An Exclusive Interview and DJ Mix, with Adam El-Sayed - Strange Daze 13th Birthday

Adam El-Sayed is an Irish born, DJ, Producer and Remixer, currently based in Manchester, England.
In the last 3 years, he's been making waves with is DJ sets across the UK, as well as with his online mixes, "The Perception Podcast" and "Deep Visions" series of mixes.
In 2014, he won the Illuminaughty DJ Competition, and has since played for the massive Majefa at their final event, warming up for the likes of John '00' Fleming.
We thought it was time to invite Adam to Manchester's longest running psy-trance night, and find out what drives this creative DJs style and direction.
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CN - Hi Adam. I know you're currently packing for a trip to Ibiza, so thanks for taking the time to talk to us!
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AES - No worries!
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CN - You're originally from Ireland. How would you compare the music scene over there, to where you've now settled, in Manchester?
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AES - I don't think it's too disimilar in my opinion, but I have been living in the UK for 3 years now so can only comment on what I see, as I don't attend much at home. Ireland, Dublin in particular, is very Techno and Deep House orientated now, much like Manchester is. Trance, or main-stream trance as it would be so-called in the psytrance community is also quite strong in Ireland, much like in Manchester with nights like Rong, Goodgreef, Wax Format, and up until recently Majefa. The Psy scene in Ireland is really picking up though. Illegal raves are more plentiful from what I've been told, and club events are becoming a lot more common! As far as Ireland is concerned, the clubbing scene is definitely picking up!
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CN - Sounds like the future is bright, then! What got you in to DJing?
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AES - Simple... the love of music. I love sharing the music I love with people, and love having the freedom to play what I like to play!
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CN - One of, if not THE best reasons to play, is the love! - Your Soundcloud has quite a few mixes on it, including various styles of trance / tech / psy. Tell us a little about how you choose the right style of music for the event your playing...
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AES - The answer to this question lies within the question itself. For me, it all depends on what event I am playing at. Luckily I have quite diverse tastes when it comes to electronic music so I usually feel I'm equiped for any event I get to play at. I definitely think knowledge of the event you are playing for is key, along with who else is on the line up, and most importantly, your set time, no need to be a hero early doors!!
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CN - Haha... quite! I've known a few DJs that go in a bit too hot for the first part of the night, and leave themselves little room for manoeuvre! - The Perception Podcast you do on Soundcloud seems very popular. Tell us a little more about the ethos behind it...
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AES - The Perception Podcast is based around the idea of me just being able to share the music that I am feeling during the foregone month. Initially, I also wanted to show that it's possible to mix genres across one mix, i.e. techno/prog/psy/trance which is how the podcast used go when I was just streaming it via my Soundcloud page. About a year and a half ago the podcast then moved exclusively to Afterhours.FM one of Trance's leading online streaming radio stations, as a result, I had to cut down the show to 1 hour instead of 2, meaning I had to change it up a bit and dedicate it more so to trance, because of this, my Deep Visions podcast was born as I still wanted to be able to showcase some good progressive house and techno tracks!
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CN - Sounds ace. Its nice to have two outlets for the different styles, in this sort of scenario! - Any other podcasts or musical projects you'd like to tell us about?
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AES - Nothing on the podcast front, nor do I think their will be, having 2 is hard enough to keep up. Every now and then I do release psy mixes and plan to do another one in the very near future so keep an eye on my soundcloud for that one! Production is always something I say I will do more of, but with working 1 full time job as well as being a free lance graphic designer I struggle to find the time to commit to it but hopefully one day that will change!
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CN - It can be tricky to balance it all, thats for sure! - In 2014, you won the Illuminaughty DJ Competition. Tell us about your experience there.
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AES - Haha, that competition was interesting! The Illuminaughty guys are great, I love their events I wish they did more of them throughout the year! That gig was special, of course the competition was to win a set at the afterparty which is always rammed! It was fun getting to play some proper full on psy to a packed out room, and getting to play with my mate and fellow deejay Mendel who was runner up in the same competition!
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CN - Ah! I didn't realise it was the after-party you played at! We (ed - Strange Daze) once helped organise one of their afterparties. Like you say, great vibes, rocking until well into the day! haha - You've also played the final Majefa event recently, alongside John '00' Fleming. How did you find the crowd? ...was it bittersweet playing the final Majefa?"
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AES - Bittersweet is a word I did use to describe the event leading up to it. Majefa is one of the brands I always wanted to play, and it was an honour to be involved in their last outing. The crowd was immense, I played 3 sets that night (2 at the after party) and the crowd was fantastic all night, right up until the very last tune I played at 9 in the morning at the after party! To warm up for JOOF was something I didn't ever think I would do, so to be able to do it as well as recieve kind words from him after my set was surreal - the man is a legend!
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CN - He certainly is! - In 4 weeks, you'll be warming up for OOOD, who've been responsible for many tunes that shaped the early Trance/Psy-Trance/Goa-Trance scenes. Do you change your approach or style, when you're billed alongside someone as prestigious as them (or indeed JOOF)?
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AES - I will always base my style around what time of the night I am on and the event I am playing... I believe there is an unwritten rule amongst DJs to respect the time you are playing and to respect those playing after you, should anyone be playing after you. If you aren't the headliner it's important to remember that. People primarily come to see the headliner(s) play, therefore it's the role of everyone else to build toward the headliner(s). I love warm up sets, it's a craft in it's own and can a lot of the time set the tone for the night, so opening a night playing full on trance is something that I do not do.
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CN - I agree with you 100% The opening set is an art in itself! - You've also been billed alongside some brilliant upcoming acts. Give us your current 'one to watch' from the UK scene...
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AES - Extremely difficult question to answer, there is way too much up and coming talent to single out one person! You really do have to be exceptional to stand out on this island as there really is too much to choose from!
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CN - hahaa... good answer! - Between Strange Daze, Illuminaughty and Majefa, you're gradually ticking all the boxes for established nights in Manchester... give us a top memory from a gig outside of Manchester?
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AES - Another pretty difficult question to answer. I think playing 'Off The Rails' in Sheffield in January last year was definitely a top memory, along with playing to a ridiculously up for it crowd at a Godskitchen pre-party in 2014 - but I think my favourite memory was getting to play one of my favourite tunes in a little club in San Antonio Ibiza called Play2, to a packed out room at 5am. I don't remember much in the excitement, but i've since been told I rocked it!
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CN - Hahaha... Nice! - Lets talk music.... What are your 'top 3 tracks' in the record bag, currently?
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AES - D Deck - Agung Xahno - Becoming A Sith Vini Vici, Bryan Kearney - We Are The Creators
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CN - Good work. Great choice of tracks! Thanks for taking the time to speak to us, Adam.
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AES - Thanks for having me!
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CN - Be sure to check out Adam's social media, and listen to his absolutely belting Strange Daze 13th birthday promo mix, on his social media....links below....
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SOUNDCLOUD Exclusive Mix - https://soundcloud.com/adam-el-sayed/adam-el-sayed-strange-daze-promo-mix
FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/AdamElSayedOfficial/
TWITTER - https://twitter.com/adamel89

Strange Daze 13th Birthday on Facebook -
https://www.facebook.com/events/172362589850125/

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