Rick Greenly wrote:

Tho after all the times I had to put up with rock musicians saying
anything made with synths, drum machines, heavy technological
influence of any kind "wasn't music" when I was younger, I don't
particularly care what the society of "musicians" thinks of us. I
prefer "recording artist."

Peece,
T. Tauri

I think "recording artist" is a nice one-size-fits-all description. If
I fart and belch into a mic and put a beat to it, I'm a recording
artist too. Not comparing that scenario to what a DJ does, just making
a point.

I like to put the accent on "artist" in the same way that, say, it's
possible in the visual arts world for a photographer like Eugene Atget
(whose work is likewise a matter of framing preexisting stuff) or an
abstract expressionist like Jackson Pollack (who abandons traditional
draftsmanship) to be accepted as an intellectually relevant peer in
their field.

Whether or not they're strictu sensu musicians, there's nothing to me
that would prevent a DJ's record from rivaling a "musicianly" Coltrane
record, say. (Don't think there's an actually existing *turntablist*
record I could yet say reaches that goal, for me, though there are a
great many hip-hop records that do.)

[Aside: In "I Walk On Guilded Splinters", Dr. John does belch (well,
near enough) into the mic, and it's a pretty great choice. And I'd swear
that New Order's "Lonesome Tonight" includes the sound of someone
hocking a loogey slowed down a bit.]

Peece,
T. Tauri