Interview with Anis Ghazouani aka DJ Elecktro, Tunisian house/dance dj and music producer, currently living in Qatar. We talked about Tunisian music scene, how is to be a dj, trying to make career as a dj, Qatar live and plans for the future.
Peter Balkus: I heard your music on youtube and althought I’m not a big fan of dance/house music, your music speaks to me. It’s got that addictive, mantric vibe in it. And it’s different. Why you make music and for who?
DJ Elecktro: I had the strong passion for youtube back in time. I remember I loved music naturally. It all started when I was a kid at my home in Tunisia. I used to attend traditional weddings and they play amazing music there. That was my first experience with music. I remember in 2000 I started paying attention to Western music, mostly R’n’b, but also Eminem, 50 Cent and other most famous artists then. What I have noticed is the people’s joy, when music is around. It is so special moment. However around 2003 I started listening to Reggaeton, Daddy Yankee and Don Omar, also Sean Paul was well known at that time, and gave new flavour to music. In 2005 I started listening to electronic music, Tecktonick, electro, trance, jumpstyle, and I felt music is not only talent, beauty and voice of singer, but also it’s music production. So that strongly appealed to me. I even started making electronic dance music and I got involved in parties and all this stuff. One of the reasons I used to love to dance is I loved dancing and enjoying time partying and expressing myself. In 2007 I remember I was watching DJ Tiesto’s videos, I saw the level he reached, and the crowds attending the concerts and how he’s got impact on their attitudes and their feelings, how happy they are and how the music world is magical. I asked myself: why not starting doing the same, and share my thoughts as a music. And yeah I used to love House music, I used to listen to Simox group and Headcandy. The beauty of the rhythm is what attracted me, as well as the beats making your body moves. I started the music production step by step and I felt getting more attached to music. So I dont think it was a specific reason but the combinations of let’s say life experience I have been through drove me to do the music. It’s like I did not choose it. I feel like I was chosen. The feeling that I am born to do music. One of the things I want is people to have good memories when they hear my music. I want to show my talent to the world, and share my experience. This world, in where we escape from life pressure and create our own environment, where every one is happy, having fun, enjoying the moment and creating great memories.
PB: Please tell me about dance music and party-music in your country. Is it a big thing and is there many dj’s like you creating that kind of music? Is there a big competition between dance musicians?
DJ Elecktro: In Tunisi music culture is diverse, as we are close to the European nations. I would say competition is very high, when it comes to music production and djying. It is amazing, because in my country people love to party adn enjoy life, so they listen and also can criticize you as well, to make you progress. It’s more visible in summer, when all music producers shine. Some of them are really popular, not only on social media, but also on tv. TV in Tunisia showcases talents, including the music ones. Some djs participate in TV shows. Audience in Tunisia follows R’n’B music mostly, we also listen to Tunisians rappers, and the hiphop and R’n’B producers are really known in music world. So I would say music culture in here is all about different mindsets, flavours, mixed together. People in Tunisia know how to party and have fun. In the Summer you can hear advertisements on the radio, info about parties in the tourists areas, and djs who are involved. Concerts look similar to Tomorrowland one! We don’t have to go to let’s say Belgium, because we have our own massive exclusive events, competitions in here. Hotels and companies support events. Different people get involved, on financial level, and sponsorship level. Also as a social media promoters. It’s crazy, man. In Tunisia all type of parties are just crazy, considering clubs nights, beach parties, concerts, pool parties. So djs are needed and it’s very competitive sometimes.
PB: I thought music scene in Tunisia is more strict, because of religion. Do you feel any presures from conservative/religious parts of society, who might disapprove the style of music you play? I mean is there anybody in your contry who can dislike your music because it’s modern and “sexy”?
DJ Elecktro: Even with strict religion mindset of some people, majority of them are open minded. Majority people believe in democracy, so they never cause any threat. Music has been a really big part of tourism in Tunisia and that is much supported by everyone. When you visit Tunisia, you feel yourself like home. People can have their own life style, can practice religion and enjoy time, but talking particularly about music genre, really that’s kind of difficult to predict, because people tend to have different tastes. This is why we have different type of events, so people can have options to go and enjoy their favorite type of music. Talking religious pressure – that’s kind of weird really because you can find type of religious people who practice their religion and enjoy life as well and really open minded. You can discus and share with them everything. Actually some of them would respect the effort you put, so you can progress and develop. They appreciate what you do you. Traditional music is very popular as well, modern music too so Tunisian people listen to both. You know talking about music in Tunisia, you have to visit this country to feel it (laughs) Music is everywhere. You walk in the street, you hear music from small booths, from boutique shops, in the malls, in the supermarkets you buy food from, from coffe shops, in traditional coffe shops, in taxis. I don’t think religious point of view at that time really matter, honestly. During the religion celebrations we listen to music. Even we have our own religion traditional music. Tunisia and music is something you can’t separate. We have an upcoming event on the 21st of April, me and my friends will be taking part, we will represent Tunisia and mostly we are going to do the traditional dance and wear our traditional clothes.
