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I Tried to DJ Like Carl Cox…(big mistake)

LaVonda Rocks

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Carl Cox has been DJing for 50+ years, he ran Space Ibiza for 16 years, and he still plays 9-hour sets with zero setlist. After my video on James Hype, you all told me to go try mixing like Carl Cox instead. So I did, and it did not go as planned.

In this video I test the three things that actually make Carl Cox a legend: reading the room instead of planning a set, his famous three-deck mixing technique, and how he manages a night by staying genre fluid instead of genre loyal. I try each one live (including a train wreck on deck three), and find out if a DJ style built in 90s warehouses is secretly the smartest way to DJ in 2026.

Follow along with me as I learn DJing in public, one chaotic experiment at a time.

#CarlCox #DJTips #Techno #HouseMusic #DJMixing #ThreeDeckMixing #TechHouse #DJTutorial #IbizaDJ

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Carl Cox Is An ICON
1:06 - Lesson 1 (Read the room)
5:10 - Lesson 2 (Trouble In 3s)
8:50 - Lesson 3 (Genre fluidity)
11:09 - Carl Cox vs James Hype

20 Comments

@paullawson8610 2 months ago

Back in 1991 I used to promote events I had Carl Cox come play for us on 3 turntables I stood 2 ft away from him watching him mix he could cue up a record without using headphones and drop it in time perfectly he is truly amazing dj

@ezedjay 3 months ago

The Carl Cox bounce was awesome in the early rave days. It was a different 3 deck style back then - he wasn't playing 3 channels at the same time - he was lining up 3 tunes and bouncing between them like a succession of 2 channel mixes with the faders - It was so dope 🔥🔥

@stasispoint 3 months ago

38 years old and getting ready to start my mid life dj crisis lol

@jasonvernau6570 3 months ago

Great video, it's always nice to see when homage is paid to such an influential DJ. He's been such a huge part of this scene & he keeps reinventing himself. I'm a journey DJ, love playing 3 to 8-hour sets, you can really leave everyone singing songs in their heads for days after. Music is a connector. Thanks for your video, you've got a new supporter

@joshuamorganmusic 3 months ago

Carl Cox is the best DJ in the world. If we discover life on other planets and those life forms have DJs then Carl Cox is the one we send to represent our entire planet. I was spoiled and got to see him and DJ Dan back in the 90s on the ‘needle damage’ tour. Life changing party

@Patmmc 3 months ago

90s warehouse dj here, you nailed it by saying “I didn’t want to line up banger after banger.” This is what I feel is lacking in modern dj sets. Let the vibe guide you. Feel the crowd and the moment. Don’t just focus on building up to drops. Also, I agree with learning how to use the mix AS THE EFFECTS! Today’s djs have almost too many tools with stems, crazy effects, and performance pads. We did a lot with two decks, faders, and eq/gain. Connect with your tracks and your crowd will connect with your set.

@aahh6478 3 months ago

This guy here got me into DJing and electronic music.

@djpauld 3 months ago

The best way to learn how to read the crowd when DJing is to do mobile DJing for normal events like family 40th/50ths, weddings, company Christmas parties, corporate events, or commercials clubs, pubs, bars. I learnt in the 90s doing weddings and mobile discos before playing residencies in commercials clubs then underground clubs. Those mobile dj gigs are really hard but rewarding as any song can kill the dance floor or clear a bar, so every song choice matters. You soon build up an unconscious wired memory of what works and what to try next… after a while when you get good at it you get into a flow state where songs pop in to your head that you know will work really well in the moment! Then when you listen to new songs you can get a feel for what stage of the night it will work and to what type of crowd. It’s always stress but it’s exciting and keeps you alert… it’s only when you become a big name you can really plan your sets, or if the crowd are just wasted and will dance to anything :)

@sunshineblossom7 2 months ago

Love your videos. You are so funny. Thankyou for sharing 💕

@Dark-Fox-7097 2 months ago

Thank you 😊

@raejeann09 3 months ago

Fantastic storytelling, almost forgot I came here to learn about the legend

@hovad1 2 months ago

ye the amount of soul CC puts into his sets. Jumping around the sonic landscape. Big hugger as well.

@adammather8273 1 month ago

Listening to the King since 93. Leg End

@andycted-to-dance 3 months ago

It was 1992. The rave was called World Party II and it was 3 am. I was asleep again in front of some buge ass sub in a corner somewhere (don't point) and suddenly Carl started. Energy level raided by 50. Carl cos in his way defined DJ'ing. Yes, library management is key. Tagging, and sorting. It's how your brain actually figures out tracks. Build your library according to how your brain works. It takes time. Just start with a 100 tracks. You can do this in a day..

@ResonanceLab-b2j 1 month ago

Nice Channel 🎉

@djhallowed1 3 months ago

"Throuple of tracks" is amazing!

@theRBninja 3 months ago

Love your videos, thnx youtube for a good algorithm

@GeLo1000 3 months ago

What a legend!I thought i was the only one going around with 10GB of music and selecting my music in base of the crowd and the place!Great review and great analysis! 🙂

@hectronic_noise 3 months ago

Carl Cox was (still is) a huge influence on my dj’ing. So cool to see you break down his style, what he does, and how it influenced your mixes. This gets my creative brain going! 👽 Great vid queen 🙌🏼

@lukasvanderwesthuizen6809 3 months ago

Loved this! Really great videos from you recently, and the humor in this one got me laughing out loud. Keep em coming... Maybe I missed it but the question is how this translates to Twich Streaming?

Everything touched in this video made me realise that I am on the right track