I had a chat with A.L.L.A.D., local DJ and poet in the UAE, to hear about his passion for music, rhythm and prose…
Paul D: How did you get into DJing and poetry?
A.L.L.A.D.: I’ve always had an ear for music since I was young. I vaguely remember riding in the back of my mother’s car and listening to the radio. Songs would come on, and I would imagine remixing them. I would often run across records but never had the tables to practice on until I entered college. Spending endless hours in the studio, I envisioned rocking parties and radio spotlights. Teaming with the profound DJ Sicari Ware from Detroit and Well Blended from Cincinnati, I studied the art of scratching and beat-matching. This is how my passion for music became an outlet for expression. As for poetry, I began rhyming in middle school to impress my English teacher who told me I could travel to any place in the world and be anything through my mind pencil. Writing became my outlet for travel. Later it became my platform for debate and for discussing my view on life.
Paul D: Which of the two art forms are you most passionate about?
A.L.L.A.D.: I am honestly in love with both because they are creatively similar. Hip-Hop is poetry and DJing is the motion, so the movement combined creates a ‘potion’ or what we call poetry in motion. They both allow me to time travel in thought-making. You reflect on your past and look toward to the future or next to come. Plus, they are both parts of the five elements of Hip-Hop.
Paul D: What elements make a good DJ?
A.L.L.A.D.: Knowledge of music, wisdom of music’s struggle, ‘overstanding’ of the journey, freedom of musical expression, the power of beat matching, the perfection of your craft, and the mastery of blending tracks to create a seamless groove.
“I’ve always had an ear for music since I was young. I vaguely remember riding in the back of my mother’s car and listening to the radio.”
Paul D: You play many different genres of music and are often known for your various sets at a party. What’s your favourite musical genre?
A.L.L.A.D.: I am in love with Hip Hop, Reggae, and Neo-Soul.
Paul D: I love Neo-Soul and Old School Soul the most! You have been the regular DJ at Rooftop Rhythms for about two years. How is DJing a poetry set different from DJing a party?
A.L.L.A.D.: DJing a poetry set allows me to make you reminisce on times of your life where music created a memory. It also allows me to bring forth a lot of Neo-Soul artists that normally wouldn’t get played in a club set. The movement for poetry and Neo-Soul go hand and hand. I push to create thoughts with my poetry sets.
Paul D: In a little over two years you have gone from being based in Al Ain to playing all over the UAE and even Qatar. How have you handled that success?
A.L.L.A.D.: I believe that when you are passionate about your craft it will reach many and allow you to touch minds and hearts. The success is not the aim; the passion is the focus.
Paul D: You recently partnered with your wife, the poet, TRUE, to write children’s books. Tell me about your first book, The Alphabet Palace.
A.L.L.A.D.: Wow! TRUE is an amazing sister in so many ways. She is my motivation, inspiration, dedication, imagination, and just, simply put, my reflection. The book was created from an off the cuff bed time story for my children Jahi and Nalah who push us to create stories for them before they go to bed. TRUE started the story and later told me that we should create it and publish it. After she published her poetry book, Testified, The Alphabet Palace was next in the pipeline. It’s simply about a Prince named Preston who loves everything in the world that begins with the letter P and runs into a Princess who he adores but will not marry because her name does not begin with that letter. After being locked away for not following Preston’s orders, she shows him all the wonderful things he could have that do not begin with the letter P and opens his mind to a world of amazing things. The book teaches lessons of growth and acceptance. You can purchase it directly from my wife, Michelle True Francois, by contacting her through Facebook or online at http://bookstore.xlibris.com.
Paul D: Do you have any financial incentive, because this coffee is expensive and I’m a little short?
A.L.L.A.D.: *Stares without saying a word*
By Dorian “Paul D” Rogers | @pauldtheripy
