VTMBH Article: Body
<i>DJ Amir has been spinning records since he was 18. He learned his art from professional DJs in his native Cairo. Before moving to New York two years ago, he spun at the biggest clubs in Cairo and resorts throughout Egypt, as well as at clubs in Lebanon and Dubai.</i>
<i>How did you start getting known in New York?</i>
I started going out to clubs, listening to what DJs play here, getting along with local DJs, catching different techniques of mixing, and collecting more and more music.
<i>What are the styles that are popular in New York?</i>
Hip-hop, Reggae, all types of House. The knowledge and the experience that I gained through the years from playing in Egypt helped me here and gave me a competitive edge over other local DJs.
<i>When did you begin introducing Arabic music to your sets?</i>
In the beginning, I wasnt. I was focusing more on catching the wave here and completing my music set with happening songs that people like. After that, I started adding Arabic music to my set as something different from what the other DJs were doing.
I added more Arabic music when I started meeting more people who liked it. They were coming to the clubs where I was DJing to dance to Arabic music, as well as the remixes I made for top 40 songs like One More Time, Get Your Freak On, My Neck My Back. Those remixes were club bangers.
<i>On your website, you stated that you wanted to promote Middle Eastern music. How successful have you been?</i>
Its amazing the response I get when I change my music set to Middle Eastern music I hear the crowd screaming with joy. American crowds sing the Arabic lyricseven though they dont know what they meannew faces come in every week demanding Middle Eastern music. What helped me create that wave is Club Falucka; it has the right vibe, the Middle Eastern decoration and atmosphere, and that helped me with my theme.
<i>How do you motivate people to dance?</i>
Reading the crowd is the most important thing for a DJ. It builds up the night and makes the crowd stay till closing. You let them know that you know what youre doing and that you do it so differently, theyll stay and listen to what you surprise them with. Of course, the more time they stay, the more money they spend in the club. At the end of the night everybody is satisfied and the word gets out about how enjoyable it was.
<i>What other ideas do you have for promoting Middle Eastern music?</i>
I want to start a radio show about Middle Eastern music. I started communicating with some radio stations; hopefully it will be on soon. Stay tuned for more info through my website.
<i>How did you start your entertainment company?</i>
I did my first party 10 days after coming to New York. I was looking through the Yellow Pages and I saw ads for belly dancers. I started calling a few of them to check if they needed music or DJs. One of them called me back and she said, I have this graduation party for New York University. I did a few parties for NYU and the company took off from there. I did so many private parties after that: weddings, birthdays, proms, etc.
<i>At what other clubs have you DJd?</i>
For the past two years Ive been played in different places: Bowery Bar, Club Sessa, Club Decade, Club Metronome, Club West 8, Paisly, Falucka and Chazal.
<i>Where are you DJing now?</i>
Right now, I play at Falucka on Bleecker between Thompson and Sullivan on Friday and Saturday nights. On Thursdays, Im at Chazal on 26th Street and Madison Avenue.
<i>How can your crowd stay informed about your events or your music?</i>
They can keep up with my events and my new music thru my website www.djamir.com. They can join my mailing list by signing up their emails. I will keep them updated about my events and my music.
<i>How did you start getting known in New York?</i>
I started going out to clubs, listening to what DJs play here, getting along with local DJs, catching different techniques of mixing, and collecting more and more music.
<i>What are the styles that are popular in New York?</i>
Hip-hop, Reggae, all types of House. The knowledge and the experience that I gained through the years from playing in Egypt helped me here and gave me a competitive edge over other local DJs.
<i>When did you begin introducing Arabic music to your sets?</i>
In the beginning, I wasnt. I was focusing more on catching the wave here and completing my music set with happening songs that people like. After that, I started adding Arabic music to my set as something different from what the other DJs were doing.
I added more Arabic music when I started meeting more people who liked it. They were coming to the clubs where I was DJing to dance to Arabic music, as well as the remixes I made for top 40 songs like One More Time, Get Your Freak On, My Neck My Back. Those remixes were club bangers.
<i>On your website, you stated that you wanted to promote Middle Eastern music. How successful have you been?</i>
Its amazing the response I get when I change my music set to Middle Eastern music I hear the crowd screaming with joy. American crowds sing the Arabic lyricseven though they dont know what they meannew faces come in every week demanding Middle Eastern music. What helped me create that wave is Club Falucka; it has the right vibe, the Middle Eastern decoration and atmosphere, and that helped me with my theme.
<i>How do you motivate people to dance?</i>
Reading the crowd is the most important thing for a DJ. It builds up the night and makes the crowd stay till closing. You let them know that you know what youre doing and that you do it so differently, theyll stay and listen to what you surprise them with. Of course, the more time they stay, the more money they spend in the club. At the end of the night everybody is satisfied and the word gets out about how enjoyable it was.
<i>What other ideas do you have for promoting Middle Eastern music?</i>
I want to start a radio show about Middle Eastern music. I started communicating with some radio stations; hopefully it will be on soon. Stay tuned for more info through my website.
<i>How did you start your entertainment company?</i>
I did my first party 10 days after coming to New York. I was looking through the Yellow Pages and I saw ads for belly dancers. I started calling a few of them to check if they needed music or DJs. One of them called me back and she said, I have this graduation party for New York University. I did a few parties for NYU and the company took off from there. I did so many private parties after that: weddings, birthdays, proms, etc.
<i>At what other clubs have you DJd?</i>
For the past two years Ive been played in different places: Bowery Bar, Club Sessa, Club Decade, Club Metronome, Club West 8, Paisly, Falucka and Chazal.
<i>Where are you DJing now?</i>
Right now, I play at Falucka on Bleecker between Thompson and Sullivan on Friday and Saturday nights. On Thursdays, Im at Chazal on 26th Street and Madison Avenue.
<i>How can your crowd stay informed about your events or your music?</i>
They can keep up with my events and my new music thru my website www.djamir.com. They can join my mailing list by signing up their emails. I will keep them updated about my events and my music.