PB: Is Qatar as open to music as Tunisia and do you actually enjoy living now outside your motherland, in Qatar?
DJ Elecktro: The religious topic we talked about before is more complicate here in Qatar, actually. I can see the lack of cultural tension. I would say there are some organizations who care about talents and talent shows, but the in general it’s hopeless, because the main things they focus on in this country are petroleum, luxury and properties. So modern music is not that important, although its a multinational country, and you can find many nationalities living in here. But the problem is nobody give a damn about what you do if you are a music producer. Club nights, bars, lodges, etc., they close at 2 am every weekend. It’s kind of annoying, cause you want to go out and enjoy music on the weekends, and everything is shut down. Generally speaking, people come to Qatar to collect money and leave. It’s not a place you feel like home.
PB: So why you are in Qatar? Is it just because of your study?
DJ Elecktro: Yes. I’m forced to do it. I haven’t got a job and I’m studying higher education. I study Respiratory Therapy at College North Atlantic Qatar. However, we came here due to my father’s job, and I asked my parents to send me to study somewhere else and they said no, so I stucked here without money. I try to get part time job, but its not provided. Only for women, or payment is low, so it’s complicated. Actually part time jobs not full time jobs. It depends on your nationality and experience, I would say more on nationality. People from the Gulf countries like Qatar, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia are more favorable than the other Arabs, like my nationality and others. It would be great if you have American passport or Canadian – you would get a special treatment here. But if I had the chance or better financial situation, I would go to Europe and study Sound Engineering, because it’s related to music and I would be doing something great over there.
PB: Okay let’s come back to your music. What are your plans for the Summer 2016, if comes to your music? Any shows, new songs?
DJ Elecktro: I am focusing more on music production right now, I am doing kind of an online collaboration. I have found myself a cool amateur singers, a girl from Canada, and a guy from Mexico, I try to match up with their style in order to make great tracks. Some people are contacting me regarding music production collaborations, I even have friend of mine in college he is a music producer as well, we are just waiting for the Spring break, because its kind of hard to do music and education at the same time. I am waiting to have a meeting with some guy about DJ audition, so I can have a contract with them at a hotel and work every weekend there. I need money actually to buy my personal equipment, DJ Set, MIDI keyboard, maybe a new laptop, because the one I am using was made in 2009, the same homie I started off music production with. I will try to get a contract for summer in Tunisia, so I can build my career. It is kind of hard because the competition is tigh and most of resident DJ’s grab places very early, so each club night are already booked. Maybe I will look for gigs, it will be a great chance as well. So the main thing to me now is to do events and not to miss the chance. I already got my plan how to build up my career, step by step, it’s all about the first step. When I’ve got a contract then I’ll invest money in making music, so it can help me to reach better quality.
PB: I see you are very serious about music career. Why music is so important in your life?
DJ Elecktro: It’s a part of my life, there is strong relation between me and music. Music is my comfort zone. I would say I love music and it’s not something I could quit. It’s more about feeling than music is something bigger than me, and undescribeable.
PB: Are you addicted to music? Do you like and feel passionate anything else apart music?
DJ Elecktro: Yeah it is addiction, and it is strong (laughs). I like to play football too. I’m training with the college team and I work out in the gym, so sport is something I enjoy. While I am at the gym, I listen to music and do my work out. I enjoy my time both music and sport wise.
PB: Are you planning to do more live shows, or focus on working in studio?
DJ ELecktro: To be honest, I’m aiming to do both, as I need to put more effort on preparing to the shows, so I can perform better on live show, as well I can’t neglect the studio production. I have many projects in my head, especially now I have few singers in mind I want to work with, but I have to work on studio record as well.
Follow us on twitter @Peter_Balkus and @AnisGhazouani
