DOHA

For Nelson Fernandes, a Qatar-based DJ, music is an art and feels you have to be patient and persist with it to make a mark.

He has laid down a few principles on the personal front to be successful and create a name for himself in the music circles.

“Be sure to develop your own style. Keep up to date on music of all kinds. Do not restrict yourself to one kind of music. As long as your passion lies in music there is no crowd you can’t bring to the dance floor,” he says.

For the records, Nelson started DJing in Qatar in 1998. Talking about his initial steps in the DJ world he says: “I had a passion for music and started very small playing house parties and grew from there.”

Asked as to what keeps him going over the years, he said he does his research on the crowd attending the event and accordingly, sets the tone for the day.

“As a DJ for many years, I’ve definitely learned through my experiences. My passion for music wasn’t only for me. It was also a passion to share my music in a way that people enjoyed. Prior to the event I always inquire about the crowd, to ensure I have perfect music to entertain my crowd,” said Nelson.

“It does get challenging to keep everyone on the floor. I usually analyse the majority of the crowd and perform accordingly. But I play a small section for others too,” he adds.

Nelson said growing up he listened to different musicians of different styles and also was fond of songs in different languages.

“As a child I listened to pop music like ABBA, Boney M, Michael Jackson, Bee Gees, etc., also Disco, Rock Bollywood, Reggae, and Country music. I used to save up only to be the first to buy the latest CDs. Not much has changed since then, I enjoy collecting the latest music from English, Arabic, Konkani, Spanish and more to cater well to the crowd.”

Asked about the changes which have overtaken the music world he said: “The way we experience music has dramatically changed with technological advancements. I distinctly remember the unique sound quality of CDs and cassette tapes; there was a certain crispness and warmth to them. While I cherish those memories, I acknowledge the undeniable convenience of today’s digital platforms.”

Nelson has had some great experiences down the line.

“I’ve met amazing people coming from different nationalities exposing me to their culture through their events. Some are not as good, but these are all learning curves and teach you more to do better,” he says with a smile.

Nelson plays for most Goan events besides others events of different nationalities based in Qatar. One event he always remembers is the dance which lasted the whole night many years back.

“My most memorable event was a Christmas party for Goans at the Club House. Everyone was on the dance floor, lasting the whole night until morning and everyone wanted more!”

“Till date, the best events I play for are for the Goan community. There is a connection that I’ve unknowingly built over the 28 years that no other crowd can beat,” he adds.

On the parting note he adds: “There’s no better feeling when the DJ and the crowd are on the same page in terms of music. We are synced in a way. We understand what we want from each other and that leads to an incredible night.”