It seems everything I currently consider to be great in underground dance music is somehow connected to the fantastic city of Dubai. Of course Lisa’s been scorching the dance floors of this region since last summer, Atif is now on his way to spread even more bringthebeats love, Samiha (Mo’Bliss) lived there way before it was cool to say so and seemingly every DJ I’m digging right now has recently gigged in this Persian paradise.

A huge influence in the growth of our scene throughout the UAE is one of my all time favs, Ali Ajami. A dude from the old school who’s never stopped making new school sounds, Ali has established himself as one of progressive house’s most respected underground talents by continually testing his skills in markets all over the world. Not only has he performed in many of the marquee cities on the planet, he’s also established residencies and labels while living within them.

Originally from Lebanon, Ali travelled to Orlando, the hot bed of North American house music in the mid nineties. There he quickly contracted the DJ bug through the inspiration of Sasha & Digweed’s legendary sessions of the pre-Twilo era.

He then ventured north and helped establish the world-renown after-hours scene in Montreal through his event and promotions company Liquid State of Mind (LSM) and labels Chug Records and Opek Music.

Ali continued to turn heads after moving to Boston scoring residencies at Axis and Avalon, earning the city’s “Best DJ of the Year” award in 2003 and by being be honoured with  ‘Future DJ Hero’ status in DJ Magazine’s “Top 100 DJs” 2004 issue by John Digweed,  Danny Howells and Max Graham.

Production collaborations with Chris Micali and Matt Wasley on Bedrock, Nu-Republic, Swift, and Vapour prove that Ali Ajami is an all around talent who’s been recognized and rewarded for holding strong to what he’s passionate about and for finding inspiration from a variety of genres and fellow artists… our kind of talent.

Since relocating to Dubai in 2005 Ali has won the Thirst Studio Gulf Regional competition, earning him with the opportunity to work with Groove Armada in their London and Barcelona studios and has also secured residencies with Deep Nights at Club Trilogy, and most recently Club Sanctuary at the Atlantis Hotel.

After years in the business, it amazes me that Ali has remained one of the most upfront dudes in the business, as you’ll hear by this spectacular live set recorded before Steve Lawler’s Sanctuary gig last month. Lucky for Lisa and Atif, he continues to be one to listen out for. Sam, maybe we need to take a visit back home, it definitely sounds worth our while.

Download (left-click and unzip):
Ali Ajami – Live @ Sanctuary Dubai – May 15th 2009 – Part 1
Ali Ajami – Live @ Sanctuary Dubai – May 15th 2009 – Part 2

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