Hailing from Montreal with Lebanese/Persian roots, BiG AL aka BiGz is surely one of the longest-serving, globally renowned, and respected Middle Eastern DJs around, starting his DJ career back in 1989.
Having fallen in love with music at a very young age, his journey evolved naturally, leading him to the New York underground house sound. BiG AL was among the first to import western club music and culture back to his native Lebanon where he hosted the primary radio show spoken in the English language; playing underground House Music and Disco Vinyl imported from the USA and Europe. But in a civil war-torn country, it was time to spread his wings and search for the source.
Arriving in the USA in the early ’90s, BiG AL became a regular club kid at the Sound Factory, Red Zone, Limelight, Shelter, Tunnel, Twilo, Palladium/Arena, Arc/Vinyl, and other seminal venues, soaking up sounds laid down by Junior Vasquez, Danny Tenaglia, Masters At Work, Roger Sanchez, Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, Tony Humphries, Francois K., Todd Terry, et al.
A true World citizen, over the years BiG AL has lived in the UK, Cyprus, Switzerland, France, Germany, Morocco, the UAE as well as Boston, NYC, L.A., and Montreal, Canada. BiG AL has worked and assisted legends such as Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, Angel Moraes, Danny “Buddha” Morales, Satoshi Tomiie, Chus & Ceballos, The SBS Slammer “Shorty”, John Creamer, Omid 16B, Nick Warren, Hector Romero, Jay Tripwire, Victor Calderone, DJ Vibe, and many more in different musical, professional and private projects.
EG caught up with BiG AL to learn more about his latest release ‘Something In Me’, his origins in the music industry, inspirations, and more.
EG: Hi BiG AL! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How are you? Where are you based right now?
BiG AL: I am good thanks and it’s a pleasure being here with you. I currently don’t have a permanent base and depending on the season, I spend my time between Beirut, Dubai, Casablanca and Montreal.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the release of your new ‘Something In Me’! What has the initial reception/promo been like? Have you been able to test this one live yet?
BiG AL: Thank you! Yeah, the track was very well received in the past and of course, I had to test it out on several dancefloors to tweak it prior to the final mixdown. The reaction was always positive.
EG: So, what’s ‘Something In Me’ all about? Is there a trigger/concept behind this piece?
BiG AL: No concept really, I was going through a friend’s sample library and found the vocal which inspired me very much, I asked him if he ever used it on a track before and he said he hadn’t, so I decided to take it and build the track around it.
EG: This is also your debut on Vibe Me To The Moon, right? What is it about the imprint that caught your attention? Why did you decide to go with them for this particular release?
BiG AL: Yes, it is my debut on VMTTM. I was approached by my good friend and Label Manager Kev Obrien, who introduced me to Greg the owner/founder who was also a fan of my work. They asked me for new music and I had just finished ‘Something In Me’, so I sent them the demo and it was signed on the spot.
“At first, I was very hungry to learn and get my foot through the door, so I started approaching major industry players and offered them a free trial of my engineering, programming, arrangement, and studio services”
EG: How and when did you get into DJing?
BiG AL: I got into DJing back in 1989, by hosting a radio show in my hometown in Lebanon.
EG: Was there a show that changed things for you?
BiG AL: It was my 6-year residency (2000-2006) at the infamous club Stereo in Montreal that had the biggest impact on my career.
EG: And when did you decide to give music production a go? What was that process like?
BiG AL: In 1998, I built my first studio in Montreal, right after I had graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Assisted Sound Design & Sound Engineering. At first, I was very hungry to learn and get my foot through the door, so I started approaching major industry players and offered them a free trial of my engineering, programming, arrangement, and studio services. My first client was the legendary NYC producer Angel Moraes (RIP). Angel and I had great chemistry in the studio and built a very strong friendship where I served as his personal sound engineer for almost 7 years (1999-2006).
EG: How do you keep entertained when not in the studio? Any good music, books, or series you’d recommend? Where do you go looking for inspiration?
BiG AL: Traveling, meeting new people, connecting with different cultures, and tasting new food are my biggest inspirations. When I am not in the studio, I love cooking, so I experiment in the kitchen a lot, and according to my family, I’m a remarkable sandwich maker. 😉
I have recently finished watching ‘Knives Out: Glass Onion’, ‘Babylon’, and Season 2 of ‘The White Lotus’, and they were all brilliant and highly recommended.
EG: What would you say is your “dream goal” when it comes to music? Where do you see yourself years from now?
BiG AL: My goal was always to spread good vibes and reach as many people around the world through timeless music, and thanks to the power of the internet, the amazing labels I work with, and my touring schedule, I think that I have achieved my goals so far.
“Traveling, meeting new people, connecting with different cultures, and tasting new food are my biggest inspirations. When I am not in the studio, I love cooking, so I experiment in the kitchen a lot”
EG: Can you tell us something about yourself that very few people know about?
BiG AL: About 35 years ago, I used to be a 3-time gold medalist Ping Pong champion in my hometown in Northern Lebanon.
EG: What’s next for Big AL? What particular milestones are you looking forwards to now? Where can your fans catch you next?
BiG AL: I am looking forward to getting back on the road full-time in 2023 and to keep creating more music and connecting with new labels and collaborators from around the world.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Big AL! We wish you all the best for the future!
BiG AL: Thank you for your kind wishes, love & support. It was an honor doing this with you.
BiG AL’s ‘Something In Me’ is out now via Vibe Me To The Moon. Purchase your copy here.
Follow BiG AL: Instagram | Soundcloud | Spotify
