Saqib is a talented musician, electronic music producer, and DJ from Pakistan, currently based in Brooklyn, NY. He has consistently released music since 2013 on renowned electronic music labels such as Abracadabra, Flying Circus, Sol Selectas, Maccabi House, Kamai Music, and more.
Photo credit: Saqib – Official
Saqib’s musical journey began as a teenager in Lahore, Pakistan, where he played guitar and bass in heavy metal bands. This early influence is evident in his energetic performances and productions. He furthered his skills by taking sound design and music production courses at Point Blank Music Academy, School of Audio Engineering NYC, Dubspot NYC, and Rutgers University. Saqib has performed at various notable venues and festivals, including Electric Zoo Festival, Cityfox at The Brooklyn Mirage, Abracadabra Miami, Monkey Loft Seattle, and Clinic LA.
Saqib is scheduled to perform at Electronic Groove, Listed, and Manjumasi’s fundraiser event during ADE Week 2023 on October 19th at Duke of Tokyo. Saqib will share the stage with Atish b2b Mark Slee, Maxi Meraki, Ivan Sandhas, Arianna Danae, Rivellino, and a surprise guest artist. Get your tickets here.
EG recently had a conversation with Saqib about his upcoming presentation, as well as his latest projects and future plans.
EG: Hi Saqib! Welcome back to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
Saqib: Hey hey! It’s a pleasure to be back! I am currently in New York in my studio in Brooklyn.
EG: So, ADE is just around the corner, which has us all very excited! What are your plans this time around? What mischief will you be up to?
Saqib: This is actually my first time at ADE! On Thursday I’m playing at your fantastic fundraiser with a lovely group of artists and a very special guest. It’s going to be wild. On the same morning, I’m doing a podcast discussion with Mission Makers’ Farah Nanji, also known by her artist alias N1NJA, alongside my mentor and friend atish, which explores the tipping point for emerging artists in the music industry. There are a couple of other things in the works, not sure if they will materialize but I can only hope!
I’m really looking forward to ADE. My main interest here is the industry/discussion/networking aspect of it. We party all the time but we don’t frequently get the most influential and forward-thinking parts of the music industry in one place to discuss their views. I am really looking forward to bringing my record label Beats On Time and my ears to the table to listen to what the industry leaders have to say.
EG: As you mentioned you’ll be a part of our ADE Week 2023 Fundraiser, which will take place on Thursday, October 19th, seeking to raise funds for AnimalRIghts.NL! What can we expect from your performance?
Saqib: Some jams that I am absolutely in love with from my label Beats On Time, myself, and the frontiers of electronic music. I really only play tracks that I absolutely LOVE to pieces!
EG: Speaking about playing…What track has been doing the rounds the most in your recent sets? Why?
Saqib: Lately it’s been a couple of my own new IDs that have been getting rinsed the most. These include a new collaboration with Aquarius Heaven, a collaboration with my friend K2W0 of the Bollywood classic ‘Rang Barse’, my remix of Dandara and G.Zamora’s ‘Bibacumbe’ coming out on Nhii’s Sounds of Khemit label, and the remix of ‘Soul Love’ by my friend Nino Tores based in Israel, for Beats On Time.
“We party all the time but we don’t frequently get the most influential and forward-thinking parts of the music industry in one place to discuss their views”
EG: Now, you’re about to drop the most epic track at the ADE event. What’s the one dance move you’d bust out when the beat kicks in?
Saqib: Easy. Saqib classic – old man jogging style.
EG: Speaking about tracks and music…. rapid-fire round!
– Current Favorite Banger… Renato Cohen, ‘Benzine’ on Pets Recordings.
– Musical Pet Peeve… The general tone of (toxic) positivity that runs through the voice of every promoter, artist, and venue on social media. “Big things coming”, “Last night was ONE FOR THE BOOKS”, and “Happy release day”. So cringe I can’t even. Especially because it’s the same words being echoed again and again. #sorrynotsorry
– I hate it when DJs… Call their DJ set a “performance”. Max cringe moment for me that I see a lot. I know this will annoy a lot of people I know and work with. #sorrynotsorry…
– I love it when DJs… Give credit to music producers whose tracks they are playing!!!
– Guilty pleasure track… Madonna – ‘MUSIC’ hahahahahah!
– When I’m not sure behind the decks, I reach for… Red Axes, The Organism, Theus Mago, Adam Ten/Mita Gami, Pezzner, most tracks on Maccabi House.
– Your favorite RECENT music memory is…. Playing b2b open to close with Pezzner on the roof of Monkey Loft Seattle this summer. Absolutely amazing. Crazy times. So good!
Get your tickets here.
EG: What are three essential items you always carry in your DJ bag?
Saqib: Saqib’s face stickers, headphone jack, and phone charger! Lol!
EG: What’s your go-to pre-gig ritual or lucky charm that gets you in the groove?
Saqib: Pretty much every single gig I ever play – about 20-30 minutes before starting, I go into my personal headspace and just mentally chew on what is about to happen. I don’t talk to anyone around me and I usually look like I am not having any fun at all. The people around me think I’m acting very strange usually. I have been that way since my first show when I was 13 or so in Lahore, Pakistan.
“I really only play tracks that I absolutely LOVE to pieces!”
EG: Most importantly, if you could have a holographic DJ battle with any historical figure, who would it be, and what’s your secret weapon track?
Saqib: Hmmmm! Hard one. It would be more of a collaboration than a battle… It’s probably a back-to-back with Rick Rubin, the most important music producer of the last 30 years. And the secret weapon is probably an edit of Beastie Boys’ ‘Intergalactic’ (a song he was the original producer of!)
EG: Thank you for your time, we can’t wait to catch up at our ADE Week event! See you soon!
Saqib: See you soon my friends! I really appreciate your support and everything you do for the scene!
Saqib is scheduled to perform at the Electronic Groove, Listed, and Manjumasi fundraiser event during ADE Week 2023 on October 19th at Duke of Tokyo. Get your tickets here.
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