Disco-Tech: The CJC Party Series Bridging Tech-House & Disco In MENA
We caught up with co-creator of Disco-Tech, Shady Tourbay, uncovering how the party series got its start, where it’s heading and what projects like this mean for the MENA dance music scene.
In the suburbs of Cairo, Disco-Tech, a community-based party series, was brought to life by a like-minded group of creatives and electronic music heads from one of the most popular venues in Egypt, Cairo Jazz Club 610. The series, dedicated to spotlighting the intersection of tech-house and disco; that warm sweet spot between heavy and funky peppered with the soulfulness of 90s disco tunes, has recently made its regional debut with a takeover in Amman.
What started as an impromptu Christmas party in December 2022 on CJC 610’s terrace, has quickly grown into a full-fledged party series with a massive cult-following. Inspired by Denis Sulta’s Boiler Room setup, Shady Tourbay, the Entertainment Bookings Manager of CJC LLC., and Moenes, a resident DJ, wanted to recreate that intimate and cosy atmosphere where the DJ booth is in the centre surrounded by the audience. “We wanted to create a sense of belonging; a community of like-minded people coming together for the love of music, socialising and experiencing the nightlife scene in a different way,” Shady Tourbay, co-creator of Disco-Tech and Entertainment Booking Manager of CJC LLC, tells SceneNoise.
The shimmering lights of a disco ball suspended in the air, unmasked frequencies and good energy are what contribute to the magical experience of the Disco-Tech party series, and it remains a consistent vibe in every one of their events, regardless of who’s on the line-up or which country it’s being held in. “Rather than it just being another party, the aim of this series is to focus on building an established community of people who want to listen to fresh sounds, all while enjoying partying in a safe space, where talent can grow, and people can come together to foster new relationships, connections and new networking opportunities,” Tourbay says.
After developing over the past two years to become a fixture in CJC 610’s events calendar, the Disco-Tech experience made it past Egypt’s borders for the first time last August, with a takeover event at The Village in Amman, Jordan, presenting 12 hours of non-stop grooves across four venues, with an eclectic lineup of talented selectors, including the party series resident DJs, Jess and Moenes, alongside Shalaby, Muze, Rere, Fouad B2B Zmali, Mazen A and more. “This collaboration felt like a milestone for us as well as a personal achievement, as it was the first time CJC went abroad. It has definitely paved the way for many regional and international collaborations to come in the future,” Tourbay shares.
Regardless of where Disco-Tech is showcasing, the party series is always recognized for its inclusive lineups that are rooted in introducing rising DJs to a bigger audience, by allowing them to share the stage with global headliners. Last July, the Disco-Tech Experience took over CJC’s North Coast pop-up series at Seashore, Ras El Hekma, bringing in a blend of international and regional acts, including Rossi, Robbie Doherty, Joella Jackson, and EJ b2b Ronin - from Lebanon’s Retrogroove. And, just last month, September 2024, Disco-Tech teamed up with El Gouna’s party series Playhaus, for a special collaborative showcase at CJC 610 headlined by London’s maestro Dr. Banana, who was joined on the lineup by local favourites like Hermit, Messery, Joey, Jess and Moenes.
“We want to create a global community that unites together over the love of music and the Disco-Tech Experience,” Tourbay says. The Village Amman takeover seems to be only the start of Disco-Tech's naturally embryonic journey, as of the end of this year, on December 7th, the party series is set to participate in the Nite Program for the 2024 edition of MDLBEAST’s XP Music Futures - the region’s largest music summit, reflecting Disco-Tech’s rapidly-growing footprint in the MENA music scene.
Besides that, there are a lot of exciting collaborations with regional and international venues and collectives in the pipeline for the party series. Stay tuned for the official announcements soon.
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