Tag: ayah marar

INTERVIEW: Ayah Marah (2013)

You’ve heard Ayah Marar’s voice, but you might know who she is just yet.? She sang on three tracks from Calvin Harris’ last album (“Ready For The Weekend,? ?Stars Come Out,? and ?Flashback?) and is the featured vocalist on the club hit “Thinking About You.”? After gaining critical acclaim in the UK, her debut album is getting a full US release previewed by the progressive pop jam “Beg Borrow Steal,” which we wrote up here.? However, the album is a complete mash of EDM styles, especially when she goes back to her drum and bass roots.? Listening to the tracks, you will definitely realize why she is a “Hustle Girl.”

RS: I love the name of your label, where did the name Hustle Girl come from??
Ayah Marar: ? I am a hustle girl. It originally came from Jay-Z?s song about the hustle girl and from there it turned into Hussle Girl.

RS: Did you learn a lot from creating Lucky Devil Records?
Ayah Marar: I did, I founded it so I didn?t really have a choice. A couple of friends and I were DJs at the time and we used to run a drum & bass night together which turned into a record label. We ended up signing a few guys who are now big on the drum & bass and dubstep scene in the UK.?
Continue reading INTERVIEW: Ayah Marah (2013)

SONG OF THE DAY: Ayah Marar – “Beg Borrow Steal”

You may not know her name, but you will definitely recognize her voice.? Ayah Marar sang (and cowrote) Calvin Harris’ most recent hit “Thinking About You.”? For the lead US single from her debut album, “Beg Borrow Steal,” Ayah creates a similar vibe with a bit more of a pop edge.? The chorus has my trainspotter brain going crazy – making me think of Fergie’s “Big Girl” as well as Bruno Mars “Just the Way You Are.”? Ayah sounds great, but if I were to make one critique it would be that the backing vocals almost cross that cheesy line.? Well, that and that my favorite remix, Looney B’s, is a dub rather than containing vocals, though the remixer gets points for the comical name and makes me wonder if it’s Lenny B in disguise.? DJs looking for a vocal mix should go right to DSC CHK mix which has all the right elements in place and works for primetime.? By the way, if you get a chance to see Ayah perform live – do it.? When she performed at Promo Only Summer Sessions, she won the crowd.? And no one else can rock a top knot cone bun like she can.

Image Courtesy of Radikal.

Notable Dance Podcast #026

Audio Jacker – I Need You
Mike Mago – The Show (Vocal)
Mark Knight & D Ramirez v Underworld – Downpipe
Plastik Funk – Need Somebody
DJ Dan & Groovebox – HalfStepping
Doorly ft Soraya Vivian – Rush (Original)
Stanton Warriors – Cut Me Up
Quintino & Moti ft Taylr Renee – Dynamite
Zomboy – Bad Intentions
Ayah Marar – Beg Borrow Steal (Looney B)
Kid Massive, WeSmile & Databoy – Daylight
Tydi ft Kerli – Somehting About You
Rivaz – #1 Colors
Don Diablo & Matt Nash ft Noonie Bao – Starlight (LX Tronix)
Walden – First Day