How did it all start for DJ Madjam? Was there any specific person that inspired you the most?
“It all started when I was 10, doing small house parties as a elementary school kid. The only DJ that has truely inspired me was Sasha. The way he mixes, blends and layers tracks together is truely amazing. No other DJ does it the way he does.“
Your residency at Pepermint, Dubai has given you the opporunity to play along side the biggest names in electronic music. Your last gig at Pepermint with Paul Van Dyk, was a huge success. Is there any artist that you want to play with but haven't yet? Why?
“We got Sasha coming in June, and if there's anyone I'd love to warm-up for it's definitely him. Peppermint is such a success over the last 2 years here in Dubai that we now have a venue and backing from sponsors to book the biggest DJs.
Personally I know the Dubai crowd over the last 3 years and hence select tracks that get them going early without over-doing it. Same goes for Beirut on my weekly hour on Mix FM where I showcase the tunes I've been playing in gigs across the region.”
Other than playing at Pepermint, MixFM has kept you in Beirut at least once a month for its events; and you have kept your weekly show: "Club Frequency". You've been pretty busy!
“Yeah bless fast internet speeds for enabling me to keep that slot on mix fm. I've been doing that show for 6 years now- 2 of them with me here in Dubai. The guys at mix fm have been open to DJs with a sense of dance flavor since the station opened, and I'm very proud to be part of that strong team.
Funny enough I'm also a TV producer by day, and most people don't know that. DJing is great, as long as you have your career focused alongside it if your not a DJ Mag top 100 DJ!
Socially a DJ is known more than a TV producer, hence the comments like "you have another job?" and "how do you have time?"”
What do you do exactly at GearOne?
“I'm the senior producer of the channel, ensuring content gets on air. I also help set-up the channel in it's current configuratioin but have high hopes for what's yet to be on air.“
You were in Ibiza a few days ago, how was it?
“Ibiza is amazing. The place is so positive- no poisonous diseases, no negative people. Even though the season hasn't started yet it's probably the best way to see the island before the wild summer sets in. Amazing how the 90,000 people that live there welcome over 5 million tourists a year!”
Which has been your BEST night so far? BEST crowd so far?
“Well everynight is special. Even the small ones. The PvD warm-up was really something here in Dubai with 3,500 people packing into the club an hour before PvD even got on. It's great to play new tracks that you have a feeling for, and watch a few thousand people enjoy it just as much as you do.
Best crowd is def in Beirut, people there have so much reserved energy during the week that they let it all out (and more!) on the weekends.
Dubai is mixed among 60 or more nationalities so the unity is not as strong as a room of 4,000 Lebanese.”
Some people are saying that your music is starting to become a little too commercial. What's your opinion on "commercial vs. underground" music? How do you define your music?
“Well if a song is good, then a big record label is bound to take notice and release it commercially. If a DJ plays good music that's all unknown, some people in the crowd wont respond to it well. If you drop the right tune at the right time it all goes well.
Underground people tend to keep the music underground, but why not share the good sounds with more people?
Now with File transfers most DJs get music within hours if not days from a track being produced, so underground might be reserved for people that don't want to share their music
Dance is unity, sharing is unity, why waste it!”
Can we expect any releases from DJ Madjam in the near future?
“Everyone asks about that. I'm too much of a perfectionist when it comes to production that I make a track over 6 hours, then hate it the next morning. I do lots of re-edits and a few remixes, but I keep those to myself since they're more like DJ tools to help a live set.
If I end up taking production too seriously I'll have to give up my career in broadcast production.”
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
“All aspiring DJs, don't become a DJ because it's "cool" and "looks like a fun job" because it's much more complicated than that. If you got music in you you'll just naturally find yourself becoming a DJ if you got the technical side down. Some DJ schools help, but it's all about self practice and tolerance.
Turn that TV show off and get mixing!
Even if you never score that big break, it's a great hobby and gets you more insight into music when you head out to a gig.
website spaces.msn.com/djmadjam for all the pictures and gig updates”
Thank you very much for your time... and we'll see you soon in Beirut for Carl Cox!
