Ambience: A DJ's Blog

  • DJ Iron Mike's Hip Hop / R&B Playlist - Winter 2012

    Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 9:15 pm

    By A www.autson.com

    A regular feature of the Ambient DJ blog is the submission of periodic playlists reflecting songs currently being used by DJs out in the field. The list below reflects the hip hop & R&B selections of our resident "selecta" DJ Iron Mike. Congratulations are in order for Mike who recently celebrated his five year anniversary spinning for Ambient DJ Service!

    Known for his daunting music knowledge and crafty turntablist skills, here are Mike's top 15 tracks in the hip hop / R&B genres. Coming later this week, Iron Mike's Top 15 songs from the Dance and Pop charts!

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  • DJ Gregg Ambient's Dance Playlist - February 2012

    Posted on Monday, February 20, 6:27 am

    By A www.autson.com

    A regular feature of the Ambient DJ blog is the submission of periodic playlists reflecting songs currently being used by DJs out in the field. The list below reflects our head honcho, “DJ Gregg Ambient’s” current favorites.

    Known for his wide range, eclectic tastes and penchant for electronica and hip hop alike, here are 25 tracks from Gregg Ambient’s private reserves. They are listed in no particular order. Hope that you will take some of these for a spin at your next dance party! Also coming this week, playlists from DJ Iron Mike in two installments 1) hip hop/R&B, and 2) dance.

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  • Remembering Whitney Houston

    Posted on Monday, February 20, 3:45 am

    By A www.autson.com

    Today Whitney Houston was laid to rest after passing away on February 11th, found dead in a bathtub in a Beverly Hills hotel. In this blog entry, we reflect on our favorite Whitney Houston moments. Importantly, Whitney brought gospel chops and techniques to pop music, creating dancefloor magic. A voice as huge as hers comes along just once in a lifetime, and we will miss her immensely.

    For this blog article, we polled Ambient DJs’ music mixologists for their favorite Whitney tracks. We also agreed that her performance in The Bodyguard (1992) was a crowning achievement in her career. It was the perfect opportunity to showcase Whitney’s talent up close and personal.

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  • Our Favorite 2012 Grammy Moments

    Posted on Thursday, February 16, 7:48 am

    By A www.autson.com

    As we predicted, Adele deservedly won six Grammy awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year. We love that Adele earned her accolades through talent and class. No pyrotechnics shows, no religious controversies, no dresses made of meat. As @winelibrarian tweeted about Adele, “I'm super glad a person who dressed like a normal girl and just sings her songs won all the things. #Grammys.” Us too!

    The passing of Whitney Houston was unsettling and we very much enjoyed Jennifer Hudson’s stirring a cappella version of “I Will Always Love You.” Listed below are five less-heralded Grammy moments that we particularly enjoyed.

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  • Ambient DJ Donates Services to Ryan's Quest Ball 2012

    Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 5:04 pm

    By A www.autson.com

    On February 11, 2012, Ambient DJ was honored to perform at the Ryan's Quest Valentine's Ball held at the Westin Forrestal Village in Princeton. Community support was massive, with over 500 guests in attendance.

    Net proceeds from the event will go towards finding a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). DMD is the most common genetic disorder found in children, afflicts only boys, and currently has a 100% fatality rate. David and Maria Schultz founded Ryan's Quest in the hope of raising funds to find a cure for their son Ryan and the thousands of other boys diagnosed with Duchenne who find themselves in a race against the clock.

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  • Guide to Selecting Bar/Bat Mitzvah Entertainment

    Posted on Monday, February 13, 6:56 pm

    By A www.autson.com

    A bar or bat mitzvah (which for simplicity we will refer to as a “mitzvah” in this article) is a highly-anticipated event in a young adult’s life. After the ceremony, the celebrant will want to party in style with their closest family and friends! This article outlines the planning process for a mitzvah and also provides tips for hiring DJ entertainment.

    What are the essential elements to an unforgettable bar or bat mitzvah celebration? And what items are discretionary? Read on to learn more!

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  • Gig Log - Rachel's Red Carpet Sweet 16

    Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 7:27 am

    By A www.autson.com

    On February 4, 2012, our DJ Gregg Ambient had the pleasure of providing the musical entertainment for Rachel's Sweet 16 held at the Mountain View Golf Club in Ewing, NJ. 40 of Rachel's close friends gathered for an unforgettable evening of fun based on the theme of the glamorous red carpet of Hollywood!

