DJ HAMZA (BIO)
www.hamzarahimtula.com
www.myspace.com/djhamza
Hailing from New Delhi, Hamza has attained a reputation as a pioneer of the house scene in India and one of the more innovative and exciting up-and-coming producers today. Hamza's diverse international sound is influenced from his strong musical background as well as growing up in India and traveling the world, living in Paris, Boston, and New York. Exposure to renowned house DJs such as Terry Francis, Dave Mothersole, DJ Heather, and Danny Teneglia inspired Hamza to create his own electronic dance productions. Soon he found a unique style of house music combining deep, tribal, and funky sounds with strong world music influences.
At the age of 27 Hamza has already worked with some of the biggest names in world music. These artists include Punjabi icon Jasbir Jassi and David Hykes, the only western vocalist specializing in sacred Mongolian chants. Besides these artists, Hamza has also worked with Taz from Stereo Nation, the largest selling Indian pop fusion act ever.
To further nourish this growing production repertoire, Hamza has set up his own label Wind Horse Records. While in New York, Hamza did his Masters in Music Business at New York University, which gave him a very strong foundation and insight into how to creatively promote his own music. Wind Horse Records, the first Indian house music label, is a major part of that vision. Hamza has recently launched the label with his own Sufi Soul EP, containing three original world music influenced house music jewels. The Sufi Soul EP's vibrant, tribal sound earned the notice and accolades of many new fans including Dubfire (Deep Dish), Peter Kruder (Kruder & Dorfmeister), Richie Hawtin, Quentin Harris, and Tom Findlay (Groove Armada).
Hamza is also a top notch DJ, bringing his fresh sound to dancefloors from New York to Portugal, Boston to Hyderabad, Paris to Pune. His sets typically start with his signature deep house sound, heavily influenced by Latin/Afro/World flavors, before developing into powerful tribal and electro-progressive influenced beats perfect for the peak time. Hamza's unmistakable style, combined with many of his own productions, create memorable DJ sets that turn many clubbers into instant fans and followers.
Currently Hamza is working on expanding his base in New Delhi to include regular stays in Europe and North America to allow for global partnerships and yearly DJ tours in different parts of the world. His vision is unstoppable, as Hamza has recently formed two different live acts with two different percussionists: Jasu Khan, a famous Rajasthani percussionist, and Manu Idhra, a Portuguese master of dance music percussion. As for Wind Horse Records, an EP recorded with David Hykes is imminent, and future releases feature fantastic world music artists such as Yungchen LLamo of Real World Records and female Indian classical maestro Sunanda Sharma. Wind Horse will also be including remixes from highly regarded producers from the west like Asad Rizvi and Namito.
Hamza has established himself as one to keep a close eye on in the house music scene. With his impressive list of past and upcoming projects as well as fiery worldwide DJ performances Hamza is quickly becoming an important and influential talent in his own right. Through Wind Horse Records and his inventive east-west fusions Hamza is working to bring the world closer to his listeners, one beat at a time.
