MIL: Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Awol: Alrite everyone I'm dj awol born an raised in Belfast Northern Ireland been djing since the year 2009 always had a passion for music.
MIL: How did you get your DJ name?
Awol:It was one of them things someone asked me what's your dj name an at the time I didn't have a dj name and the first thing that came to mind was dj awol it just came to me when I was asked an I just spat it out "I'm Dj Awol"
MIL: Who were the DJ's that inspired you to get into this profession?
Awol: Dj's that inspired I would have to be dj hix any dj that can rock a full arena and be better than act they are opening up for is a true inspiration to anyone.
MIL: How exactly did you learn how to DJ?
Awol:I'm self taught I kind of goggled an looked up videos on YouTube and took books out an then I asked a few people I already knew who were djing for help and they kindly helped me out with it all.
MIL: How would you describe your style?
Awol:My style would be best described as all things urban fused in with bit of electro an keeping it hype at 200MPH and just expect the unexpected.
MIL: When and where was your first show?
Awol:My 1st ever show was in a club in Belfast called Beach club on the 6th November 2009 I even rember the time of my set an what I played was properly the most nervous I ever was I sort of felt like Eminem in 8 mile the bit were he throws up before he goes on stage
MIL: What is the club scene like in Belfast?
Awol:The club scene in Belfast is very very different each music scene has its own night an own crowd or its all rolled in to 1 massive night depending where you go or what type of music you're in to you name it's here in the city an your defiantly in for a wild night out no doubt.
MIL: How does it feel when you're spinning?
Awol: Ahhhh man it feels like the best feeling in the world and I feed of that and it keeps me focused till the end of the set and even better when people come up an shake your hand an say well done
MIL: What are some pros and cons of being a DJ?
Awol: The pros would defiantly be playing to a full club and when you know people are enjoying it, the friends I've made from it. One of the biggest cons is promoters who don't pay up or say they didn't make the money that's the biggest con of all.
MIL: How do you feel about the computer vs. turntable DJs?
Awol: I think the likes of the serato programs its brought a whole new life to djing to I don't think anyone should be in a club with just a laptop an using the key bored though its does save you from carrying around the records or the cd's that use, were with turntables you have that feeling of what the older generation of djs have used all their career.
MIL: What are some qualities or attributes that you believe make a great DJ
Awol: I would have to say how crowd friendly I am and my ability to be able to read a crowd it's all bout timing an I'm also very unpredictable when it comes to picking tracks at that moment, you would never catch me drop the same song twice in 1 night.
MIL: What do you think about the Ipod DJ's?
Awol:They should stick to doing weddings an private party's in my eyes or learn the proper craft and do it the real way.
MIL: What projects have you worked on in the past?
Awol: I've just worked on my own things doing remix's an mash ups an just sharing them with people, I dropped a mix tape in 2010 called the world is on fire which was just mash up cd I had made for a few of my friends and they kind of talked me in to putting it online for people to download.
MIL: What current projects are you working on?
Awol:I'm currently working on a mixtape to put out featuring a lot of local artists from northern Ireland and a remix mixtape to I hope to have these all done by February 2012 an in between that I'll probably drop a few dj sets online.
MIL: Are you part of a DJ coalition?
Awol:Not at the minute
MIL: Who do you believe is the most influential DJ of all time?
Awol:That's a hard question from the top of my head It would have to be between dj jam master jay (RIP) and dj jazzy Jeff
MIL: What role do you believe DJs play in not just the Hip-Hop community, but in the music industry as a whole?
Awol:It's are role to make sure that we don't sleep on a mega hot tune there's alot of talent out there that gets slept on as a dj its a job to play it in a club to make people more aware of it so it can get it more exposed to the commercial scene.
MIL: What separates you from other DJ's?
Awol:I make my own remix's and videos to go with them which I don't think anyone else does here.
MIL:Besides DJing, what other side hustles do you have?
Awol:I currently work in retail so between that and djing I'm fairly balanced
MIL:What is the most valuable piece of advice you can give to aspiring DJ's?
Awol:The most valuable piece of advice I could give is always practise and if any one offers you help take it don't take it as an insult an listing to what people say to you.
MIL:Can you tell our readers where they can find you at online?
Awol:
http://soundcloud.com/dj-awol
http://vimeo.com/user4411670
http://www.facebook.com/DjAwol88
http://twitter.com/DJ_AWOL88
MIL: Do you have any last words for your fans?
Awol:Yea massive thanks for all the support an love in the last few years an thanks for believing in me I wouldn't get to were I am now without the support from people at all THANK YOU