    Rachel's mother Lynn, a professional graphic designer, put her creative skills to good use, designing a large custom backdrop, and placing a red carpet in front of it. This was a great centerpiece to the dancefloor area, and guests posed there throughout the evening. Also in the red carpet area were life-sized figures of celebrities like Taylor Lautner, Lil' Wayne, the Bella Twins, Justin Bieber and lurking paparazzi photographers!

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  • Album Review- Amy Winehouse "Lioness: Hidden Treasures"

    Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 5:04 am

    By A www.autson.com

    On July 23, 2011, the music world lost a major talent with the death of Amy Winehouse. Her posthumous album "Lioness: Hidden Treasures" was released in December 2011. This 12 track collection features previously unreleased tracks, alternate versions of existing classics as well as a couple of brand new Amy compositions, and was compiled by long-time musical partners Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson in close association with Amy's family, management and UK record label Island Records.

    I became an immediate Amy Winehouse fan the very first time after hearing "Rehab." The music was that good. Ever since, Amy's tracks have frequented many Ambient DJ playlists, particularly for cocktail hours. "Lioness" contains pleasing alternative versions and new hidden treasures. That said, "Back to Black" produced by Mark Ronson with its "retro soul" sound remains the masterpiece in the Amy Winehouse collection.

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  • The Music of Madonna - Super Bowl 46

    Posted on Monday, February 6, 11:04 pm

    By A www.autson.com

    News that Madonna would be performing during the halftime show of Super Bowl XLVI drew mixed opinions. Since first cracking the Billboard charts in 1983 with "Holiday," Madonna's pop career has been amazingly resilient, with a slew of #1 hits recorded over three decades. While her "Lucky Star" career has faded with time, nobody can deny that Madonna at 53 years old looked and sounded great at last night's Super Bowl show. Her costumes were particularly glamorous. The only possible blemish was that M.I.A. (another favorite of ours) acted out during "Give Me All Your Luvin" flipping the bird! The network was not pleased.

    Congratulations to Kim R., Amanda E. and Lorenzo A. for correctly guessing the opening song of Madonna's show as "Vogue." Earlier in the day on Super Bowl Sunday, we had posed this interesting question on our social media sites. With Madonna's massive catalog and creative flair, this was not an easy question!

    Following are fifteen of our favorite Madonna tracks for your next dance party!

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  • Wedding Music Central- Company Profile

    Posted on Friday, February 3, 5:43 am

    By A www.autson.com

    In this article, we spoke with Gloria Sklerov and Barbara Rothstein from the Los Angeles-based Wedding Music Central (www.weddingmusiccentral.com). Wedding Music Central offers the only line of unique wedding music CDs and wedding music downloads created by Grammy and Emmy-winning hit writers. In other words, brides are no longer limited to “off the shelf” commercial music, and can now enjoy music composed specifically for weddings.

    Ambient DJ initially connected with Wedding Music Central (“WMC”) on Social Media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Impressed by their deep knowledge of wedding music, we were delighted when Gloria and Barbara graciously agreed to be interviewed for a feature story on our blog. Wedding Music Central provides a valuable array of services for couples seeking wedding music that is unique, appropriate, and will maximize the emotional impact of their special occasion.

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  • 20 Songs for Valentine's Day

    Posted on Thursday, February 2, 3:30 pm

    By A www.autson.com

    It's that time of the year to show love and appreciation for our significant others. In addition to the chocolates and flowers, why not present a custom Valentine's mix CD? Custom mix CDs are inexpensive, and unlike roses, will last for many years!

    Listed below are 20 suggestions. For an additional enhancement, consider recording a personalized voice message and adding it as a track to your project. Ready to pop the big question and propose? Record your proposal and add it to the playlist. The following track can be the Dixie Cup's "Chapel of Love" for when she says yes!

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  • Lessons for Disc Jockeys from Steve Jobs

    Posted on Monday, January 30, 7:00 pm

    By A www.autson.com

    In 2011, the world lost a modern day pioneer and visionary, Steve Jobs. Jobs, the driving force behind Apple, fought cancer for a number of years but not before linking up with renowned biographer Walter Isaacson. The resulting biography of Steve Jobs is a riveting story about a creative genius who leaves behind an enduring legacy.

    This book will appeal to many readers: to Apple fans, to those interested in business and personal success, and to those fascinated with Jobs’ intense personality that frequently clashed with those around him. This blog article explores takeaways from Steve Jobs relevant to Mobile Disc Jockeys. What can we learn from the life of Steve Jobs?

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  • 5 Tips to Avoid Spoiling a Teen Dance Party

    Posted on Sunday, January 29, 5:55 pm

    By A www.autson.com

    A teen dance party such as a Sweet 16 is a highly anticipated life event. Unfortunately, these parties can be spoiled by the unfortunate actions of a few. Left unchecked, these negative elements can result in a party being shut down early by the banquet staff (or police). Below, we offer five tips to ensure that your party is a stunning success!

