“In marketing terminology, a killer application (commonly shortened to killer app) is any computer program that is so necessary or desirable that it proves the core value of some larger technology, such as computer hardware, gaming console, software, a programming language, software platform, or an operating system.—Wikipedia, killer app.
Let Us Play—Coldcut
“Ninja Jamm is a free music app that lets anyone instantly remix Ninja tunes using touch control, state of the art effects and killer music from Ninja artists.”—Ninjatune.
Summer 2012 sees a new ear-ra in sound mixing, DJ performance and mashability’. IMHO the art and crafts of the disc jockey started with the hand-to-eye-to-ear skill set when the first vinyl manipulators started their experiments in the mid 1970’s, through to the new touch sensitive ‘tablets’ that respond to touching, tickles and scratch motions in a notable return to physical hand movements that trigger audio and visual media.
Yet for a moment there I thought that the CD-DJ phenomena flourished, and reduced the touch of a vinyl record platter to buttons and sliders with awkward looking LCD displays. I had a personal love of vinyl, and traditional vinyl turntablism and up until (May 18th 2012) i held firm to my beliefs by only spinning vinyl records for nearly 20 years.
The new interactive touch surfaces combined with real time, latency free, control bring some excitement in hands on DJ’ing back into a new sense of what DJ artistry consists of, technically. I feel its important to remember that the equipment remains only a part of the art. The content, the music, the samples and the tasteful synthesis (mixing) help define comprehensive and information rich DJ’s from predictable ones.
Enter Ninjatune as a case in point. The rare example of sampling and software innovation running simultaneously, and keeping a consistently underground and forward thinking philosophy, today probably best summed up as an Open Source and Mash-up sensibility. Personally, when I discovered Ninjatune and their music back in 1993, I gushed at the mixture of sample based instrumental Hip Hop and experimental electronica.
The new Ninja Jamm APP makes sense in the age of mash up culture, remix-mania and digital culture gone feral. Ninja have a 22 year history that stands testament to their visionary and somewhat prophetic outlook on music culture, DJ’s, VJ’s and electronic music. Now in the summer of 2012 I believe their shareable, mashable philosophy fits perfectly with the new global APP village orgy.
“Instant remixing functions in push-button form let any music lover dive right in, yet Ninja Jamm is deep enough to engage DJs, musicians and producers. This one is fun.”—Ninjatune.
