Interview

ARTIST OF THE WEEK: Akmaral

today12/07/2024

Background

This weeks Artist of the Week is DJ Akmaral, who chatted with Clint Maximus about what goes into her productions, how residency gigs helped her, and her future plans.

Catch her full Artist of the Week interview and guest mix today at 4:30pm on Sunset Sessions with Clint Maximus on Pure 94.7.

Tell us how you got involved in the whole world of DJing and producing.

I started DJing at 15 years old, I would go to another city to learn how to DJ, but my father stopped me from learning how to DJ and he told me to continue my education, so I stopped any attempts to DJ for several years. In 2017 I decided to start DJing again, so I started learning in DJ school, but I was working at the airport in Abu Dhabi at the time. While working at the airport I was also doing private DJ gigs for my friends. It was after that I decided to go full-time DJing and I got residency in a very famous bar in Abu Dhabi. That two year residency was the start of my journey start DJing.

You’ve had some fantastic releases. Last time you came to the studio, you played all your own productions, so what are some of your go-to’s when you’re producing?

I’m using Ableton. I’m using Serum for plugin’s, I have a lot that I love: FabFilters which are equalisers, Universal Audio plugins, Shadow Hills, also the 4Bus Compressor, all plugins from Sound Toys. I love Arturia Augmented Strings for pads. My favorite at the moment is 7th Heaven from Liquid Sonic.

Tell us about some of the places that you’ve been DJing as of lately?

In 2024 I stopped DJing on residencies, I switched to just events. I used to DJ in many residencies because I wanted to know more about music, all kinds of genres, which has helped a lot actually. Especially for events because there’s so many different event types and requirements, so if they ask something like, “can you DJ this one? With this kind of genre? Or can you do this?…” Now my answer is always “yes, for sure I can do that.”

You did a reworking of Rudy Silva’s Touch Me. How was working on the track and also working on that classic vocal?

This was quite a complicated track because it the first Afro house track I tried to create, switching from melodic techno. I always had this Rudy Silva tune in my head and I tried it out with many, many melodies, many background elements but nothing would fit. This can happen sometimes, that you produce a melody but vocals don’t fit. I was thinking ‘I cannot do any melodic techno for this acapella so I experimented with Afro house. I’m still working on learning how to make vocal clear and in the end this one fit nicely to the afro-house track.

What about future plans for your releases? 

In August I have signed one track it’s called Corazon which is going on EDX label, Syrup records which I’m very excited for. In autumn I’m having mentorship from the Manager of ANNA, she’ll show me how to work in music business, especially relating to the tracks that I’m making. Later on this week I have calls with musical producer of Diplo, Calvin Harris, and Kanye West to talk about the future, how to develop my sound, and also how I can develop myself in this sphere.

Anything else in the pipeline for performances?

There are several events coming up: Formula One, NBA, Rugby 7’s. For sure next year I want to organize a tour in different countries, so I can know more about cultures and music wise I want my tracks to travel.

 

Tune in to Sunset Sessions with Clint Maximus every weekday from 4-8pm for more artist interviews, only on Pure 94.7

Written by: Nicole Little

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