The Unofficial Zedd after party, Put on by Safe Escape Events at The Underground, was a late night treat for Seattle house music fans last weekend. For those looking for anything between 118 and 135 beats per minute, this place definitely took the cake.
Although showing up a bit late to the party, I was able to Interview Bighouse Producer and DJ, ALI-J, after watching his incredible set. I can attest that he brought the house music hype to The Underground, feeding the dance floor with beautiful EDM and Progressive House mashups and new original tracks, bringing a surprising amount of energy out of the late night crowd.
Check out ALI-J on SoundCloud below!
After ALI-J’s set, I introduced myself and we got to talking about his performance and his music. I could tell the musical sparks were still flying, so what better opportunity could I ask for to get inside the head of an artist who was in the process of making his name known across the world.
RMR: So tell me about your background. I know that you’ve done a lot of traveling since your start as an artist. Where are you from and how did you get to be where you are now, performing and making music in Washington?
ALI-J: I am originally from Iskenderun, Turkey. I started mixing in 2008, not long before I moved to Istanbul to study Industrial Engineering as an undergrad. Over the next few years, I fell in love with mixing and started playing at house parties for fun. In 2010, I played at my first club. That was when I began really taking my performances seriously. Other club gigs quickly followed. By 2012, I had begun producing edits and mashups to incorporate into my sets. By this time, I’d visited Greece and Germany as well, for club gigs, and I would say that by this time I had definitely made a name for myself around Turkey.
In 2013, I moved to Texas to study for my Master’s Degree at the University of Houston. This was a big change for me because I felt like I was starting all over again in the music industry. Sure, in Turkey, people knew who I was, but still, I was forced to build new connections and a reputation for myself at local clubs. Over the next year, I built those connections and began playing shows for VAO Nightclub. By this time, I also began producing and incorporating remixes and original tracks. After receiving my Masters in Houston, I moved to Seattle, and once again I practically had to start all over. Although, I have learned a lot from the past. In the year and a half I have been living here, I’ve performed at the biggest clubs, such as Foundation and Trinity, and made quick progress as an artist.
RMR: What kind of challenges have you personally faced as an artist? How do you overcome the obstacles you face?
ALI-J: As I said before, when you move to a new city, especially a new country, if you are not already famous, everything starts over. You have to start meeting new people, making new friends, going out and finding club owners, promoters, ect. That was challenging. I’ve certainly learned that networking is very important. You might be a great DJ/artist, play good music and engage well with the crowd, but if you don’t have a good relationship with promoters or club owners, it can be hard to get a gig. They will always go to their local and well-known artists first, instead of giving newer artists a shot. Unfortunately, that’s just how it works in this industry. However, I feel that I am in the process of bridging this gap in building a bigger reputation for myself as an artist.
RMR: how can you differentiate yourself from other artists or DJ’s?
ALI-J: I like to surprise a crowd with my music. I might start off with an old school 80’s song, speed it up to get the crowd involved and then mix it in with an EDM, perhaps big room track, or maybe I might take something like Coldplay, and mix that with say, Thomas Gold. The reason I might use older alt-rock tracks is that everyone knows them, and I like that I can use this to surprise people and unite a crowd.
Before I ever got into DJing or Producing, I used to listen to Alternative rock. Eventually, I discovered artists such as Tiesto, Hardwell, or Nicky Romero, which sparked my interest for EDM. I like bringing different styles of music together, in order to create a reminiscent feeling with my crowd. I went from alt-rock to Electro House, to Progressive and then Future House, but I still have traces of all of these things in my music. My goal is to give the crowd my own taste of variety and to really get them engaged in the music.
RMR: You’ve played shows in many different places, Turkey, Greece, Germany and here in the U.S. What is your ideal venue and crowd, and where would you like to see yourself playing in the future?
ALI-J: I’d like to play Tomorrowland or Ultra Music Festival. Big festivals where I can get my music out to as many people as possible. But I also want an atmosphere where the energy that I receive from the crowd is good. For that reason, I really enjoyed playing here at The Underground. There was a very good vibe here, and the crowd gave me back as much energy as I gave them, which I loved.
RMR: Where do you see yourself in a year from now? What are your goals as an artist?
ALI-J: I want more than anything to continue to make my own original tracks and new remixes so that I can distinguish my own sound, and then share it at big-name shows and festivals. Another thing I would love is to hear my music being played on the radio, or used by other famous DJ’s in their sets. That would be a big turning point for me. Right now I have support from artists like Thomas Gold, Deniz Koyu (KO:YU), Nicky Romero, Max Vangeli, and with time, I hope, Many more artists!
Music is my passion. It’s my hobby. Whatever I’m doing related to my Professional career, wherever in the world it brings me, I will always continue producing music and playing clubs and events in those cities. One day this could become my career. It will always be what I love.
RMR: where did you get that necklace with the heart on it that you’re wearing? (Seen above to the left.)
ALI-J: Someone inside the show gave me this! It’s amazing actually. I go out and perform in front of so many people that I’ve never met before, but because of the music, we connect, and all of the sudden this person who I don’t even know is hugging me and giving me this necklace. I get to see firsthand how my performance effects people. Music brought us together in that moment, and we are both a little happier because of it. To me, that’s amazing.
RMR: It seems like you’ve overcome a lot to keep succeeding time after time, everywhere you go. What can you attribute that to? Where do you find your belief in yourself?
ALI-J: One thing that I always do before a show is I visualize. I close my eyes and form a picture in my head of how I want the night to go. I try to see myself up there on the decks performing. This definitely helps me to prepare myself mentally. As for my belief, I am always excited for my next show, and when the time comes and I’m behind the decks, I feel like a different person. I can’t explain it, really. Up there, I am ALI-J, and I have control. Control over the crowd, the music, the energy, everything.
You see, I’ve worked hard to get here, but also, I believe that everything happens for a reason. For instance, me playing at this event tonight would never have happened, had I not met Dylan, who runs the company who put on this event. It’s like, one day I move to Seattle and I don’t know anyone. Then, all of the sudden I meet this guy (Dylan) randomly while getting my car worked on. I hear the electronic music he is listening to, so we start to talk. I mention to him that I’m playing at Foundation that weekend and he comes to see my show. Just like that, we become friends and begin to support each other. Fast forward to now, and here I am playing for Safe Escape Events.
(In the picture above you can see me (sporting my 100′ shirt for good luck), ALI-J in the middle and Dylan Drew, owner of Safe Escape Events, to the right; during the ‘Unofficial Zedd After Party’ at The Underground.)
Credit to the above picture goes to: “Safe Escape Events” and “SafeEscapeEvents.com.”
Seeing ALI-J take over The Underground and getting to hear firsthand the story of his life, personal challenges, and musical career was an inspiring insight into the kind of mindset and behavior it takes to succeed in a hard industry and a diverse world. He showed me how important the power of music has been in shaping his life, and how it lead him to make friends and form connections in every new country or place he has traveled. ALI-J is a smart, inspired and positive person who believes in the power of visualization, and understands the importance of sharing not only his music but his energy with the crowd. He showed us all that same love at The Underground, and in return, he got the same love back. At the end of the night, it was just another day in the life of ALI-J.
Check out past live performances from Safe Escapes Events on Escape Radio!
https://soundcloud.com/user-651374161
What do you think about ALI-J’s story of his come-up as an artist? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
