I recently conversed with Mohamed Talaat AKA DJ Mad Hands, an Egyptian-born sound selector and member of Underground Procedures (UGP), to discuss all things musical as it relates to the arts in the UAE.
Dorian: Was hip-hip big in Egypt when you were there?
Mad Hands: Definitely not, at least not at the time I grew up there, which was in the 90s.
Dorian: How did you get into DJing?
Mad Hands: Around 2007. A friend of mine had always wanted to be a DJ and just purchased a DJ set up. I instantly fell in love with the idea of blending my favourite tracks together. I spent days at my friend’s house, borrowed his equipment and became addicted. From that moment, going clubbing was never the same. I frequented clubs with the “DJ mentality”.
Dorian: What is that exactly?
Mad Hands: That meant spending time in the DJ booth with DJ friends and learning the art of party rocking.
Dorian: How did you make a name for yourself?
Mad Hands: I started DJing professionally in Washington DC clubs in 2008. Shortly after I found my niche, I became the staple DJ for elite promotional group DT Nation and secured residencies at many of the hottest clubs in the city, including Josephine, The Park at 14th, Policy, Eden and Shadow Room. Ultimately, my commitment to being the best is what helped me make Mad Hands a prominent name on the Washington DC nightlife scene.
Dorian: You became a professional DJ only after one year of picking up the art form. That’s crazy! How did you break into the scene in the UAE?
Mad Hands: Shortly after arriving in the UAE, I managed to get work DJing concerts and weekly club events with Alchemy Project, a Dubai-based nightlife agency. I eventually joined Dubai-based DJ group, Underground Procedures (UGP) and that really helped me to secure residencies and other DJ opportunities in the UAE.
Dorian: Where does the name Mad Hands come from?
Mad Hands: I was a waiter when I was in college before I started DJing. The restaurant I worked at had a live band every Friday night. Being a lover of music, of course, and having ear inclination to the beat from a very young age, I invited myself to the congas whenever the band member became tipsy. According to the singer, I had some “mad hands on me”. When I began DJing professionally, I decided to embrace and do justice to the name.
Dorian: Very cool to know. What’s your favourite genre of music?
Mad Hands: It’s always been between Hip Hop and R&B.
Dorian: What’s the secret for making a crowd go crazy during one of your sets?
Mad Hands: Versatility. Knowing and connecting with the crowd is essential before anything. Once I’ve done that, I put my selection to use. Having old school gems that make the crowd go insane is something every good DJ knows how to do.
Dorian: Who are your favourite artists of all-time?
Mad Hands: Being a creative DJ who needs to keep a fresh palette of artists in my library, I’ve learned to appreciate and have become a fan of many different rappers and singers. I have lots of favourites, but my personal playlists include lots of Jay-Z and T.I.
Dorian: What makes a good DJ, scratching, mixing, and/or blending?
Mad Hands: You can’t call yourself a DJ if you can’t beat mix by ear. Having a good selection and knowing how to apply it separates good DJs from bad ones. Scratching never does harm to a DJ set, unless you’re just bad at it, so, the better you are at it, the better your set will sound. Being creative technically is huge for me. DJs are entertainers, so getting creative with my blends, transitions and mash-ups is something I’ll always focus on doing.
Dorian: Where can people catch you spinning?
Mad Hands: I can be found at IKandy Lounge at the Shangri La, Dubai every Tuesday and Friday evening; I spin at ShoChos, Abu Dhabi every Sunday night. Last but not least, I rotate one of the hottest urban nights in the UAE, Versus, which goes down every first, third, and fifth Thursday night at Saadiyat Beach Club, Abu Dhabi.
Dorian: I’m glad you said the word spin. How about we take a spin before the waiter brings the check?
Mad Hands: *Stares blankly.
