Shadia Bseiso

Beautiful, brash and brilliant is the only way to describe this dynamic, gifted DJ... Shadia Bseiso infuses hip-hop and RnB with her irresistible blend of potent intelligence, sensuality and inspired talent. For some people, it’s a dream to become a DJ, but her hard work has paid off making it a reality …

Shadia Bseiso, the Female DJ creating all this buzz. Have you always been involved with music? What first drew your attention to becoming a DJ?
My mom encouraged my sisters and I to study music at a very young age. Music became such a big part of my life and I knew I wanted to continue in this path – I just didn’t know what I wanted to do exactly. When I was in high school I interned at a local radio station and discovered how fun the radio world is and how much I would love to have a career in radio. After a 2 year internship I landed my first radio show: a one-hour weekly Hip Hop & RnB show that I started in Jordan and a year later became syndicated in both Lebanon and Syria. The radio show was a hit! I was the only radio presenter on-air in three different countries every week. I started getting requests to DJ at club events and concerts. People liked what they heard on-air and wanted to see me perform live – that’s how I started DJ-ing.

Do you find the industry male dominated? Does this impact your career as a female DJ?
The DJ industry in the Middle East is without doubt male dominated. However, that has had very little impact over my career.

How accepting was your family regarding your career choice? What have been the biggest barriers that you’ve had to overcome in your career?
My family has always supported me. I recently realized that without theirsupport I wouldn’t have been able to come as far as I have. They support my work in radio and events and have always made me feel like a star. One of the biggest challenges for me was learning how to work with event promoters that don’t deliver on their promises.

Do these barriers hinder, or drive you?
After I overcome the disappointment over a particular bad situation, I take all measures that ensure I won’t find myself in the same situation again. Barriers become an interesting challenge.

I heard you also have an amazingly popular radio show, tell us a bit about that?
I host a 3-hour live show called The Virgin Mix on Virgin Radio Jordan. Virgin Radio International is one of the fastest growing companies in Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group with many radio stations around the world including Bangkok, Dubai, Toronto, Milan and now Jordan. Going on-air every night and hearing from all the fans that tune in and have a loyal following to my show is so much fun!

Would you say your music choices are swayed towards the women? Do you think men and women respond differently to music? I think each individual regardless of gender responds to music in a unique way. This is what is so special about music. My music choices are based on the nature of the event and the audience. However, I recently realized that no matter where I’m DJing – from India, Algeria to Amman – we all party to the same music! Tell us about the different countries you have worked in… I have performed several times in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Lebanon, Cyprus, Damascus, Aleppo, India, Algeria and of course my hometown Amman. What has been the highlight of your career so far? I have opened for 50 Cent in Beirut and Dubai, Sean Paul in Jordan and Cyprus, Akon in Bahrain at the Formula 1 Official after part, and also hosted his concert in Jordan.

All of these shows were very special and memorable.To get booked with an international artist once is fantastic. But to get booked again and again with the same artist whenever they have a show in the Middle East is one of the biggest highlights of my DJ career so far.

Have you always been as ambitious and productive as you are today?
I am continuously inspired to dream BIG. I think the key is self motivation, doing something you love and doing absolutely everything you have to do, to become successful at it.

Do you feel that as a female DJ, you ought to put out a positive portrayal of women in the Middle East?
I get a lot of exposure because of the nature of the work I do: radio presenting & DJing. People find both careers very interesting and follow what I do. I feel privileged because of people’s admiration and interest. However, this comes with great responsibility. I am careful about my image and I am concerned about the positive portrayal of professional, working women in the region especially in a field as unique as DJing.

What advice would you give to ‘up and coming’ female DJs?
Regardless of gender or profession, the key to success in my opinion are the 3Ps: passion, persistence and perseverance.

I know you have a lot of work to do so we are going to let you go for now, but before we do... Are there any shout outs or anything you would like to add?
Big thank you to Dear Guest magazine for this interview! Thank you to everybody who continues to support me – the reason why I continue to do my radio show and DJ at events is because you want to hear me on-air and see me perform at events – I really appreciate that.