Bach Remix Wrap & Downloads

DJ Soulution; DJ Smuve; winner DJ DV8 (aka Danny Straton)

by George Evano
OBF communications director

It was a typical May afternoon at Eugene's Oakway Center. The sun was shining, kids were smiling, and three dudes in baseball caps were scratching up copies of Bach's "Little" Fugue in G Minor.

Well, maybe not so typical. At least for the 300+ spectators who came around to hear the three DJs compete American Idol-style, for $500 cash and a chance to spin at this year's Festival.

The "Bach Remix," our experiment to connect hip hop with Bach and in so doing, connect with possible new audiences, was a joyous success. The story was picked up by NPR's Weekend Edition and locally by KLCC's Heather Meldrum and Serena Markstrom of The Register-Guard.

Thanks to NPR, we've had requests from listeners across the country for copies of each contestant's mix. Here they are! Feel free to download as part of each DJ's agreement to participate.

DJ Soulution

Third place finisher DJ Soulution was the most ambitious, launching into it with three turntables, but plagued with tech problems. His mix was described by judge Caitriona Bolster as "the most avant-garde," a word which emcee Tic Tac (we hope jokingly) said he had never before heard...
Soulution's Remix
Quick Time
Windows Media

DJ Smuve

DJ Smuve took second place with a mix that leaned heavy on the beats and had the crowd cheering.
Smuve's remix
Quick Time
Windows Media

DJ DV8

And the winner! DJ DV8, aka Danny Straton, opted for the straight-ahead approach. it gave the crowd the chance to hear the Bach fugue in its sweeping majesty (at least in the Philadelphia Orchestra's arrangement) while getting a good dance beat going, and mixing in DJ Shadow.
DV8's remix
Quick Time
Windows Media

So many people helped to put the Remix together. But no way it could have happened without production work by the beyond-crazy team of Allen Hall Advertising and sponsorship by Oakway Center and KDUK/Clear Channel. KDUK's Tic Tac really got the crowd into it. Thanks!