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  • Dinner Music Selections for a Wedding by DJ Spinz

    Posted on Sunday, January 29, 5:00 pm

    By A www.autson.com

    At Ambient we pride ourselves in providing the perfect soundscape to accent your wedding day! Below we have compiled a list of tunes that work extremely well during the dinner portion of wedding receptions. Our aim is to provide an atmosphere of love and affection, while also maintaining a certain energy level as to not "bore anyone to tears". Read on to see some of our favorite selections for Dinner Music.

    Bon Appetit!

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  • Ambient DJ Service Wins 2012 Bride's Choice Award

    Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 12:38 pm

    By A www.autson.com

    East Windsor,NJ – January 24, 2012 – WeddingWire, the nation's leading wedding Marketplace, is excited to announce Ambient DJ Service has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012 for DJs!

    The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, Ambient DJ Service was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.

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  • Old School Hip Hop - Playlist

    Posted on Monday, January 23, 4:49 am

    By A www.autson.com

    As per Wikipedia, "Old school hip hop (also spelled "old skool") describes the earliest commercially recorded hip hop music (approximately from 1979–1984), and the music in the period preceding it from which it was directly descended. Old school hip hop is said to end around 1983 or 1984 with the emergence of Run–D.M.C., the first new school hip hop group. However, some old school rap stations cover 1980s hip hop in general, occasionally extending even into the mid 1990s. The image, styles and sounds of the old school were exemplified by figures like Afrika Bambaataa, The Sugarhill Gang, Spoonie Gee, Treacherous Three, Funky Four Plus One, Kurtis Blow, Fab Five Freddy, Busy Bee Starski, Lovebug Starski, Doug E. Fresh, LL Cool J, The Fat Boys, The Cold Crush Brothers, Kool Kyle, and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five,and it is characterized by the simpler rapping techniques of the time and the general focus on party related subject matter."

    Following we list some of our favorite "old skool" party jams (defined as 80s hip hop), but paying particular homage to the early 80s. Please leave comments with our own favorite selections!

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  • 25 Recommended Songs for a Video Slideshow

    Posted on Monday, January 23, 4:21 am

    By A www.autson.com

    One of our most popular upgrades is the "Video Slideshow." A slideshow of 5-7 minutes long (recommended length) is projected onto a large screen, with the audio for the presentation run through our professional sound system. To maximize the emotional impact of a slideshow, you will need to select the perfect accompanying music.

    Listed below are 25 suggestions for songs to be played during a video slideshow that will emotionally move the celebrant and guests - perhaps to tears. In parentheses, we have listed what type of party the song would be best suited for. Note that songs that typically are "over the top" for general party music (think Celine Dion), are often excellent candidates for slideshows! Please comment with your own song suggestions.

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  • The Best Music of 2011 - The "Ambies"

    Posted on Thursday, December 29, 5:34 pm

    By A www.autson.com

    Well, 2011 is nearly a wrap and it's time to take a walk down memory lane.  If we were on the 'Board' of an artistic academy (such as for the Grammys), what artists and songs would we nominate for the 'Best of' 2011?

    In lieu of an the Academy, Ambient DJs' staff members - as well as several industry friends, opined on their nominees for the "Best of 2011."  Contributing DJs include DJ Iron Mike, DJ Spinz, DJ AllDay, DJ Greg Nice, DJ Brett Gash, DJ Garrett B., DJ Austin, DJ "Stav the Greek," DJ Gill "the Dream" and myself, DJ Gregg Ambient.  Keep in mind that our esteemed academy is based in Central NJ, a land where dance music and hip hop reign, and country music is seldom heard.

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  • Happy Holidays from DJ Gregg Ambient

    Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 9:45 pm

    By A www.autson.com

    Each year I enjoy recording a holiday compilation (unmixed) of favorite tracks. This year's project is called "Switch the Style Up" which is a double-entendre. First, this phrase is popular in hip hop parlance. Second, the compilation features a wide range of styles as seen below. If you are interested in receiving a free copy of the compilation, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . For those friends and wedding vendors who have been good boys and girls this year, keep an eye on your mailboxes!

    Each year I enjoy recording a holiday compilation (unmixed) of favorite tracks. This year's project is called "Switch the Style Up" which is a double-entendre. First, this phrase is popular in hip hop parlance. Second, the compilation features a wide range of styles as seen below. If you are interested in receiving a free copy of the compilation, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . For those friends and wedding vendors who have been good boys and girls this year, keep an eye on your mailboxes!

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