Written by Marco Bombaci

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AMAVI is a multitalented Dj that experiments with anything from deep and melodic genres, to hard-hitting Techno. Over the years AMAVI has graced his soul in a diverse range of styles of music, anywhere from Classical to Rock, Hip Hop to Hardstyle and Trance. Originally from Newcastle NSW, and now residing in Sydney, AMAVI found his calling when traveling to Ibiza in 2016, and with the aid of a vast range of styles and influences from many years of being a lover of music, combined, all these facets have moulded him to be one of the most diverse and unique artists in the Australian scene! 

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Come with me as I step Behind The Decks with AMAVI

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You’re originally from Newcastle NSW, and made the move to Sydney quite a number of years ago, did you find the change has increased your exposure?

It has definitely increased my exposure and I’m grateful every day I made the leap and started a new life in Sydney, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve half of what I have now if I didn’t take that chance!

 

When did it all come together for you, and what made you realise that you wanted to pursue a career as a DJ? 

As far as I can remember DJs have been a huge influence in my life and I would spend ridiculous amounts of money just to see one artist because of the feeling and emotions I felt listening to them play. I guess I wanted to give that back to others that need it just as much as I do. I think this is a feeling that developed over a long period of time, I use music as a coping mechanism for a lot of things, hence the variety of genres (I like to play). When I feel emotional I like to listen to more uplifting styles and specific artists. Sometimes when I just need to take a moment and reset, I listen to Hip Hop and RnB. 

 

Let’s chat about your first trip to Ibiza in 2016… tell us about that journey and who you saw play during your time on The White Isle.

I was talking to my good friend Luke and he recommended adding it to my euro trip, I sent him a bunch of flyers on who was playing at the time and he told me to go to Space Sunday’s to see John Digweed. I knew nothing about House, Melodic, Techno at this stage so I had no idea what I was walking into. When Digweed started I was well and truly deep in the Ibiza way of partying haha! I remember watching Digweed playing, feeling the energy he was projecting to the crowd and watching the spotlights stopping on people, it was almost as if he was taking them to a higher place, IDK haha sounds weird but was definitely a moment that I’ll never forget!

It wasn’t until the set after these two guys were playing and they dropped a track Monoplay - Anymore [Manuel tur remix] and it blew me away! I was so happy sitting at the back on a stool because I couldn’t dance anymore. A few people were still on the dance floor cheering when the vocals came in and yeah, that song stuck in my head for 4 months, and then I found it hahaha! I was hooked from that moment.

 

You have previously stated that you used to be into both Hardstyle and Trance genres. What inspired the change into the more melodic genres?

It was another journey in itself to where I am today!

After seeing Digweed (in Ibiza) I delved deep into Techno had a huge love for Adam Beyer and Thomas Schumacher I have a huge habit of digging deep into the routes of labels and have a huge love for an older sound but after a while, I lost a lot of taste in “Modern Techno” and started branching out and finding more and more artists more styles sub-genres, etc and found a nice spot in the middle of hard-hitting techno but heart-wrenching melodic sounds.

 

Would you agree that you’re still not genre-biased in your sets?

Definitely not genre-biased I like to think I’m diverse in track selection but there’s a time and a place for music this is something I’m still learning.

 

Who are your current favourite artists? And which tracks are on heavy rotation in your sets? 

Marino Canal, everything about him as an artist is what I hope to achieve one day! Tbh I think I have only played one track twice and that is Marino Canal 'Her Perfect Sky' haha I like to stay fresh I guess, I feel like rinsing the same track in a set is lazy.

 

Is there a festival around the world that you would really love to play at?

To be honest I’m not that big into festivals anymore, I’m more of a club/after party kind of guy these days, it's a lot more intimate, I feel like DJs play differently and more passionately. In saying that there’s a lot, but a goal of mine is to play Sydney’s Home Night Club main room, nice deep melodic set on those speakers oooft!

 

What’s one bit of advice you have for up and coming DJs that you wish you were given?

Support your local promoters, go to gigs and find your sound don’t give into trends be different

 

Just before the global pandemic, you got a bit of a taste of Sydney just after the lockouts were lifted. Can you tell us what this was like?

Unfortunately, we weren’t given much time to recover from the lockouts just as we started celebrating about this achievement we were hit harder with the virus. I worry about the scene a lot and about our local promoters. I mean this is life and it has been crushed by the government and now this, like I said before once this is over support your local promoters ❤️
 

Can we expect to see any live streams from you during this COVID-19 lockdown?

I have been contemplating such now that the live stream bandwagon has cooled off a little 😂

 

What’s the thing you miss most about going out and playing to a crowd?

Happy faces and when a melody comes in that just takes people away

 

What is next for AMAVI, during, and post COVID-19?

Luckily enough I’m still employed but I’m just taking it day by day atm spending time with my girl started to tinker with Ableton so hopefully that evolves into something during and post COVID.

 

And finally, we ask all our guests the same closing question, what's the craziest thing you've seen from behind the decks?

Burning man last year playing on our art cart bixi 909, riding through the middle of the playa and seeing all of the lasers and flame throwers from all the stages on the esplanade would probably have to be the craziest

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