Surrounded by stacks of vinyl, the eight female DJs concluded DEDI Masterclass 2021 with a grand finale at Yellow Tape Records & Culture in Cairo
By Isabel Moeller
Rajia Ragab knows very well which kind of music she favours, when it comes to her dancing. And this is why she ventured in to DJing:
“I didn’t like the music being played, so I started creating my own,” she says.
“I am a dancer. Now that I have become comfortable with the technically part of DJing, I want to be more adventurous and create my dream party,” Rajia Ragab adds.
Dina Akladios and Emma Shack exploring new ways of transitioning from one track to another. Photo: Rowan El Shimi // DEDI
Like the seven other young women, who participated in the five days long Masterclass, she looks super confident and cool during her performance at Yellow Tape on the last evening. Meanwhile, being confident and comfortable in the DJ booth takes a lot of work, the participants agree.
“In the beginning, DJing was scary, and I am still working on finding my style,” Ploy Ottesen says.
Learning new techniques. Get familiar with the business part of being a professional DJ. Creating a strong network. That is what DEDI DJ Masterclass is all about. Photo: Rowan El Shimi // DEDI
A challenge that she is sharing with other participants, for some because their musical identities are changing as they navigate through life.
“I am trying to recreate my musical identity”, Emma Shack says.
“There is a lot of my music, that I used to really like, but don’t want to play anymore,” she explains.
Savan Mohammad, Amira Saad and Emma Shack preparing for the final performance at the Yellow Tape in Maadi. Photo: Rowan El Shimi // DEDI
Mood, inspiration and technique
And even if you have plenty of different tracks ready, there is no guarantee that they will fit your mood.
“I have these moments with my music where I get this feeling of having a whole closet full of clothes, but finding nothing to wear”, Rajia Ragab says.
During the Masterclass, the young women had the opportunity to share these and many other concerns with each other along with learning new techniques and listen to new music, played by their fellow DJs.
“We are inspiring each other when it comes to the music but also business-wise. We have become friends who support each other’s music and who can help each other out when we need to negotiate salaries,” Aviaja Larsen says.
DJ Akladios performing at the Yellow Tape as the last part of DEDI DJ Masterclass. Photo by Rowan El Shimi // DEDI
And especially the creative part of the Masterclass is something the instructor, Zeina Ezzat, is very excited about:
“It is important to bring female DJs together to connect, because they play differently”, she says.
“I always fall back into my safe-zone, so I want to hear new things and develop my style”.
At Yellow Tape, the DJs got a first chance to try out their newly acquired techniques and play some new tunes and mixes in front of the special invited guests.
And whether they stayed with their old tunes or tried new things, the crowd loved it and not a single soul could resist the beats and stand still.
Participants and instructors, Tia Korpe(L) and Zeina Ezzat(R) posing in front of KMT House, Maadi, during the masterclass. Photo: Rowan El Shimi // DEDI
Participants of DEDI DJing Masterclass 2021:
Aviaja Larsen xx Aviaja
Photo: Rowan El Shimi // DEDI
Savan Mohammed-Amen xx DJ Lovecat
Photo: Rowan El Shimi // DEDI
Emma Shack xx Emma Shack
Photo: Rowan El Shimi // DEDI
Nada Sherdy xx Nedz
Photo: Rowan El Shimi // DEDI
Ploy Ottesen xx Ploy
Photo: Rowan El Shimi // DEDI
Dina Akladios xx Akladios
Photo: Rowan El Shimi //DEDI
Amira Saad xx Amira
Photo: Rowan El Shimi // DEDI
Rajia Ragab xx منهارة
Photo: Rowan El Shimi // DEDI
Instructors:
Tia Korpe xx Tia Turn Tables & Zeina Ezzat xx Zeina
Photo: Rowan El Shimi // DEDI
Are you still curious about the Masterclass?
Watch this video:
DEDI DJing Masterclass 2021 took place in October. The project was funded by DEDI and carried out in collaboration with Tia Korpe / Female Future Sounds and Zeina Ezzat, Unfamiliar.
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