Out and About STYLE Mag Issue 3 Vol. 2

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
My name is Saif Al Naji, but most
people know me as Saif and Sound
or just Saif for short. I’m 28 years old,
originally from Jordan, but I was born
and raised here in the UAE. I grew up in
Abu Dhabi, but a couple of years ago, I
moved to Dubai. I earned my Bachelor’s
Degree at the American University in
Dubai. I started DJing when I was 15
years old, as far as I remember. I’ve
been a die-hard music fan from a very
young age. At 18, I started working in
the radio industry.
TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT
YOUR CAREER SO FAR, HAVE
YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE
A PRESENTER AND DJ? WHAT
WAS THE DREAM?
Back when I started my Bachelor’s,
I didn’t feel fulfilled. DJing was not
enough, and at that time, I couldn’t do
a lot of gigs or concerts, because one
needs to be over 21 to obtain a license
to be a DJ at some venues. I didn’t
have a big name, and I was on my own
when I started.
I always listened to the radio and Radio
1 was my favourite station, it still is. I
took a chance by sending them a letter
expressing my interest in an internship.
Surprisingly, they accepted my request
and brought me in for three months. I
used to go straight after classes to the
radio station, stayed a couple of hours
with the presenters, and learned all
the ins and outs of this job. After three
months, they offered me a freelance
contract, although I had no experience
in radio. Three months wasn’t enough
to learn all the skills, but they saw the
hunger and passion I had. They took a
chance on me a year later, offered me
a full-time contract and that’s when the
Saif and Sound Empire started.
I wanted to be a DJ more than a
presenter. I knew from day one that I
wanted to do something that has to do
with music. Back then, it was DJing that
I wanted to develop. That’s why I started
producing music, but then the radio
just kinda fell on my lap, and it was the
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perfect fit for me. I only realised that later
because radio combined music with the
media element. I studied journalism
and media at university. It’s the perfect
combination for all my interests to come
together in one job.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR CAREER
HIGHLIGHT TO DATE?
That’s a very broad question. The
highlight is really looking back at my life
when I started DJing in my bedroom.
I was watching videos of other DJs,
other media personalities, producers,
headlining festivals, starting their own
projects, interviewing celebrities going
on tour, and so on.
I used to get goosebumps in my
bedroom, thinking about being in that
position. It was an unreachable dream
at that time, but when I look at my life
right now, and I’m actually doing what
I dreamed of maybe ten years or so
years ago. It happened so fast because
in the past couple of years, I’ve been
busy and focused on my career, job,
and perfecting my craft.
It’s overwhelming to achieve those
dreams that I’ve set for myself. Now,
I didn’t really set it, it just happened.
It was always in the back of my head
and this is why I always try to be the
best and become a better version of
myself.
THE TYPICAL QUESTION
USUALLY IS, “IF YOU WERE NOT
A MEDIA PERSONALITY, WHAT
WOULD YOU BE DOING?”
HOWEVER, OUR QUESTION IS,
“WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING
IF THERE WAS NOTHING YOU
COULDN’T DO?”
I know for sure that if I wasn’t going
to be a DJ, I would do something
that has to do with music. I would still
be a performer. Maybe a singer, or a
rapper. Music is the backbone of my
life. What’s really funny is, no one in
my family is into music. When people
ask me how I got into this industry, my
answer is that I didn’t really get into
it—I think music found me.