Dhofar particularly Salalah is packed with lots of activities over the last two months. Thanks to the Khareef, the south of Oman has seen the needed rise in visits and events after two years of being pulled down the mud by the challenging Covid19.
Last weekend, a 10-year-old DJ has found her way to the grounds of Hawana Salalah to treat visitors within the wide complex to a night of fun and dancing.
DJ Michelle is a 10-year-old professional DJ based in Dubai who has competed internationally and has collected a series of awards at a very young age. She’s also played in some of the most challenging open-air events guided by her father, DJ Shock.
With her baggy shorts, loose shirt and cap worn in reverse, it’s apparent that she enjoys what she does. For a 10-year-old, she’s also quite aware and can handle a media interview all on her own.
“When I was really little, I saw my dad preparing for his DJ gig and at that time, I want to give it a try so I forced my dad to have me check it out. I press all the buttons from his DJing equipment and I had a blast,” she shared when asked how she got started in DJing.
“By the time I was five, I remember wanting to become a famous DJ. When my dad gifted me my own DJ equipment, I was so happy. My dad helped me learn the basic stuff and from there, I winged it on my own learning how to do mixes and scratches,” she shared.
Some of her memorable beats handed to the media included a mash-up of crowd favourites Butter by BTS and Move Ya Body by Nina Sky
and Tiesto’s The Business paired with Black Eyed Peas Vida Loca.
“I’m not attached to a specific kind of music. I like Alphabeats and old school RNB and hip hop,” she shared when asked what are her go-to beats.
“I had my first competition when I was six or seven. I didn’t get any place and didn’t make it into the finals but my dad did. He placed like second or third. The funny thing was, that competition, I didn’t even think the judges were professional enough, like none of them even know the basics of DJing but I took it as a challenge to be better,” she explained when asked what is tough about being a DJ.
“I joined France Got Talent a few years back but wasn’t successful in that endeavour. The judges called me out saying I was off-tempo but it was obvious they didn’t get what I was all about. I didn’t understand a lot of their feedback because they were speaking in French but I made a promise that I’m going to see them in Tomorrowland,” DJ Michelle shared.
“When I get a bit older, I want to play for Tomorrowland. It’s pretty cool but I also really want to participate in America’s Got Talent,” she said.
Other than that, DJ Michelle also set her eyes on becoming the world’s best DJ by winning the World DMC DJ Championship.
“The ultimate dream is to join the World DMC DJ Championship. It’s basically like the Olympics but for DJs. In the last two years, I competed for it but it was only online — I got 40th place and 9th place respectively in the last two years from about 100 professional DJs mostly adults who joined. My goal is to get first place this year,” she said.
Michelle doesn’t see her age as a hindrance to her dreams. In fact, she felt that it is an advantage as she is learning a lot along the way.
“For other kids or other people who would like to give DJing a try, it’s not just for adults or kids. It’s for everyone who has a passion for music. If you have that passion, never give up. Just keep doing it and learning until you get better,” she said.
“If you don’t get it the first time, just try again. For me, I tried it a million times until I finally got it. Believe in yourself, keep in your mind that nothing is impossible,” she added.
On the night of her performance in Salalah, the event attracted not just kids like herself but also adults who filled the marina of Hawana Salalah. Her selection of music not just taps into the eclectic passion of young crowds but also the nostalgia of the adults. At 10 and a long career ahead, DJ Michelle definitely is destined for amazing things. What is greater, is that she’s unapologetic in getting to where she wanted.
