When the Coronavirus shut us down, clubs and festivals ceased, and everyone was essentially forced inside with no definitive end in sight, DJ Times wondered: How is our tribe coping? How are DJs getting by?
So, we sent out our “Coronavirus Questionnaire” to DJ/producers from all musical genres to find out. During this period, DJ Times will continue presenting the questionnaire responses from talented music-makers from all over the world. Here’s our latest entry, this time from Belgium, the Brussels-based electronic talent HVMZA (aka Hamza Alakay).
What’s it been like where you’re living? How are you spending most of your time? Everything is slowly turning back to normal, actually – no lockdown. So, I wake up, drink my tea with honey, feed my cat Nazar, go out for a run in nature or do my workout in the gym, eat my breakfast, start producing music or do music/business-related things, go to my mom for dinner, then come back home watch Netflix and sleep. Not bad, right?
Have you lost important gigs, or income-producing work? I actually stopped taking gigs when I made my transition from hip hop to house music. I wanted to focus on producing and releasing music first and then I was gonna start playing again as a house DJ – but Corona happened. So yes, DJing-wise, I lost some income, but producing-wise everything is alright because I do most of the things online.
Are you doing anything now that can or will produce music-related income? Yes, I’m producing music and slowly starting to play at gigs again. My latest release is “Bosana” on MORE Music.
What are you doing now that’s ultimately constructive to your music life/career? I’m investing almost all my time, money and energy into my music career – promoting, marketing, and taking online courses. I recently built a brand-new home studio, updated my equipment and I will continue doing that. I constantly wanna learn, improve and be the best version of myself.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve realized during this period of social distancing? I realized how much a little cat can improve your well being. I think that really surprised me, never expected that it would have such a positive impact in my life.
Have you considered doing anything online like a live-streaming mix? Have you seen any DJ video streams that impressed you? Yes, we actually did a Facebook/Instagram live mix with my friends from Bloq Events and I loved it. You can check it on my YouTube channel. I loved Pablo Fierro’s Curantina Streaming, Vol 1. What a mix – wow, beautiful!
Any theme tunes recommended for the moment? I’m addicted to this one at the moment, such a delicious track: Os Tincoas’ “Deixa A Gira Girar.”
Any advice on staying sane & relatively positive through this situation? Keep yourself busy, stay positive, eat healthy, go into nature and do sports because a healthy body means a healthy head! And oh yeah, get yourself a cat… Thanks for having me, DJ Times – much love, peace and harmony!
To check out more Life in Lockdown interviews, click here.
