TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. My name is Saif Al Naji, but most people know me as Saif <strong>and</strong> Sound or just Saif for short. I’m 28 years old, originally from Jordan, but I was born <strong>and</strong> 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, <strong>and</strong> 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, <strong>and</strong> I was on my own when I started. I always listened to the radio <strong>and</strong> 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 <strong>and</strong> 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, <strong>and</strong> learned all the ins <strong>and</strong> 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 <strong>and</strong> passion I had. They took a chance on me a year later, offered me a full-time contract <strong>and</strong> that’s when the Saif <strong>and</strong> 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, <strong>and</strong> it was the 46 perfect fit for me. I only realised that later because radio combined music with the media element. I studied journalism <strong>and</strong> 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, <strong>and</strong> 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, <strong>and</strong> 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 <strong>and</strong> focused on my career, job, <strong>and</strong> 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 <strong>and</strong> this is why I always try to be the best <strong>and</strong> 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.
47