Setting her own pace and rhythm

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Dj Ma Faiza

A keen ear for music and a pair of skilled hands to roll the disc were all she had when she started out. But it proved to be enough to keep party animals on their feet all night long. 42-year-old DJ Ma Faiza is now an internationally acclaimed spin doctor with enough X-factor to boot.

Brimming with confidence and high energy, Ma Faiza is very comfortable with her sexuality. “I’m tough on the outside, but mushy on the inside. My six foot exterior is just an outer crust! I’m young and a lesbian who loves to love and be loved! I enjoy being free and candid in my relationships,” she says, while playing the disc at Kolkata’s Underground Pub.

Steeped in music:
Born in Africa but raised in Britain, Ma Faiza has had an array of cultural influences that have shaped her musical career. “I lived in the UK for 23 long years, from 1970 to 1993. I think I have been incredibly fortunate as my senses got exposed to a whole range of diverse musical genres,” she says.

The Indian Connection:
Ma Faiza has roots that trace back to the north-western part of India. While her father’s family hailed from Gujarat, dating back to over a century ago, her mother’s family belonged to the Kutch region. “So even though we were all born in Africa and carry British passports, we are all of Indian origin,” she says.

Music mix:
There are certain genres that become a music mixer's signature style. In Ma Faiza’s case, a string of elements like house, progressive house, progressive trance, techno, psy-trance and ambient music form the core of her eclectic repertoire.

Raiding A Male Bastion:
When Ma Faiza started out, it was like being the oddball in an all boy’s club. Has it changed today for aspirants? “DJing for women is any day tougher than it is for the guys! First of all, you are constantly being judged by your looks i.e. your glam-quotient, oomph factor and sex appeal. But at the end of the day, your talent should have the last word. To keep the men's monopoly at bay, standing up to stiff competition and winning is the only way,” she declares.

Mixing for good sound:
“It is imperative for a DJ to connect with the crowd. Only then can he/she bring the party alive, and be motivated by it in return. It’s like seduction you see — a win-win situation, wherein a playful exchange of vibes and synergies takes place between the DJ at the helm and a swirling mob animatedly swinging to her tunes,” she says, cheekily.

Future plans:
I would love to share my DJing skills and knowledge with others and inspire them to make inroads into this avenue. A DJ-school or an academy wouldn’t be a bad idea to begin with. What say? But lo! I am still trying to find ample time and space to even unveil a new album from my kitty. Living life out of a suitcase just makes it a tough existence. There is no real me-time to flow with. Let’s see what does future store for me. Hope it upholds some meaty prospects to bank upon. My fingers are crossed.