Like many industries that continue to be male-dominated, female DJs have struggled with gaining a recognizable foothold on center stage. According to Female Pressure, "only 10% of performers at music festivals around the world are female, and an even smaller percentage of women are on music label rosters."
Arguably more challenging in the Middle East, few female DJs have managed to climb the ranks and become one of the region's most sought-after producers in this highly competitive industry.
We had a chance to chat with the Gulf's first female DJ and rising star in her own right, Leila Sohrab, or more commonly known on the scene as DJ Leil.
With a clear vision, DJ Leil has paved her way, rising above the many challenges to make her dream of becoming a DJ - and a successful one at that - come true.
Here's Leila's story.
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.Born and raised in Bahrain, I left university after second year to pursue my passion of being a DJ while working full time to support myself. This was back in 1998 at the tender age of 18 years old. Back then there were no local female DJs, nor anyone who would dare take the risk. My first gigs that I was fortunate enough to land were at family weddings, school carnivals and birthday parties.
The type of music I played was fairly generic because I needed to appeal to the local population in Bahrain. Slowly but surely, I started gaining momentum by word-of-mouth.
Finally, in 2008 I got my first party in Dubai, UAE, which led to more events in Qatar, Saudi, Oman, and then France in 2013, and Italy in 2015.
During that time, I've had the opportunity to play at over 3,500 events and the largest halls in Bahrain and UAE, including Bahrain's home of the F1 - the Bahrain International Circuit, and opened for some of the region's biggest entertainers, including Tamer Husni, Mohamed Salem, The Brothers Band, Hala Al Turk, and Salah Zadjali. I was also the resident DJ at Bahrain's largest water theme park, Wahooo!
When I first started, I had nothing. No money, no network, no assistance, no proper skills. I only had my love of music, so I had to work very hard to learn the technical skills, save money for the DJ system, and spread my name through word of mouth by providing a service that people loved.
Oh yeah, I had hundreds and hundreds of sleepless nights, but one thing I knew for sure was that I did not want to spend my life working behind a desk and getting paid a monthly salary at a job that lacked genuine interaction, or a job that does not appreciate my efforts.
For me, working my day job was a means to fulfill my dream. I made a lot of sacrifices for it, but it was totally worth all the hard work and sleepless nights.
Being a DJ is a powerful means to connect with people through music. I love being able to make them move, life their spirits, and make them happy. I loved being in control in this sense. I loved to see people joyful.
WHAT WERE THE FIRST FEW STEPS YOU TOOK TO GET YOUR BUSINESS UP AND RUNNING?Since I was starting from scratch, I decided to promote myself by providing my DJ services either free or for very low rates. I saved as much as I could from my day job and small projects so that I could eventually buy my own DJ system and proper van, as opposed to renting for each gig. Year by year, it started to pay off, and eventually, I started to expand and take on more events that were larger in scale.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF RAISING AWARENESS AND GETTING NEW CUSTOMERS?I have never published any advertisements throughout the years. Getting to the stage I am at now depended on the quality of service I provided. My biggest promoters are my customers, so it's imperative that I gain my clients' trust and provide the best service so that they'll spread the word.
Well, there are may challenges. Making sure my clients are happy is the hardest part. Whether it's a crowd of 300 or 5,000, everyone has different taste in music. I have to keep an eye on the latest hits, make sure the sound system is checked, and make sure I present the music in a unique way. But I will say that having to deal with a lot of different personalities is one of the biggest challenges.
HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES?Years and years of practice and experience. Interacting with clients, studying the market, and trying to cope with the technological advances and trends, as well as trying my level best to educate myself by reading a lot of books. At the end of the day, you can't expect to please everybody, no matter how hard you try. You have to cope with that and never let negative comments bring you down. Instead, embrace the challenges, try to develop yourself, and keep your calm.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?For years I felt like a slave to my day jobs until I decided to give my all to my own baby - my DJ business. It was on my birthday in December 2014 that I decided to gift myself the freedom to leave my day job and become a DJ full-time. Even though I had many fears, I threw myself into the arms of independence and owning myself fully. I have not regretted this step at all. Now I have more time to take full care of my own business and more time to practice my skills, as well as travel whenever I please, read as many books as I can, and participate in my favourite sports.
WORK HARD! Dare to face your fears and step out of your comfort zone. It is ok to have many sleepless nights at first. It is ok to be spoken down to at first. You have to always try to please your clients. You have to love your business and trust that the universe will grant you all the things you want and dream of if you put all your effort into it, and you really want it with all your heart.
HOW DO YOU KEEP MOTIVATED THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES?If I lose myself, I risk losing it all. I have had dreams and wishes that I have worked so hard to achieve for years. I need to keep striving. I need to be a good example for women who think they can't break free and be fully independent. I need to be that living example to show all women that we can accomplish anything if we want to and without any aid from anyone. No matter you're your circumstances are personally or professionally, don't be afraid to dare and strive to make it on your own. Yes, you can.
DO YOU HAVE A BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY?All my clients are important. I love them and respect them and try my best to create the best memories for their special occasions of which I am privileged to be part of. I have to face my fears and get the job done anyways. I have to experience new things I have never experienced before, and accept walking through the open doors and thank the universe for everything.
"I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself." - D. H Lawrence