Following the critically acclaimed release of his five-part Elephant Rock EP in March 2022, burgeoning Saudi Arabian electronic music producer BluePaper now looks to expand on the early success of his debut release on WTR, as he delivers a double-sided remix package for two of the EP’s lead singles – Riyadh at Twilight and Elephant Rock.
First up to the plate is hotly-tipped British producer Rashid Ajami, who arrives on WTR for the first time armed with a slew of standout career releases on the likes of Anjunadeep, Armada, Get Physical, Einmusika, Noir, Tale & Tone, and Selador. Delivering a stunning rendition of the EP’s second single Riyadh at Twilight, the epic seven-minute cut sees Rashid breathe majestic, pulsating energy into the original mix, imparting an impressive tapestry of organic polyrhythms, warm basslines, and dynamic production techniques.
Hey Rashid great to chat! How has 2022 been for you so far? Are you feeling optimistic about the year ahead?
It’s been an amazing year so far and I’m very excited about the next few months.
What have been your highlights of the year so far?
So far, it’s really been my move into web3 and metaverse. I’m launching a large-scale project with my sister/co-founder Rania Ajami. We have an amazing team, investors, and the project is really coming to life.
Congratulations on the upcoming release of your new remix for BluePaper – Riyadh at Twilight. How did that come about?
I was sent the original by my manager Kelly and the track resonated with me. I love the organic and authentic elements along with its great vibe. At that point, I took on the remix.
In terms of process, how do you work when creating music? Do you have an idea in your head you work towards or do you just experiment and jam and see what happens?
I experiment and see what happens in the moment. It’s never planned.
Onto production — what gear do you use currently to make music? Do you use lots of hardware to create your sound?
Not as much as people think. I use omnisphere a lot. It has amazing sounds and I can find anything I’m looking for within that plug in.
Do you make the records you want to play in your own sets, is there a direct link like that?
Not at all. I actually often feel that the music I make and the music I DJ doesn’t correlate as a lot of my productions are more chilled, nostalgic, and for personal listening. Not all Of Course, sometimes I like to make music I can drop on a dance floor!
On the live front — where do you feel your best environment as a DJ is? A dark club or an open air stage?
Dark club for sure!
Finally, what else have you got coming up in 2022 that you can tell us about?
I’d say definitely check out our metaverse project, Metropolis World. It’s going to be a really exciting ecosystem and a gamechanger in the metaverse space.
Thanks Rashid! We wish you all the best for the year ahead.
Thank you!
