Q&A with DJ Bliss on Shining and so much more

We chat to Emirati hip-hop artist DJ Bliss about his smash-hit new single Shining, his decision to sign to major label Universal and the fresh music he plans to release.

Marwan Parham Al Awadhi aka DJ Bliss. Sarah Dea / The National

This year is already shaping up to be the biggest of DJ Bliss’s ­career. The growing popularity of the Emirati hip-hop artist – real name Marwan Parham Al ­Awadhi – was rewarded with a recording contract with major label Universal.

His debut single under the deal, Shining (featuring Kuwaiti crooner Daffy and American rapper Mims), has already clocked more than a million plays on YouTube.

The 33-year-old celebrated this milestone last night with a private bash at Dubai nightclub Cirque Le Soir – but Al Awadhi says that we ain’t seen nothing yet.

Shining has been received very well in the clubs and especially on YouTube. What is it about the song that has struck a chord with listeners?

I have been working very hard on the song. Also things came together in the right way, in that I signed for Universal earlier in the year, myself and producer Prince Q did the song and we booked a big advertising campaign for it across social media. Also, just having that Universal stamp on the song and them creating a Vevo account for it just really made the song take off.

You were an independent artist before signing to Universal. How is life on a big label?

It is a tricky one, because a lot of people advised me not to sign to a major record label. But I wanted that platform and those contacts. I have released things independently or through other artists, but once you sign up to a major label your songs are immediately on iTunes and Anghami, and for the Middle East that’s very important.

How did Shining come together?

I have been working on the song for nearly a year and a half. We initially did this beat with fellow Emirati producer Prince Q and we had four or five different people singing the hook.

Can you name names?

Right until the last minute, when we were about to shoot the video, we had (American R&B singer) Lloyd singing the hook – but we didn’t come to an understanding regarding the contract and all that.

You got Daffy to replace Lloyd and it obviously paid off. How did you guys meet?

I have been talking to Daffy for a while. We met through Instagram and I was familiar with his group, Army of One, from back in the day. And then when he released that song, Samboosa, and it was doing big things, I really listened to his voice and I thought it would suit the song. So I sent him the song and he liked it. He came to my studio in Dubai and recorded it.

You also got American rapper Mims on board. Were you surprised by the many references to the UAE he dropped in his verse?

Yes and no. I am not surprised in that he spends a lot of time here, but at the same time, I was surprised in that it was done in such an intelligent way. You know, Mims is just a great rapper and he is very under-­rated. He puts on a great show as well – and when he performs here he has always been great.

Shining may surprise people in that you sing on this record. What made you step out from behind the decks for this one?

I used to sing and dance when I was growing up. I used to play in a rock band and play the guitar, so it is not really anything new to me. When I did my last song, Let It Go, people were telling me that I was really singing and doing much more on the song. So this time I sang on it throughout, because I wanted to show people what I can do.

The video is very flashy and it has more of an international feel to it than your last promo, for Let It Go. What was the idea behind it?

Part of the clip of the song was actually done for a Chrysler commercial, which I was blessed to do for the Middle East. I am blessed in that they got people such as Dr Dre and Eminem to do it for the American version and we wanted to do the clip similar to that. This is why it has a very international feel.

What is your next move, musically?

I am really experimenting with sounds and songs right now to see where I can go with it. I have in my possession right now – and this is the reason why I went to Universal in the first place – an album of 10 songs by artists from the region and internationals. It crosses different genres, from pop, rock, R&B and dubstep. I wanted to first put my song out and learn from the experience and prepare the groundwork for the others.

Shining is out now through Universal Music Mena. For more details, visit www.facebook.com/djblissdubai