Contrast - Ben Annand Live July 19, 2025 at Camp Dayfunk in the Wisconsin Woods

I sure hope you enjoy my second set from Camp Dayfunk 2025 as much as I enjoyed playing it! If you do, please give it a like and consider re-posting it on Soundcloud - it just takes a second and is the most helpful way to share cool music to new people! Camp Dayfunk is a Minneapolis-based campout in just its second year, taking place 2 hours East in the Wisconsin Woods - and I enjoyed its quality, intimacy, and cute little camp touches immensely.  Both this event and this set are very special to me <3 Before anything, let's talk about the Mix Cover.  I got great pictures from my first set and none from this 2nd, and it's fine. Because I got something better than a picture - I got a Danceflooor Badge! It was one of the greatest honors of my DJ career to earn one of only 8 Dance Floor badges given out at this event  - not for my 4 hours of playing music where I dance some but maintain focus on the mixing - but for my many more hours of representation on the dancefloor as a dancer, which is where this all started for me... and honestly has stayed.   I fricken love dancing and absolutely think it makes me a better DJ to study and appreciate music from both sides of the decks. I don't dance to everything and also want to give props where props are due - the music at this event was rock solid, and receiving the dance badge has as much to do with the quality of the other DJs playing as it does my dance stamina. Fun fact, the most I ever danced was at @mingameslaby in Japan in 2007 ;) Okay, about the music and vision for this set! My first set at the event, the night before, was previously posted to the event's Soundcloud (@user-467880110) and I had a full dancefloor and lots of energy coming back at me - a Dj's dream. This, my second set, Saturday 4-6pm, was a bit different.  It's daytime, there's a beach, and @djdanmusic, @Dj-Mes, and Mazi aka @audiosoulproject are playing B2B2B on that stage.  Right at the same time as my set at the Pavilion stage!  First thing that comes to my mind after I realize they are simultaneous - wtf am I going to do? Contrast is the answer.  If people want it funky, they're gonna want to be down at the other stage.  I mean I wanted to be there too lol.  And who the heck wants the 2 stages to sound the same anyway, that's silly.  So I leaned into this contrast theme for my set.  Someone told me that I may have confused people a little lol.  I said 'good!'   I'm really glad I had the opportunity to play the night before, because that was my more funky set - though my interpretation is a bit different from most.  I also won some hearts there, which created more interest than there would have been I think. So anyway, this set was a challenge - a friendly challenge to myself to play a 2 hour set that was a bit out of the box without losing people, that would serve as a worthy contrast to that devastating funk of Dan, Mes and Mazi.     I would guess overall people there probably liked my first set a tad more - but for me this one was hands-down the winner.  Partly because it was a full 2 hours of new music. Partly because my cup was already full since I had nailed my set the night before and even got extended an extra hour -  the best hour.  And partly because I had experienced some challenge locking the XDJ the night before, but was effortlessly near flawless on Saturday. I felt zero pressure to do anything but be myself, and play what I felt at that time <3 In general, I favor very full tracks that envelope you with sound.  Besides contrast, the theme for this set is laid back and expansive.  There's funkiness, sure, there are some peaks and valleys energetically, but not at all like the night set.  Overall, it's a smooth ride through deep house with some vocals, minimal house and even a touch of techno, all around 124bpm. Thanks for reading to the end! I Hope you enjoy the music, and perhaps this background too!