Anthony Pappa Exclusive Interview

One more time BeirutNightLife.Com Team is here to get you the best in NightLife coverage, an exclusive interview with DJ Anthony Pappa after his GIG on the NYE.

BNL: How long have you been DJ’ing?

Anthony: 19 Years.

BNL: What inspired you to be a DJ?

Anthony: It was my passion of music and being able to create ideas by mixing tracks together.

BNL: If you were trapped on a desert Island and you had to choose between TV and Radio, which would it be?

Anthony: TV because you can also get radio or MTV on a television.

BNL: Your style is quite a happy vibe, who inspired you to play like that?

Anthony: My biggest inspiration as a DJ was Sasha.

BNL: Have you got any memorable foreign moments?

Anthony: I’ve got many. Every week my gig’s are always foreign so all of my memories are foreign.

BNL: Which other DJs do you look to hear play?

Anthony: Sasha, John Digweed, Dave Seaman, or Phil K.

BNL: What was your defining musical moment?

Anthony: Probably my first Global Underground CD Nu Breed.

BNL: How about advice for DJs trying to take their craft to the next level?

Anthony: Try to be creative when you mix 2 tracks together. Mixing isn’t always just about matching up the beats together. Try to mix the sounds from the tracks as well as the beats.

BNL: How important is it to be physically near to the dance floor?

Anthony: I think that it is important in order for the DJ to get a true feeling and read of the atmosphere from the dance floor.

BNL: What’s the biggest crowd you’ve ever played for? And what do you think about the Lebanese Crowd?

Anthony: It would have to be about 500,000 people at a street parade in Budapest. The Lebanese crowd was great when l played on NYE and l enjoyed the gig.

BNL: How important is having a good record collection to being a good DJ?

Anthony: Well it definitely helps to have a good record collection and a good understanding of music and where things originate from. You can’t beat experience and knowledge.

BNL: What do you learn/have you learnt from DJing?

Anthony: How to be a great traveler and how to handle jetlag.

BNL: What’s the secret of your success?

Anthony: Hard work and determination and self belief.

BNL: What records do you look for when you’re searching; what are the things you look for?

Anthony: Firstly l listen to the style of the track and to see if it’s my style and something that l would play. If l then like the track l determine how l would use it in a set and think of how l make it effective on the night and present it to the dance floor in a way that it will work for me and inspire the crowd.

BNL: What is the buzz personally for you as a DJ?

Anthony: Sharing my sounds with people and putting a smile on their faces.

BNL: Do you think DJing leads naturally into production?

Anthony: Yes l do. Most DJ’s that l know have produced music.

BNL: Why ?

Anthony: Because DJ’s play other peoples tracks every week and they know best as too what works well on the dance floor so they can then produce a track with the right ingredients.

BNL: Do you consider the DJ an artist nowadays?

Anthony: Absolutely.

BNL: What makes a good DJ or bad DJ?

Anthony: A good DJ will understand the crowd and know how to read a crowd and be creative enough to perform the appropriate set to ensure a good night out for all. A bad DJ basically will not be skilful enough to do so.

BNL: Do you think there’s a correlation between ego and communion when you think of bad DJs?

Anthony: In my opinion probably not.

BNL: What have you learnt about music from DJing?

Anthony: Every thing that there is to know about my style of music. From how it is made to how it is played.

BNL: Can you tell us in brief about your gig in Lebanon on the NYE?

Anthony: I started my set at 2am and the New Year had already begun. When l arrived at the gig the night was already in full swing and people were already having a good time. I continued the party atmosphere of the night with my set and took it into a celebration of music and the New Year.

BNL: At the end do you think that you will be back to Lebanon soon?

Anthony: I would like to think so.

BNL: Where do you see dance music going next?

Anthony: Well it’s already traveled the world. Maybe if the find other life forms in space DJ’s may have to start taking their sounds to other planets.

Thx for ur Cooperation …

Nick Tohmé

Beirut Night Life Team

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