17/12/2025
Selection, Spirit, and the "Wallop": Why Billy Daniel Bunter Is Right About the Art of DJing
As a DJ, I witness the debates raging daily on social media. People are obsessed with the "how"—vinyl vs. digital, sync buttons vs. manual beatmatching, or how many effects you can cram into a transition. But if you listen to a legend like Billy Daniel Bunter, who has been in the trenches for 35 years, you realise we’re often arguing about the wrong things.
I’ve watched Billy’s breakdown of what makes a "real" DJ, and honestly? I couldn't agree more. The art of DJing isn't in the gear; it’s in the narrative of the night and the respect you show to the dancefloor.
It’s the Selection, Stupid
We’ve all seen it: a DJ with flawless technical skills who couldn't read a room if their life depended on it. Billy hits the nail on the head when he says selection is everything. Back in the late 80s and early 90s, some of the biggest pioneers of the rave scene couldn’t mix to save their lives. But they were icons because they knew exactly what record to play to keep the crowd from leaving. As DJs, our primary job isn't to be a human metronome; it’s to be a storyteller. If you have the right track lined up for that specific moment, the medium doesn't matter.
The Lost Power of the Warm-Up
One of the biggest points Billy makes—and one I’m incredibly passionate about—is the art of the warm-up. Too many DJs today turn up for a 9:00 PM slot and try to "bang it out" with peak-time anthems. That’s not DJing; that’s ego. Billy talks about "cutting his teeth" on four-hour warm-up sets, and that experience is priceless. The warm-up is about hospitality. It’s about greeting the first person through the door and slowly building a foundation.
There’s a real skill in "the tease"—dropping a hint of energy and then pulling it back. It takes patience, and it’s a privilege to be the one who sets the tone for the entire night.
Navigating the Night: From the "Wallop" to the Close
When you get to that peak-time slot, Billy’s right: it’s time for the "wallop." That’s when you bring the energy, the personality, and the showmanship. But the real test of a DJ is the closing set.
By 4:00 AM, the crowd is battered. The big anthems have been played. This is where you have to flex your musical muscle. To keep a tired room on their feet and have them screaming for "one more" at the end of a six-hour rave is the ultimate victory. It requires a different kind of digging and a deeper level of connection with the people in front of you.
Education Over Ego
Billy also touches on something I strive for in my own sets: education. A great set shouldn't just be a "greatest hits" reel. It should be a journey across tempos and genres. Whether I’m starting at 120 BPM and ending at 160, or mixing old-school rarities with fresh cuts, the goal is to show the crowd something they didn't know they loved.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, DJing is a trade-off. We get to do what we love, and in exchange, we have a responsibility to make people happy. Whether you're tucked away in a dark corner of a basement club where no one can see you, or standing on a massive festival stage, the mission is the same: Authenticity.
Billy Daniel Bunter’s 35 years of truth serve as a reminder to all of us behind the decks: Stop worrying about the "rules" and start focusing on the vibe.
What do you think? Does the "warm-up" still have a place in the modern scene, or have we lost the art of the build? Let me know in the comments.
