If you follow other blogs, you might have seen a video of a 12-year-old DJ spinning techno being hailed as the “future of electronic music.” While there are a few problems with the assertion, it’s important to put the situation into context.
The trope of “child DJ” has become increasingly popular over the past couple years. It’s not surprising, especially considering how easily accessible the tools to DJ have become, with even mobile apps supplying the methods to mix tracks and apply basic filters to tracks. We’ve covered young DJ Arch Jr, who famously won South Africa’s Got Talent in 2015. Then there’s 9-year-old John Anthony, who played mainstage at Sunset Music Festival, which his dad is believed to be a promoter for. There’s also 11-year-old Rhys Toms, known by his DJ alias Black Summer, who played Australia’s Groovin The Moo festival last year. And who could forget young Aiden Jude?
Let’s be clear, we’re not saying to discourage young, optimistic children from dreams of being a DJ. After all, A-Trak won his first DMC championship at 15. But to call them the “future of electronic music” at such a young age is clearly putting the cart before the horse. And furthermore, asserting that playing techno is somehow evidence of an “evolved taste” is also extremely biased.
All that said and done, young Federico Gardenghi still seems to know what he’s doing on the decks, and we wish him the best in his career.
Photo by Bruno Garreffa Photography