Well, it seems we’re back to the business of talking about Jeff Mills, possibly the hardest-working 59-year-old DJ in Detroit – as opposed to another one who Ears To The House sometimes reports on. He’s been a busy wizard lately – recent appearances include Dublin on December 30th and closing out Italy’s Galactica NYE in the early hours of January 1st.
Indeed, the man himself was very busy over the final few weeks of 2022 – with a gig providing the soundtrack to the Dior Men’s Collection Fall 2023 runway show. Taking place on December 4th in front of the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Perhaps that’s just as well – goodness knows what we’re meant to make of the clothing…
Anyway, the timing of this event piqued our curiosity. Just days earlier, MDL Beast’s Soundstorm festival took place in Dubai – since we published an article about his non-appearance at 2022’s edition, we’ve since learned Mills turned it down. Was the Egypt gig already in the diary at the time the request came in?
Nonetheless, a gig in front of a roughly 137m tall pyramid is quite the contrast to the underground venues Mills used to play back in the day. It’s rumoured the man himself was paid $100,000 for his appearance at MDL Beast Soundstorm – with the likes of Carl Cox reportedly getting at least three times more. Perhaps he’s suddenly realised just how much money there is in techno these days?
That said, if Mills is serious about pursuing this supposed business techno route, he might want to tone down his music. Take this one from his recent “Extension” vinyl release…
Nowhere near generic and dull enough to take his place alongside the established business techno bores yet!
