Another Way to Play

Soumaya Phéline, associate artist at Halles, is programming an innovative festival that focuses on turntablism with the commitment to show that turntables can be used as musical instruments and therefore turn the DJs fully into musicians. Another Way to Play is shining a light on the experimentation and playfulness of live musical composition. 

Turntablism, also known as the art of scratching, emerged from the roots of hip-hop in the 1970s to become an art form in its own right. The discipline transcends musical boundaries and today enjoys worldwide recognition within electronic culture. 

With this innovative practice, artists manipulate sounds on both traditional turntables and usb decks (CDJ). 

At the heart of turntablism is the DJ, who fully embraces the status of performer, selecting their tracks while physically manipulating the sounds with the turntables. 

Advanced scratching, beat-juggling and backspinning techniques have pushed the boundaries of what is possible with turntables, creating a dynamic, interactive and radical art form. 

In the electronic music scene, turntablism brings a physical and tactile dimension to the practice of DJing, which is often reduced to the binary broadcasting of music tracks. DJs and turntablists question the boundaries between interpretation and the creation of original musical works through free, organic improvisation of the tracks they play. 

With the advent of modern electronic music, turntablism has found fertile ground in which to develop. Genres such as hip-hop, breakbeat and drum and bass have all welcomed turntablism whether mixing vinyl or CDJ, creating a unique synergy between the heritage of hip-hop and electronic innovation. 

The diversification of tools used is testament to an electronic scene where the boundaries of musical exploration are constantly being pushed back. Whether using turntables, CDJs, tape recorders or other innovations, turntablism embraces a variety of media, underlining the idea that the art of DJing transcends technological limits. 

In this way, the constant evolution of turntablism practices reflects boundless creativity and an ongoing desire to explore new sonic territories. The DJ performer, much more than a simple selection of tracks, deserves to be recognised as an artist in their own right. Constantly on the lookout for new techniques, and using improvisation, the DJ sculpts the sound and creates an original musical narrative. The DJ's artistic contribution is significant, and plays a part in the constant exploration of sonic horizons. In this way, turntablism plays a central role in contemporary cultural and artistic dynamics.