Playing music for others is what continues to drive Cairo-based DJ and producer Karim Auf as he builds his place within Egypt&rsquo;s growing electronic music scene. Speaking to NileFM programme &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s Dance with Nancy&rdquo;, Auf reflected on his musical journey, the evolution of his sound and the moments that shaped his career. Beyond The Decks Music has been a central part of Auf&rsquo;s life for more than 15 years. Drawing inspiration from everyday sounds, his influences span several genres, including jazz and rock. His approach to DJing, he says, is centred on emotion and storytelling. &ldquo;My goal is to take the audience on a journey through music,&rdquo; he says. Despite regularly performing in nightlife venues and festivals, Auf describes himself as someone who enjoys a quieter lifestyle away from the stage. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m a very domestic person. I like having my own space and time to explore nature and sounds,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I also love cooking and fishing.&rdquo; From Music Fan To DJ Auf says his relationship with music began unexpectedly during his childhood. &ldquo;I had a portable PlayStation where I used to download music instead of playing games,&rdquo; he recalls. &ldquo;I loved controlling the music while my friends were dancing. That&rsquo;s when I realised this was what I wanted to do.&rdquo; His first experiences as a DJ came through house parties around 2008. &ldquo;My friends liked the music I played, so I recorded a two-hour set even though I didn&rsquo;t really know how to use the mixer properly yet,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;When I saw people dancing, I felt like Ti&euml;sto in that moment.&rdquo; Breakthrough Moments One of Auf&rsquo;s defining career moments came after producing a track inspired by the melodic techno sound associated with Afterlife. &ldquo;I created the track from the heart without expecting anything,&rdquo; he says. The track later gained support from international artists including Kevin de Vries and Tale of Us, helping expand his profile within the electronic music scene. &ldquo;In the past, the spotlight wasn&rsquo;t really on Egyptian producers,&rdquo; Auf says. &ldquo;Now there is much more international attention on the scene here.&rdquo; Sharing Stages With International Artists Auf says success came gradually rather than through a single breakthrough moment. &ldquo;I just kept playing music and believing in myself,&rdquo; he says. Among the artists who have influenced him most is Ben B&ouml;hmer. &ldquo;I played with him last summer, and it was magical,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;He inspires me all the time.&rdquo; He also described performing alongside Mathame at an Alter event as a major milestone. &ldquo;It was a challenging slot because I was playing after one of the giants,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;The challenge was keeping the energy high and letting the crowd stay and party with me, even though I was the final act.&rdquo; The Story Behind &ldquo;Breakaway&rdquo; Auf also discussed &ldquo;Breakaway&rdquo;, his collaboration with Zinnian Abdu. &ldquo;We spent hours in the studio working on small details until we reached the final version,&rdquo; he says. The track later became part of his performances outside Egypt, including a show in AlUla in Saudi Arabia. Egypt&rsquo;s Growing Electronic Scene According to Auf, Egypt&rsquo;s electronic music scene continues to expand rapidly. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s booming, but it&rsquo;s still developing,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Egyptian DJs are exploring more opportunities internationally, and we have amazing talent here.&rdquo; He believes Egyptian audiences bring a unique energy to live events. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve seen crowds around the world, but Egyptians definitely know how to party,&rdquo; he says. What&rsquo;s Next? Auf revealed that he is currently working on a remix with producer Zany from Fade Republic, which is expected to be released next month. He also confirmed an upcoming performance in Egypt alongside Magdalena on 16 May.
Photo Credit:&nbsp;Karim Auf's official page

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