DJ Big Al.......Don't Let The Name Fool You, He's Greater Than Big!!!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007 
DJ Big Al is name that is known and respected in the fast-growing club scene of Scotland. It is a name that has also started to make a global presence. DJ Big Al is an innovator and a deejay with vision and drive. He has not only been in the industry since he was 11 years old, but he is also creative force when it comes to technology. Al sports the title DJ, yet he is also a master at video remixing! This is cutting edge in terms of the club scene and Al is right up there with the best of them! When an artist has been given their namesake by Hip-Hop royalty Fatman Scoop, that is truly equivalent to being knighted with a "Sir"!! As the story goes according Big Al, Scoop stated "Now Al, he's a short little guy but we call him Big Al 'cos he's big in the streets". That is no word of a lie. Big Al is in high demand in the Scottish club scene and news of his greatness is starting to spread across the pond. He and his DJ partner Hesky have been called upon to do gigs all over, including one of the most prestigious nightclubs in India called Elevate, in Delhi. DJ Big Al has worked with an impressive set of power players in the Hip Hop recording industry including: the lovely Nelly Furtado, The Game, Busta Ryhmes, Lloyd Banks, Chamillionaire, Obie Trice, Fatman Scoop, Snoop Dogg, Montell Jordan and he has performed at afterhours parties for the likes of Justin Timberlake, 50 Cent, and Jay-Z.
DJ Big Al with Jay-Z
Big Al is passionate about what he does and his enthusiasm spills forth into his work. Al said if you aren't in love with what you do as a DJ, you will never survive the politics of the industry. The addiction to music has to run deep and only the most talented will survive. With this survival will naturally come the evolution of style and DJ Big Al's style is mostly street/hard Hip Hop,as seen in his classics "What Up American Woman" and "Shake Da Funk". Both are extremely hawt and raw remixes, but worth adding to your collection. There is some seriously wicked mixing done in both these songs. However, after appreciating his work over several weeks, Al's creativity shines through with his integration of some classics and old skool into his mixes. He has a fantastic example of this in his mix called "The Way I Word Up". It's a great kick back to the golden years of Hip Hop. Yet, the complexity of Al's mixing continues to go deeper than that and I feel his work truly exemplifies just how knowledgeable this deejay is of music. He is not afraid to push the envelope and give his fans a sample of something different and unorthodox to dance or listen to.
Several of his recent creations reflect Reggaeton and Tribal undertones throughout the mixes. Is it an unconscious cultural aspect of Big Al's heritage influencing his creations? Is it a certain rhythm and base beat that appeals to both Big Al and the Scottish club-going public? It's hard to say. Would these songs fly in The States or beyond?? I would argue yes, as I feel that his mixes Calabria Work 2007 and Mas Quenada Temperatur share similarities to the very popular Latino remixes found within the club scene in both The States and Europe. DJ Big Al may not have physical height, but he has incredible power to hold a crowd and take them to new heights in their nightlife experience. DJ Big Al is not into the "glamor" of the business and has a rather quirky sense of humor, which he shares with his affiliate and "partna in crime" DJ Hesky. On even the busiest of nights, these artists still can find a moment to lighten the mood with some good old-fashioned fun and camaraderie within the club!! In the end, being real and genuine, is extremely important to DJ Big Al.
Even DJ Big Al noted himself ,"One important thing to remember at this point is that where I live, people are not used to a so called 'Hollywood' style of mixing. i.e cross genre but with turntable skills. So, it's been a long process trying to push through what I do, but we are getting there now. " The "Hollywood" ultra-lounge club scene is not as popular in certain parts of the U.K. and people are a bit more laid back.....but times are changing and the people are demanding more! DJ Big Al is delivering the goods and he is bringing a cultural shift in perspectives within the Scottish nightlife scene. His VJ remixing is completely hawt and that is a key component of Al's career that is starting to capture the attention of the industry powerhouses. The VJ world is where the heat is now. This is THE new thrust in the club world and we may just be in the presence of a grand influence in the birth of a new genre. DJ Big Al's work can be found through his MySpace site, http://www.djbigaltv.com/ and also through Dramamix. In order to get into DJ Big Al's groove, you've got to sample his multi-media assault on your senses. Be sure to check out not only Al's Bio and exclusive Fetty Be's Buzz DJ Survey, but take the time to open his video remixes and performance clips. See first-hand why in the world we are so stoked about the creative works of DJ Big Al....who in our opinion is greater than BIG!!!!
DJ Big Al Bio Information
I started DJing and collecting records at the age of 11. Came up the hard way doing every little party I could from weddings to birthday school dances you name it. I feel this helped me to learn how to read a crowd and I'm pretty thankful for those days in hindsight.
Took a good few years away from DJing after high school and went to college and gained qualifications in Music Technology and Commercial Music.
Started then to get into production and making mash ups and it was a CD full of mash ups given to a club instead of a traditional DJ demo that got me my first residency in Glasgow (Scotland). This was around 2003.
