DJ Alpay PayPay and DJ Ali Aslan
“this is my song”
You see them in the DJ booth. You think they’re enjoying themselves, when in fact they’re trying to entertain you! And then comes a moment when they play a song you love, and you look toward the booth and a thought crosses your mind along the lines of, “this is my song”… Today, on this page, you’ll read my interview with DJ Alpay PayPay and DJ Ali Aslan, who are in the booth at Club Night Park—a place many people would like to be.
Cem KAR: Where have you worked before? And why don’t you use a stage name?
DJ Ali: I’ve played in almost every part of Cyprus. You could say I’m a DJ who learned the trade from the ground up. I don’t use a stage name because that’s not how this business works around the world. Look at famous DJs—none of them use stage names!
DJ Alpay: I agree with Ali completely about stage names. Around the world, this business is done under your own name, not a stage name. Anyway, I’m actually a sound engineer. I used to work in Turkey, and I also worked as a sound consultant and “sound engineer” at many national and international concert events.
C.K.: Let’s continue from there. As we know, unjust embargoes are imposed on Cyprus. Are our clubs far behind the rest of the world when it comes to sound systems, and are we lacking anything in general?
DJ Alpay: Absolutely not; we’re not isolated in any technical sense. Our clubs keep a very close eye on the world’s sound systems, and I can say we’re at the same level in this area. However, in connection with this, we’re imposing an embargo on ourselves. The sound restrictions in our country lead many people to cross over to the Greek Cypriot side to enjoy themselves. Something definitely needs to be done about this. Besides, sound-insulation systems are highly advanced. Bringing them to our country is no problem at all!
C.K.: Ali, this question is for you. It seems to me there are a lot of DJs in our country… At least, I often come across people who say they’re DJs. Is that a problem?
DJ Ali: Yes, you’re right, but we can’t call it a problem. After all, there are only so many clubs, and that means there can only be a certain number of DJs in the booths at those clubs. What matters is that our friends who call themselves DJs don’t misrepresent this profession in social settings. In any case, I don’t see that happening.
C.K.: You’re both in the booth together. Why, and what are the advantages?
DJ Ali and DJ Alpay: There are many advantages to performing as a duo! We take turns playing songs, and that helps us do our best. It’s very useful for finding the best rhythm and getting a feel for the crowd’s mood at that moment. On the other hand, we get along very well.
C.K.: I imagine many of the young people reading this who aspire to be DJs are waiting for this question. What would you like to say to those who want to become DJs and those just starting out?
DJ Ali and DJ Alpay: First of all, this is more of a hobby than a profession. Given the conditions in our country, it isn’t something you can do as your main profession. One shortcoming we see among friends who are new to this work is that they play music based on their own preferences rather than the expectations of the crowd—and that music is generally electronic. But the crowd you play for expects music they can sing along to and keep time with. In Cyprus, these genres are generally R&B and popular music. Our final piece of advice: try to get a feel for the crowd listening to you.
C.K.: Sometimes we see DJs keeping time with hand gestures and movements, beyond their close interaction with their headphones and mixer. What makes you dance in those moments? In other words, what gets you hyped?
DJ Ali and DJ Alpay: Yes, DJs sometimes make these movements when they get into the rhythm. But they don’t point to any particular moment in time. It’s about connecting with people’s rhythm and sensing the mood of the moment. When people join in with the song you’re playing, the excitement builds, and of course that affects the booth too.
C.K.: Friends, this conversation was as enjoyable as watching you in the booth. I wish you continued success and thank you for this lovely interview.
DJ Ali and DJ Alpay: We’d also like to thank you for the attention you’ve shown to people who work to entertain people in our country.