there will be plenty of SHM love-ins as I continue this blog...
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5 comments:

  1. analoghdescMarch 31, 2012 at 9:56 AM

    David Guetta sucks balls & most of these ppl don't even produce the tracks that they have their names on! & then most of them can't mix 4x4 either! So why shouldn't Sneak be able to call them out and tell the truth! Times do move on and we can't take their money or fame away but there is always the truth!

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  2. comasMarch 31, 2012 at 12:52 PM

    it seems like that you dont what your talking about. the fact that you wrote SHM is a diferent style of house is gross, house is house , and sneak plays real house, of course nobody knows how define SHM genre because they call themselves house , but the reallity is a pumping vocals crap that fooled up the ignorant americans ears.
    And jealousy ? seriously the underground scene is the strongest and more educated of EDM, they really do music for love no for money anyhow they have world tours and concert charts , so please young blogger take it easy , house music is for example the song of mark that the posted

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    1. SaverMarch 31, 2012 at 1:38 PM

      Haha, I'm probably older than you, but thanks for calling me "young blogger."

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  3. miss lucy goes deepApril 1, 2012 at 4:32 AM

    SHM's music is mostly Electro and Progressive House. They do not play house music, Sneak was right with what he said and I respect him for saying it. He's just trying to educate people on what is true house music, which to him and a lot of other house heads is a religion, it's not something to take lightly. SHM make commercial Electro/Prog house, they make music for the purpose of making money. This kind of music is all "bigger is better", there is no soul in their music, only ego.

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    1. SaverApril 1, 2012 at 1:01 PM

      You just said it yourself, electro and progressive are forms of HOUSE. SHM play nothing that resembles Sneak's music. But Sneak does not own House, and he does not NEED to say anything. What does "calling them out" even achieve? Axwell, Ingrosso and Angello have been at it for close to 20 years, I've followed their careers for about 10 years. They weren't some overnight sensation. And that their music means "bigger is better, ego" is just what you take out of it, not everyone. I'm not a fan of country music, so I just don't listen to it. If people don't like it, don't listen. I have always been a fan of Sneak's music, still am, but the way he has conducted himself makes him look really petty. He's still blabbing about it, and not in a professional way. He even asked Junior Sanchez to pick sides? School yard talk! I guess I just don't understand people who condone talking to peers with no level of maturity whatsoever...

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