Amir Fouad, the DJ, the producer, the audio engineer, also known as DJ Amir, was only 14 years of age when he got his first computer. It opened his eyes to the Internet and gave the access to all music charts around the world. Shortly after, Amir got into audio editing and multi-tracking software environment, which gave him new scope in music production.

After a number of years of collecting music on tapes, CDs & records, he began spinning when he was only 18 years of age. He started out in his home city and traveled all over Egypt and the Middle East. By age 22 he was resident DJ at the biggest dance clubs in Egypt. Soon after, he received a Bachelor ’s Degree in Hotel and Tourism Business-Management. Yet music and entertainment had more of an influence over him.

He decided to move to the United States and took a risk, landing in New York in the year 2000. His experience so far has been positive and he sees his influence on the music scene due to the revolutionary remixes he ’s created. Also, what he chooses to play and how he plays it are key factors in his success.

Being an international DJ in New York, the biggest melting pot in the world, DJ Amir finds a way to win over his crowd. DJ Amir says, “It ’s sometimes hard to impress everyone in the room, but you have to be flexible, know how to read the crowd and feel out the vibe. After that, your mixing skill takes over and you learn to know just the right time to change the mood with the music. It ’s about taking control of the dance floor and making apparent that as a musical artist, a DJ knows his element.” Clearly, what makes him different is the diversity of dance styles that he plays. He plays almost all dance styles, plus world music because of his experience with a number of clubs & diverse nationalities he deals with.

In 2003, DJ Amir joined SAE Institute in New York City, one of the most prestigious schools of audio engineering and production found in the world today. Through his studies, he gained academic knowledge in the music business and broadcasting industry. By being an avid student, Amir has learned: Audio technology, MIDI sequencing and live sound engineering, record engineering and production, audio editing/ sampling/arranging/mastering, pre and post production, multi media and video production, music business and management.

Mastering these trademarks has opened his eyes to implementing new elements in his live set, allowing him to stand out from the rest in his field. DJ Amir uses the latest technology in his live performances. Also, the visuals used support the music he is playing. He remixes and produces live through use of professional software and also broadcasts audio & video via Internet live from the club he is spinning at.

Shems: What inspired you to become a DJ ?

Ever since I was 14, I always liked to collect music and knowledge about different music styles. After that I started doing mix completions and gave to my friends in school. In the beginning it was a matter of having fun at school parties, private parties. After that I started being friends with club DJs and they taught me more about DJing techniques & how to become a club DJ. Being a club DJ takes a lot of effort and practice, knowing the music and reading the crowd. You have to know how to build the night in a club where you warm up the crowd in the beginning of the night. It ’s definitely an irreplaceable enjoyment for me that I couldn ’t let go of.

Shems: Throughout your career as a DJ what can you credit as your greatest accomplishment or contribution?

As a DJ, establishing an idea or a theme night that makes you different from any other DJ or any other club definitely adds to your credit. Your crowd keeps growing and you are known for how different you are. You are noticed because of a music style you play or the techniques you go by or the unique performances you do. It all adds up to your reputation and credit. After that it ’s how you market yourself as an artist, the number of clubs you do, how big your following is, and how many CDs you are able to sell. As a producer/remixer, it ’s how you get recognized by your sound and how different your style is. Throughout my years in New York, I have been able to create new sounds by adding Middle Eastern instruments to my remixes of top 40 songs and house music. For me it ’s my passion for house & dance music and the drive to implement Middle Eastern instrumentation in house music, like mapping Latin house onto Afro house. Also for the mix compilations that I did, it ’s not a melt-down mix of whatever matches the beat, it ’s a compilation that represents and defines a music style or genre in a way that gives a full treat of that style of music, which makes it harder to put together but makes it unique and it doesn ’t get old over time; same difference between a magazine and a book. A magazine is flash news about different subjects but a book can be a timeless guide about a certain subject that doesn ’t get old.

Shems: What do you enjoy most about your art?

I love entertaining the crowd and hearing them scream with each mix you do; when you play a song you produced or remixed and then see how well it is received on the dance floor and how the crowd responds to it.

Shems: During your early years performing in Egypt and the Middle East, what countries did you visit?

All over Egypt, Lebanon, Dubai, Kuwait.

Shems: How would you evaluate those countries from the perspective of music, its current state and its possible future?

Well, the Middle East is still in its baby steps compared to Europe and the United States. As far as clubbing, it has changed dramatically in the past 5 years as they started having bigger clubs and started booking international DJs. Which is really great, but I believe they need to focus more on local DJs so they can get recognized on a global level. That would help those DJs to come out of the Middle East to the rest of the world and expand the territory for Middle Eastern music, which will increase the popularity and the knowledge of Middle Eastern music.

Shems: What made you go to a business school while you were so involved with music?

I ’ve always been an academic; I like to do things the right way, even if it will take time away from my DJing. DJing wasn ’t enough to give me knowledge of recording techniques, record labels, music distributions, copyrights, broadcasting, and media outlets. In general that is why I wanted to go to school, to gain that knowledge to be able to make changes.

Shems: How do you plan to promote Middle Eastern music?

Well, I guess you will be the first to know about this. But recently I ’ve been teaming up with Dandana TV. It is a pure Middle-Eastern channel broadcasting from New York and we are currently working together in promoting the channel through club events, covering big music concerts for well-known figures from the Middle East, reaching out to Middle-Eastern communities and audiences who are interested in Middle-Eastern music and culture. There are more projects to come. We are finishing a new broadcasting studio and we will be able to record shows that come out of the United States and present musicians, performers, and music productions.

Shems: How do you see the current state of Arab-American music performers in the US?

Well, it ’s a big struggle; Middle-Eastern music falls under the category of world music. This takes it underground and far from mainstream or billboard charts. So unless you are interested in learning about the music or the culture, you wouldn ’t really know what Middle Eastern music is, and for musicians the outlets are limited to small Middle Eastern restaurants or clubs or private parties. It is very rare that Arab-American musicians are able to have record deals. The distribution for them is not the way it should be. That ’s why having a music channel will help performers. They will have a source to represent their art and have media attention throughout the globe.

Shems: What are your suggestions to a young aspiring DJ?

Just find yourself, know what kind of music you like to play, get as much knowledge about it as you can and live it as a way of life. These days it ’s not just about knowing how to mix it ’s also about knowing how to produce music and being savvy with computers, digital software and virtual instruments. The past 10 years have changed the shape of how things are now. DJs are rock stars, make the most money, travel all around the world just to perform in different clubs and have the most fun ever. So for you newcomers, work hard in the beginning to achieve that dream.