Cairo’s party scene is diverse and unpredictable, and with so many cultural influences making up the vibe it’s easy to find something to one’s liking in Egypt’s capital.
DJ Tito, known for his funk-influenced house music nights at Cairo Jazz Club, has decided to take the scene to the next level.
Launching his own brand of parties under the name “Nacelle” (Star Trek fans will know this means the parts of a starship containing the components of its warp drive), the Canadian-born Egyptian DJ adds a missing layer to summer house nights in Cairo. He provides his crowds more than just music, guaranteeing them the right atmosphere and the right company as well.
Nacelle is a relatively young project, only starting in December last year. Tito, the project manager and creator, had two concepts in mind. “Basically, I wanted to change the image of the DJ into that of an artist, rather than a Top 40 playlist player,” says Tito. “The other thing was to open up a few of the other venues in Cairo. Only a limited number of venues in the city regularly host a DJ, but there are many other places in Cairo that could work as a DJ spot.”
The idea was to simply create a name for series of parties that fans of hip events would trust and appreciate. The parties take place in different venues, but always have the same lively atmosphere. According to Tito, three elements are needed to ensure that a party is not a flop: a good, fresh venue, a talented DJ to spin the music, and the right crowd to mingle among. Tito’s new brand of parties aim to combine these three elements by introducing a new venue each time but bringing along the same crowd. “An open-minded, hip and smart group of people,” says Tito, “people you would like to join on the dance floor or chitchat with while having a drink.”
Sitting in Orchid Restaurant on the Trianon Boat on the Giza Cornish, Al-Masry Al-Youm was speaking with Tito while a young crowd started to fill the place in anticipation of the vocal house night. Some arrivals interrupted the interview to greet Tito; others waved a quick “hi” before heading to one of the tables and ordering a fast bite before the party commenced.
“Tito inspired me with the concept of a vocal house night,” says DJ Ramsi, who shares the control panel at Wednesday’s Nacelle party. “It is mainly vocal, soulful, funky house music. But I realized it’s much harder than I thought it would be. You need to pick up on what stands out to maintain the performance.”
DJ Ramsi knows the crowd is here to listen to house music, and they will be happy with what he offers, but both he and DJ Tito want to introduce their fans to a new genre. Indeed, some of the people arriving at the party are not sure what “vocal house” is in the first place. But the party goers seem to relish the beats.
“I trust DJ Tito and DJ Ramsi’s taste in music,” says Salma, standing at the bar among her friends. “They know how to rock the boat.”
Nacelle was going monthly until earlier this month when Tito started a weekly-residency at Orchid Restaurant. “I try to bring in a different DJ for each of the four parties I’m doing here,” says Tito, adding that his last date there is on 30 June, after which he will head to el-Sahel for a one-off party before taking the summer off.
Branching outside of the usual nightspots in Cairo is the main goal of Nacelle, but through Tito’s initiative house party fans can safely explore these fresh spots knowing they’ll still meet up with the usual Cairo scene suspects to enjoy their night.
