March 14, 2024
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We spoke to Recording Artist, Writer, Record Producer & Engineer, @batawi_
Batawi, through unyielding passion for music, has been able to incorporate his diverse skillset to present music that highlights a spectrum of genres, from Hiphop and R&B to House colored.
If you’re here for the provoking lyrics & pop sensibility, then brace yourself to find out about his entrepreneurial side as the Founder of @leilaentertainment , his deejaying at the age of 15, and his experience working with Composer Adel Hakki.
It is often said that your inner child always knows the way.
How did music show up in your childhood?
Music gave me a safe space to express myself and create worlds after my dad passed away as I turned 13. It’s been the most consistent thing in my existence: an unconditional gift. I’d make playlists for my friends' parties and burn them to CDs.
I started DJing at 15 and got a lot of love early doing proms and house parties. My mom got me ridiculously expensive Pioneer CDJs which is pretty crazy thinking back, and I actually made all the money back from those events. I was able to pay my mom back within one year.
Cairo Jazz Club invited me to play, and I was 15 at the time.
I started doing mashups and bootlegs and linked up DJ Samba, who put me on to Ableton, and that’s when I started making beats.
At the age of 17, I graduated highschool and made it to the finals of the Red Beats Student DJ competition.
(They told me not to tell anyone how old I was because the event was sponsored by Philip Morris, and I was obviously underage.)
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PR & branding can make or break an artist.
What is the ethos you seek to establish when it comes to your personal branding?
Being real. Uncompromising quality with my music. The freedom to Stay Curious. Mixing genres and being fearless.
I’m learning how to communicate visually and excited to work with talented people who are equally engaged in their fields like photography and film.
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Where do you find success?
When I like what I hear when I turn my music up.
All About Leila:
While studying entrepreneurship in Tampa, Florida, my friend Amr & I started an entertainment and events company that hosted mixed media artists in one space: live painting, sculpting, bands, DJs all as alternative to parties centered around alcohol or hookup culture. We knew it was taking off when the big local club promoters showed up to the party and started hiring live painting at their own.
Leila Sound is the record label I then started and release my music under.
What is a skill, that you have acquired as you worked with Adel Hakki?
Work fast.
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Music” in one Word?​
Time.
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A song everyone should listen to is “Feel Like Makin Love” by Roberta Flack.
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If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?
My gripe is with the current economic landscape and entertainment industry in Egypt. I’d like to see a lot of things change and impact the community from an increasing position of agency.
Egypt used to be the cultural hub of the world. It's our duty to build on that. Currently, media production is pool of sub-par treatment and that’s regardless of education or background. There's no culture of accountability. Budget restraints are placed on the projects to ensure the largest ROI for the company at the cost of the art. The job is literally to save as much possible, milking each project, which is often in conflict with the director's vision and insults the audience.
We are all watching watered down financially driven projects, recycled drama and slapstick comedy. There are the occasional rare performances but you can't build an ecosystem on an exception.
The creative censorship and baseless conditions made by certain organizations are out of touch obstacles that pay no respect to the genre or the medium. Growth comes from integrity and accountability, and there's no space to do that if we can't courageously have these conversations.
Make the music and art you want to make. Live your dream, don't live in your dreams.