Ep. #001: Featuring Xela

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Hey there! Welcome to Guildie, where you get actionable advice from first-rate DJs fueling the GTA’s flourishing electronic dance music scene. (This newsletter is sent out every Wednesday).

For our first installment of the newsletter, we’re focusing on Xela and his quick rise to prominence within Toronto’s various dance communities. Despite his love for the underground, he’s already played at local keepsakes such as Sound Machine and Supermarket, quickly cementing himself as a versatile ‘dancefloor destroyer’ in any scenario. Currently, he specializes in hypnotic soundscapes and electrifying beats.

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What to Expect 

• From Dancefloors to Decks

• On the Topic of Comparison

• Preventing a Stale Set

• Preparation and Quick Thinking

• The Need for More Venues

Note: Guildie is in its early stages of development. If any changes or additions could be implemented to improve your reading experience, please message me at [email protected]. I’ll be working to refine the newsletter each week! :)

–Merchant (@ohmymerchant)

Introducing Xela

Name: Xela (he/him)
Place of Origin: Kingston, Ontario
Genres: Acid Techno // Hard Groove // Electro
Affiliations: Konduktor
——
Socials: Instagram (@xela.beats)
Bookings: [email protected]

Overview

“Xela is a producer and DJ based in Toronto focusing on hard kicks, groovy percussion and trippy acid basslines.

While only recently stepping into the DJ scene, Xela has an extensive production background, producing songs for over 7 years in multiple genres, including rap, techno, pop, and alt-rock. With this background knowledge, Xela has quickly picked up DJing and has been noticed by a handful of popular collectives. Recently, he’s been given the opportunity to play for popular local events run by names such as The Industry, Takeover 6ix, and Tribunal.”

Q&A

Q: When did you begin your journey as a DJ? Why did you decide to start?

A: “Since I was a child, I’ve always had a deep interest for DJing and music production. Growing up, I loved Skrillex and deadmau5. But what actually sparked my DJ journey was going to my first rave. 

In early 2023, I attended Boiler Room and just had a realization that I could be one of those people on the stage after noticing that I already had a deep knowledge of the music and how DJing worked. About a month later, I bought a dj controller online and it was very easy for me to pick up the techniques.”

Q: How do you go about building a set that keeps the crowd engaged? Does this differ depending on the type of gig?

A: “The most important thing to me is understanding the crowd that I am playing for and the environment of the event. I tend to create sets that contain multiple genres to keep the crowd guessing about what's coming next and to prevent any stale moments to keep the crowd’s attention. Another big part of my set building is sticking to a very specific theme for the records I will be playing.” 

Q: How do you manage to stay current with music trends and discover new tracks?

A: “Recently I’ve been falling behind with new releases, but I typically check out my favourite record label pages or shuffle through Spotify discovery playlists to find new exciting music.”

Q: What were the most significant challenges you faced early in your career? How did you overcome them?

A: “My biggest challenge that I slowly overcame was negatively comparing myself to other DJs. When I started doing shows, I often criticized myself too much and compared myself to my peers in a negative way that would discourage me. I’ve slowly realized that this is such a silly mentality as we all have the same goal and are all on our own path to success. Comparison will only hurt the process.”

Q: What strategies have you found effective for building a personal brand as a DJ and establishing a fan base?

A: “GO TO LOCALS SHOWS.

No one will know who you are if you don’t put yourself out into the world. Show your face at local events and engage with the community!”

Q: Can you share a memorable gig experience where something unexpected happened? How did you handle it?

A: “One time at an event, I had a specific set of songs to play. The last song in the set was not correct and I spent time downloading the last song during the middle of the set while the second last song was playing. Very stressful moment but I managed to get the song downloaded in a subway station before the previous one ended.”

Q: What do you love most about the current scene? Is there anything you hope to see improve over the next few years?

A: “I love the sense of community and belonging in our current scene. Everyone is connected and helping each other reach their own goals.

I hope to see an improvement in the quality and number of Toronto venues in the near future. The rave scene in Toronto has a rotation of about 5 main venues. I would like to see new exciting spaces open up to host raves as the current popular venues can become stale.”

Q: What role has mentorship played in your journey as a DJ? How can new DJs find mentors or guidance in the industry?

A: “Mentoring has played a strong role in my DJ journey. Many things that I have learned have come from experienced people in the community sharing their wisdom to me. I feel like having a DJ mentor is great, but not essential to becoming an exceptional DJ.”

Insights

Understand Your Environment. Not every set is built for every occasion. In fact, it probably shouldn’t be that way at all. Cater your sets to your interpretation of the setting you’ll be playing in. Will it be a darker atmosphere? Maybe throw in some grimier tracks. Is it a daytime jam? Get some lighter vibes in there. Blend the environment with your music taste for optimal results.

Keep ‘em Guessing. Like Xela, don’t be afraid to step outside the bounds of a mono-genre setlist. Oftentimes, he can grab attention by simply transitioning from one genre to another; for example, from Hard Groove into Electro. This change of pace can turn heads from the bar to the dancefloor in mere seconds.

Prep Could Save You a Huge Headache. While you can’t always ensure that things will run smoothly during a live set, a proper preparation regimen will keep your chances of success high. Prevent any potential mishaps on your end by prepping music thoroughly and double-checking your equipment before stepping on stage.

Shop (and Rave) Local for Opportunities. We’ll admit it: Networking online can be a lot easier than showing up in person to events. But if you’re really looking to connect with your community (and eventually play for it), you should be directly part of it, too. Meeting like-minded people can be much easier this way, and key community members like promoters and organizers might be there to help you land your first gig.

Mentorship Isn’t Everything. Tips and tricks can gradually be shared between fellow DJs, but when it comes to building an initial foundation, there are countless ways to do so without a dedicated mentor. For example, many DJs rely on learning materials like YouTube videos (or Guildie 😉) to supplement their knowledge, guiding them throughout the majority of their early careers.

Mixes & Productions

Supermarket Series | Xela  // “A hypnotic multi-genre journey filled with groovy percussion, trance-filled melodies, hard kicks, and heavy acid basslines.” 

Recommendations

Recently Played

Hermeth - Devil’s Reject // 147 BPM; Eb Major.
Joy Orbison - flight fm  // 140 BPM; D Major.
Emmanuel Top - Acid Phase (Portex Remix) // 150 BPM; G Minor.
KlangKeunstler, Obernauer - Die Welt Brennt // 150 BPM; A Minor.
KI/KI - 5 Mins of Acid (Original Mix) // 145 BPM; A Minor.
False Persona - 30 Rounds // 150 BPM; Bb Minor.

Favourite Artists

AADJA // For pumping techno beats fused with alluring vocals.
UFO95 // For deep, dark, and bouncy thumpers.
KI/KI // For trancey, driving tracks built for the dancefloor.
Funk Assault // For high-quality, organic Hard Groove.

Top Organizations

Awakenings // For “dance marathons” featuring top-tier DJs.
The Lot Radio // For a legendary shipping container(!) that hosts some great artists.

Learning Materials

Different Ways To Practice Your DJing // Video by Club Ready DJ School.
Serato & Rekordbox Optimizations // Video by DJ Carlo.
Mixing Two Different Genres // Video by Crossfader.
Why Spontaneity Matters // Blog by Dan White (DJ Tech Tools)
Set Prep Tips // Blog by DJ City.

A final note from Xela: “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. If you have a goal or idea in your head that you want to become a reality, work at it everyday until you see the results in front of your eyes.”

That’s all for our very first edition of Guildie! As a reminder, if any improvements could be made to the newsletter, let me know about them at [email protected]. I greatly value your time and readership.