Een tijdje geleden kondigden we het debuutalbum van Aly & Fila aan. De review volgde niet veel later. Hierbij het verslag van het interview dat we met de heren hebben afgenomen!

1. Please inform us what the Trance scene is like in Egypt. How do two teenagers from Egypt get in touch with the Trance virus?

The trance scene is growing in Egypt, its mainly house, but our radio show Future Sound of Egypt is on Nile FM every week which creates more trance awaremess, we also played our album release party in Pacha Sharm el Sheik few 2 weeks ago.

2. In 2003 the single Eye of Horus was released, which became your first big success. Though most people really got in touch with the Aly and Fila sound when you played at A State Of Trance 300 in Den Bosch in 2007. This must have been a real breakthrough, playing for millions of people listening to the radio. (And the people really liked your set, because you were also voted to play at ASOT 350, 400 and 450 last April!)

Being asked to play ASOT 300 was a real breakthrough and honour. It was around the same time we also signed for our 1st management, was amaizng experience to play ASOT 300, one we thank the listeners and Armin for. To have played ASOT 350, 400 and recently 450 was a huge honour to play 4 years in row, many thanks everyone who helped to make it happen.

3. What do you guys think is the key to your success in these last few years? Is it that you have a special kind of sound in your own releases and in the remixes that you make. And could you please describe the “Aly and Fila sound” to the readers who don’t know you that well.

I think hard work and determination, in the early years we had a very distinct Egyptian sound in our music, Egyptian trance our manager calls it. Over the years we feel our music has developed more and more.

4. Nowadays you are travelling all over the world. Does the fact that you come from a country like Egypt make it more difficult when you are travelling than perhaps for Armin van Buuren who is coming from the Netherlands? Looking at everything that has happened the last 10 years between countries from the Western World and the Middle East!

To be honest it has never been a problem for us, our team around us has a system that works perfectly for last 3 years.

5. Speaking of travelling, what have you guys been doing lately and what’s in your schedule besides the Armada Night in Amsterdam on the 29th of May?

Been travelling a lot around the world to events in countries such as USA, Cyprus, Canada, Asia, Europe etc. After Armada Night we embark on Rising Sun Album Tour to Argentina and Chile then to Slovakia then to USA, Greece, Netherlands, Russia and summer dates worldwide.

6. The 3 hour set on the Armada Night in the Westerunie will be the release party of your new album, what else can we expect during that set besides some new tracks from the album?

A variety of new tracks and old tracks, of course showcasing tracks off the album but a mixture of different tracks from different producers and also off our Record label, Future Sound of Egypt Recordings.

7. The new album Rising Sun will be out on the 28th of May. What can we expect from this first Aly and Fila album?

There is a variety of different tracks from Downtempo to uplifting tracks.

8. Will there also be some new Aly and Fila remixes coming up?

We have just finished a new remix for Max Graham called Nothing Else Matters and we have a few more planned in 2010.

9. Have you thought about doing your own compilation album series, like a lot of other dj’s have done in the last few years?

We would look to do a compilation of our Record lavbel each year.

10. Recently you have joined Armada Music. What are your expectations for this collaboration?

The are brilliant to work with, so organised and pasionate, we really feel a part of the Armada Family.

11. You also have your own Label, Future Sound Of Egypt (FSOE). On this label you not only release your own records but also give a chance to upcoming talent. What can we expect from FSOE in the near future?

We always try to give up and coming producers an opportunity, there are some very talented people out there. We have new release every month from our regulars on the label such as Philippe el Sisi, Brave, Vast Vision, Neptune Project, Mark Andrez, Bjorn Akesson.

12. What do all those wannabe dj’s/producers all over the world have to do to become the new Aly and Fila? And off course, what would you advise them not to do!

We would advise to never ignore your fans, never get big headed, AND YOU should always listen to people around you.

13. The world of Dance Music is changing constantly, what do you predict your music and Trance in total will be like in a few years. Do you think that more of your colleagues will be making pop or house tracks like Tiësto is doing lately. Will vocal trance keep growing like it did the last few years?

While the Trance DJs are dominating the DJ Mag Top 100 chart Trance will always be popular even with mainstream people, there is so much talent there that the trance genre can keep on growing, I can see trance producers still to what they know best, TRANCE.

14. At the end maybe a personal note to the readers of musicincontrol.nl, is there anything you would like to say to them?

Big thanks to all the readers, thank for everyone support and wish you all a good day.

15. I wish you all the best for album release and hope will you keep up the good work you are doing for the Trance scene!

Many thanks for the kind words, and for having us on Music in Control!