Placing an exceptional track between average ones amplifies its impact through the contrast effect

A principle borrowed from radio programming: framing a focal track with less remarkable music on either side causes listeners to perceive the central track as exceptional by contrast — what is described here as making ‘average records’ become hits ‘by proxy.’ For DJs, this means the sequence around a key track is as important as the track itself. Playing three peak-impact tracks back-to-back diminishes each; surrounding your best track with more restrained music allows it to land with full force. DJ Harvey: ‘If you know where you want to go, you can look at the performance in wide-view, rather than a track-by-track thing.’ This is the opposite of the beginner instinct to sequence ‘bangers’ consecutively.

Examples

Harvey: ‘If they want to break a record they’ll have a chunk of average records either side as bookends. By proxy some of these average records — the ones in the middle, framed as the focal point — become a hit. With my kind of DJing, it’s a bit like that.‘

Assessment

Design a 5-track sequence around one ‘peak’ track. Describe the energy and feel of each surrounding track and explain how they frame the peak. What would happen if you played three peak tracks in a row?