I quickly gained more and more gigs and became a go to guy for Hip Hop and R&B in the city. I always tried to set myself apart by playing my own remixes and edits of records to maximise crowd response and stay a step ahead of other DJs.
As more and more club opportunities opened up for me I was able to start taking all the music I love and putting it in the mix. Classic rock, house 80's, hip hop, reggae were chopped up throughout a typical set.
As my profile as a club DJ grew I was invited to open for artists including:
The Game
Busta Ryhmes
Lloyd Banks
Chamillionaire
Obie Trice
Opening For Chamillionaire
More videos from the "djbigal's channel" channel at Heavy.com
Montell Jordan
Fat Man Scoop (It was actually Scoop that gave me my name, when he saw how short Iwas he gave a drop calling me Big Al. "Now Al he's a short little guy but we call him Big Al 'cos he's big in the streets" and possibly the the highlight of my career to date opening for the legendary Snoop Dogg at a sold out arena of a 6000 capacity show(see vid).
Opening For Snoop Dogg
DJ Big AL and friend DJ Hesky
In addition to this, Al has played at every major urban music venue in Scotland and graced the decks at exclusive afterhours parties for the likes of : 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake and Jay Z . He and his DJ "partna in crime" Hesky, were recently flown to India to play at one of the country’s most prestigious night spots (Elevate, Delhi)
Playing In India
More videos from the "djbigal's channel" channel at Heavy.com
An accomplished re-mixer, Al’s mash ups, blends and re-edits have recently become available to purchase worldwide through US based online store www.dramamix.com. Orders from around the globe have been flooding in and MP3s have been mailed as far a field as Hong Kong and New York.
No stranger to radio, Al has been a resident expert for BBC 1Xtra’s TXU show where he was called upon to cast a critical ear over the weeks new releases.
One important thing to remember at this point is that where I live people are not used to a so called 'Hollywood' style of mixing. i.e cross genre but with turntable skills so it's been a long process trying to push through what I do but we are getting there now. 
I always got a buzz out of trying to make a hip hop rock out to house music, rock music, etc
At this point I am one of the most in demand DJs in the country. I work constantly and hold residencies at the following clubs:
Karbon
Common
Kushion
Bamboo
DJ Big Al.....a man on the move!!!
I am so in demand in fact, that at NYE I will play one half of the night at Karbon then travel quickly across the city to guest at new nightspot Common :)
I am also a remixer for www.dramamix.com and that's where people can grab all the versions and edits of stuff that they here me playing out week after week.
My general outlook on DJing is that if you don't have love for the music and the art then sooner or later you'll hit a wall. There is sometimes so much bullshit that goes along with this job that if you don't have a love for actually getting down and spinning for people then you ain't gonna last.
DJ Big Al's Exclusive BUZZ SURVEY
1. What inspired you to pick your DJ name?
The man, the legend Fat Man Scoop gave it to me when i first met him. When doing my drop he came with, "Now Al is a short little guy, but we call him BIG AL 'cos he's big in the streets"
2. What kind of music do you like to spin?
Cliche I know, but good music. A good record is a good record, no matter the genre.
3. What and who are some of your major influences (artists, DJs etc)
A whole bunch of DJs but mainly Stonerokk and AM, skills + programming genious. Everyime i hear either i just wanna go practice and step my game up.
4. Biggest reward about being a DJ?
Providing the perfect to someone's night out.
5. Biggest pet peeve about being a DJ?
People telling me how to do my job who are A) Drunk and B) don't know what they are talking about.
6. What is the best party you ever spun at?
Club Elevate in India. Opening for Snoop didn't suck either.
7. If you could mix at a club or party anywhere where would it be and with whom?
Hmmmmmm Megan Fox's bachelorette party.
8. In what cities have you spun? Are you a resident at any clubs right now?
Every city in Scotland and currently resident at Kushion, Karbon, Common and Bamboo in Glasgow. 
9. What's the hottest club you have been to as a patron or a DJ?
Probably Elevate in India just a great vibe and open air is always cool.
10. Do you plan your sets or do you play to the crowd?
I have little routines i do that i know work but generally i just keep my head up and read the crowd.
11. If you could design a club name 3 important aspects of it's layout
Massive sound system, big DJ booth complete with it's own fully stocked bar :)
12. Techno/Trance or Mash-up/Hip-hop?
i'll squeeze it all in on a good night
13. East or West coast?
of Scotland? lol West :)
14. MAC or PC
What's a PC?
15. Top favourite 3 tracks of all time
Arrrrrrrrrrrgh HEAD EXPLODES!!!!
DJ Big Al
Web- http://www.djbigaltv.com/
MySpace - www.myspace.com/deejaybigal
DJ Big Al - Calabria Work 2007 MP3: http://www.zshare.net/audio/4151133e1f7bc8/
Ooh babies...we are bringing you Hawt DJ's from all the way across the Atlantic!!! AND...
Keeping the beat on a global scale!!!
Fetty Be
xoxo
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