Schooly

Blessed with kid-at-Christmas enthusiasm, there is no finer funk and soul radio DJ in Dubai than Schooly. Here, he teaches us a few things about the radio industry, which local band to watch out for next and why he’s got the funk.

Your name is Schooly - what has Dubai taught you in your time here?

Hardwork is key, anything is possible, the easiest thing to get done are always the most difficult. That the scene here is alive more so than anywhere else in the world. Don’t use customer services if you’re in a hurry, and there’s always something that hasn’t been done before.

You\'ve made the move from radio to management and back to radio - whatprompted those moves?

Initially I came off air for what was meant to be six weeks while I organized the Radio 1 Live event, but it carried on from there. I then got stuck in with the team and time ran away with us! We did some great things with the station as a whole. I loved working with the presenters and  creating the 1 Weekend, but in the back of my mind there was always a calling for me to be on air and the listeners were always asking the same thing. So we made the decision for me to return - I can’t deny that I’m a DJ and this period off has just re affi rmed that for me. Finding a new manager is easy, fi nding a good presenter isn’t…and trust me I’m far more useful on air than off. Let’s just say my GM is a lot less grey now!

Having been on both sides of the radio (DJand management), what’s the solution to Dubai’s overly commercial radio scene?

I honestly don’t feel the market is overly commercial, I think there’s a fair representation of every genre covered, but you have to remember it’s mainstream so specialist music has never really played a part of mainstream radio programming! And it also depends on which defi nition of commercial you mean?

And which radio DJs do you admire, both in Dubai and internationally, and why?

Anyone who has a passion for the art form of radio and understands that it isn’t just about talking and pressing buttons. Radio is theatre of the mind, and anyone who can provoke a thought, take me on a journey, be engaging, inform, create a visual for the listener, shows passion for what they do regardless of talk, sport or mixing. I admire. It’s not an easy job and props to anyone who creates great shows.

You’re quite a traditional DJ in that you’ve kept to your musical guns throughout your career - if it ain’t got soul, you don’t want to know. What inspired this love of the funk?

I guess that comes from the exposure to music growing up. My family were into music big time  and music was was a huge part of family life, so I guess it’s just carried on from there. There was everything from Jim Reeves to Bob Marley to Marvin Gaye to Sam Cooke to Ken Booth to  Frank Sinatra in our house. I was also infl uenced by the likes of John Peel, Tony Blackburn, Jeff Young, Robbie Vincent, David Rodigan, Greg Edwards, Tim Westwood and Trevor Nelson who are all good friends of mine now and still continue to be passionate and prove that what you do always has value. I consider myself as a soulful ambassador and will always remain true to what I do.



And what do you make of DJs that are keen to adapt their sound to fi t the changing musical climate?

It all depends to what extent? We all have at some point, and I feel a little flexibility sometimes shows a bit of respect for other genres and shows creativity. A good DJ will always be one step ahead and know where the music’s going or drive the scene and can adapt and is versatile and should refl ect the change in there chosen genre without it being even noticed. But all too often  these days, there’s no art form - it’s just banging in all the heavy hitters and hoping for the best. A real DJ will take you on a journey, break a few new ones but ultimately do what they do. But as long as that doesn’t compromise your integrity or jump on someone else’s bandwagon then guess that’s OK in moderation.

You were a big supporter of Abri, who’s the next local band to catch your ear?

Abri set quite a high benchmark and have yet to come across a band to match them. I did say when I fi rst heard them that they were truly one of a kind. SAL and Dany Neville are doing some incredible productions, with some local and international artists but band wise, nothing as yet. As soon as I fi nd them you’ll hear them on the show for sure!

Schooly’s Soulful Sessions is broadcast every Saturday LIVE from Play at Nasimi on Radio 1, 7-10pm.