By A year ago, Aeli took a gamble. He packed in his job as an architect, uprooted his life and relocated from Dubai to Los Angeles to concentrate on his music career full-time.
It was a bold move for Tunisian-bred Aeli, who built up his reputation as a solid neo hip-hop producer and DJ during his six years in Dubai. Chosen for RBMA’s Bass Camp, Aeli was also selected for Red Bull’s Bel Sodfa series, which saw him paired him with American rapper Zenden Lavon. Puma and Sole DXB used his music. He also launched his Trapped Beasts bass-music events and turned out two albums. It’s fair to say then that Aeli had a lot going on here in Dubai before he moved to LA. So is the gamble paying off? Let’s find out…
First, let’s take a step back. How did the DJ/producer journey take off for you in Dubai?
When I came to Dubai I had to focus on my work as an architect and interior designer, although making music was already my passion. I started connecting with a lot of DJs, rappers, singers and promoters via Facebook. DJ MoCity, a Baghdad-born New Delhi-raised DJ and promoter living in Dubai at the time, was one of them. He heard a few of my tracks and decided to book me for one of his events, on the same line-up with Daedelus. That’s mainly how it all started.
What was the highlight of your music career during your time in Dubai?
There were many. But important milestones for me were the release parties for my albums. Late Future Calls [2016] was my first release under local label 264 Records and Jarreau Vandal performed as a guest at the launch party. We also had the chance to make a song together called Habibi.
The release of Zoetrope [2018] also had a huge impact on me because I saw it was possible for me to do it by myself – from the release to the organisation of the event and everything that goes with it. That was a great feeling of satisfaction.
Other highlights include being booked to play at Sole DXB every year, getting to meet so many talents and sharing the stage with major artists there [including Joey Bada$$ and Damianito]; touring in the Philippines and South Africa, which all happened because of connections from Dubai; and working on a big corporate but very creative project with Leo Burnett International as a music consultant.
Was moving to LA always part of your masterplan?
When I started to become more recognised for my music and I started making a decent income out of it, I knew that I had to leave Dubai at some point to take my musical career to the next level. I was considering Vancouver and then I realised all the artists I look up to from there ended up in LA. So I thought my end destination would be LA anyway so better get there directly.
It’s a big move – what gave you the final push to go for it?
When you do music or any type of art, it’s difficult to be objective towards your own work and to be really self-aware. I needed signs from the outside. I had the opportunity to spend some time with A$AP Rocky and he gave me some pretty good feedback on my unreleased beats. Also, when I started making more income from music than my full-time architecture work, it made me realise a career in music was actually possible, and that made me take the final step.
How did you find the first few months in LA – what’s the LA vibe like?
I love it! I was going out all the time to different events and meeting a lot of people. Some established professionals from the industry are chill and surprisingly very humble and down to earth. I really like that about creatives here: even if they’re very aware of their talent, they’re also very aware of the competition and they don’t take anything for granted.
Anywhere I went in Dubai I’d know more than half of the people attending any event. It’s very humbling to be completely unknown and out of your comfort zone so you have to make more effort to have your voice heard.
So before COVID-19 were you able to connect in person with other DJs and producers based in LA?
Yes, I’ve met a lot of DJs, rappers, singers and also representatives of some music related start-ups. Different projects I’ve worked on already will be out soon. During the pandemic, I can work with and meet people online, and continue to make some friendships – the most known name out of these would be Reggie Couz.
It’s unfortunate that you were only in LA for a few months before the global pandemic struck. How did you keep busy during the COVID-19 lockdown?
It made me shift my priorities. Pre-Covid, I’d spend most of my time and energy on finding DJ gig opportunities. Now I’m focusing way more on production and have started taking mixing and mastering more seriously – things I knew how to do but hadn’t practiced enough. Now it’s becoming part of my daily work to engineer for others.
The hard-hitting Aeli x Menon track Trouble in Paradise is the last in your Good Bye series. Also in the series is your Afrobeat hook-up with Seki SuperVillain (Cry Me A Valley), a trap outing with Justnishan and Mars (Apostrophes) and the gorgeous low-slung seduction of Little Too High with Shawri. Tell us about the inspiration behind the series…
A quote from David Lynch’s classic series ‘Twin Peaks’ inspired me. The quote goes, “To beginnings and endings, and the wisdom to know the difference”. It really resonated with me when I was in such a transitional stage of my life.
It gave me the idea to team up with my favourite artists in the Middle East for a series of collaborative singles, all exploring the common theme of ‘good bye’ and giving each artist an opportunity to wrap up unfinished business – whether with a person, a behaviour or an addiction.
How did you choose who to collaborate with for the series?
It’s my friends before anything else. It’s people I like on a personal level and I also love their music and their approach to it.
What other projects are in the pipeline?
In December I’m going to release an original soundtrack I made for Emirati director Aiham Al Subaihi’s short movie ‘Forthcoming’. It’s two instrumental tracks, with a bonus song with KC Hamada, and there’s a music video made by German digital artist Vacades.
What’s the one thing you do miss about Dubai?
My friends. I had a solid group of people around me that I miss. Also, I guess I miss the feeling of familiarity anywhere I go. That’s one thing I loved about Dubai and yet it’s the same thing that made me want to leave.
