SceneNoise Interview: Into The Tunnel With Fayek

In a city giving birth to 25-and-a-half DJs a minute, one certainly managed to stand out; Fayek – or Mohamed Medhat Fayek – has been able to carve his name on the almighty pillar of House and Techno, both overseas and right here at home. With regular appearances on one of the world's most prominent online international radio stations, Tunnel.FM, Fayek has been rubbing digital elbows with the greats of Dance music history. His radio show, Quarter Tone, on that same online radio station, is listed next to some of the world's most renowned music makers and their shows, like Get Physical, Suara, and Keine Musik. 

The latest episode of his radio show, mixed by him, is one to listen to while you're in the car, on the prowl between one party and the other. It starts off with a tight beat that will sustain your established euphoria until you find your targeted destination - if you don't, then worry not, because Fayek's first mix kicks in with an ethereal, Oriental vibe that will make you not want to leave the car. This Oriental, almost tribalistic sound is what Fayek claims to be his forte.

We caught up with Fayek for a quick one-on-one to find out more about the rising talent.

Fayek, lets start by asking, when did you first get into DJing?

I never thought I would be doing this seriously. I was 18 when I first thought about it, but back then a mixer looked like a spaceship to me. The Student DJ program and its director, Marc Wahba, were the first point, and what pushed me to start learning to mix.

When was the crucial point that brought you forth and after which people started listening to your music?

I always kept a fresh stock of good music; after participating in the Student DJ program, people started to give a listen. The first party I ever played was with Brazilian duo Dash Dot, as part of Electrum Records Audiotechture series. It was a packed party, and one of the best parties I ever played, and it all started from there.

We understand that you first started gaining prominence on online radio stations like Tunnel.FM; how did it feel to have your music on the airwaves for the first time?

I first played aas a guest on Tosle and Hale's show on Tunnel.FM, then on Manos and Raphael Cerato's show as a guest also, after which the owner of Tunnel.FM agreed on giving me my own radio show. Of course, at that point it felt amazing, especially to be airing on the same radio station as great shows such as Get Physical, Suara Records, Kiene Musik and Stereo Productions.

Were there any times when you were about to give up on DJing before? Why?

No, since I started I never stopped and never looked back. I learned from every person I met along the way, and now here I am.

Who are the people that helped you the most?

Abou Samra, Marc Wahba, and Aly B.

If you could play one festival in the world, which one would you pick?

Time Warp, Mannheim.Student DJ to you is the...?

The start, or the beginning.

Who's your favourite artist?

Guy Gerber, and Apollonia.

And your favourite genre?

Deep House and Techno. I have my own sound between these two; I have a signature sound that I like, and it appears in several genres between these.

Favourite track at the moment?

Good Guy Mikesh - Corone

If you could live in one city in the world, where would you go?

Barcelona.

Would you consider the music scene in Egypt now to be better or worse than 10 years ago?

Much better; 10 years ago there was no scene, or it was very small. Nacelle started the House scene in Egypt.

Your latest set starts off with a deep vibe and then hits on several Oriental, maybe even tribalistic vibes. This is found in many of your sets; is there something about this kind of music that draws you?

All of my sets include this Oriental vibe, or this tribal chanting sound, and this is what I like to include in my sets to give them some kind of unique sound that is mine. I make these sets for people to listen in their cars or when they are moving from one party to the other, not peak times.

Who's your favourite Egyptian DJ?

They are all good.

We are going to give you the power to rank your favourite parties in Egypt into categories...

Best quality: ByGanz. Hardest workers: Nacelle. Most fun: Blurr. My favourite place to play: Zigzag. Most crowded: B2B. 

What's been your favourite night so far in 2016?
Anja Schenijder and And.ID at Blurr, Cairo a few month back.

Follow Fayek on Facebook here, and check out his online radio show on Tunnel.FM here, every third Friday of every month at 6 PM CET.