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Skrillex, The New Rock Star DJ

DJs are the new rock stars. Some would say DJs are rock stars like professional poker players are the new professional athletes. Many of the top electronic DJs change upwards of $30,000 for one night performance while, according to websites like concertbooking.org, the entire Sugar Hill Gang is available for under ten-thou. In the past, it would take years and years for a DJ to build a reputation and a commanding reputation. According to Jack Trash, owner of Sound in Motion, "With the power of social network activity, rockstar DJs can be created overnight."

Jack Trash and Sound In Motion are renowned in Minneapolis-St. Paul for bringing in the hottest of electronic acts to the Twin Cities. Big electronic showcases are a perfect example of the overnight rockstar DJ status. Up until six months ago, Skrillex was a fairly unknown electro-dubstep DJ. For those that don't have a doctorate in electronic music genres, this is an extremely fast growing style of music. It has an extremely fast beat that is so many beats per minute that it almost sounds as if it could be danced to at half speed.

Skrillex, 23, has had plenty of productions credits under his name, but no real mainstream exposure. That is no real national exposure until the summer of 2010, in which Skrillex opened up in a national tour for one of the top, Grammy nominated house DJs in the world, DeadMau5 (pronounced "Dead Mouse"). Being an opening act for DeadMau5 catapulted Skrillex to the top of the list of most demanded electronic DJs and making him, virtually, an instant sensation. In April 2011 Alternative Press listed Skrillex as one of the top 100 bands you need to know.

Catch Skrillex on his nationwide tour this fall.

Chris Castle has an affinity for all social, artistic and exciting experiences related to the Minneapolis-St.Paul nightlife scene. He is a resident nightclub DJ, promoter, and owner of the local nightlife website, TwinCitiesNightClubs.com.

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