Are you a day or a night person? The answer may determine whether you’ve heard of Marwan Parham Al Awadhi by his real name or by his pseudonym, DJ Bliss. What’s certain is that if you listen to the radio, watch TV or go gigging or clubbing in the UAE at all, then the chances are you’ll have heard of the Dubai-born 33-year-old, one way or another.
As DJ Bliss, Al Awadhi has spent the past decade establishing himself as one of the hardest-working men in UAE show business, an effort that has earned the DJ, TV presenter, radio host, actor, emcee and music producer a reputation beyond the UAE and an international list of friends, clients and collaborators that include the Jamaican dancehall star Shaggy and the former Fugees frontman Wyclef Jean.
The multi-talented Emirati met the multi-talented Haitian-American hip-hop icon in 2011 when they both performed at Abu Dhabi's Beats on the Beach. They met again during the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix in 2012 and then collaborated on April Showers, Wyclef's 2013 free internet mixtape, with Bliss featuring on several of the album's tracks, including the lead song, Writer's Block.
In January, Marwan Al Awadhi became the co-host of Channel 4 Radio's new wake-up show, Mornings with Marwan and Eve and, as he explains, it's a new direction that not only involves a punishing early-morning schedule, but a very different persona as well.
“Throughout my career I was DJ Bliss but before I started on the radio show I decided to create two separate profiles” he says. “I’d say that Marwan is the daytime me and that DJ Bliss is more night-time. They’re really two different people.”
Do you have any hobbies?
I started playing golf last year and now I’m in the process of setting up a little restaurant or cafe.
How do you describe yourself?
Maybe a Ryan Seacrest when it comes to being Marwan and somebody like a David Guetta when it comes to being DJ Bliss.
Do you have a favourite record?
It depends on what day of the week it is, how I’m feeling and how I want to feel.
What’s your favourite destination?
Right now, it’s definitely Los Angeles. It’s a great place to be if you’re in the entertainment business and it’s like Dubai.
How do you keep up-to-date?
I’m on the internet a lot and I do a lot of Googling.
What is your definition of luxury?
The thing I’m looking at at the moment is a private jet.
Do you have a favourite business or service?
My barber. I used to go to the same barber for four years ... but then he told me his business was closing down and that he was going to go back to his country. So I bought a shop that was closing down, hired him and started my own barber shop. It’s called Beats and Cuts.
Do you have a favourite piece of advice?
I read a quote the other day that said: “Be kind to negative people because they need love the most.”
What do you do to relax?
I like to sit at home on my sofa watching TV shows that I’ve already seen. I sometimes do a little bit of meditation as well.
So what’s your favourite TV show?
Entourage.
Who’s your favourite DJ?
I’d say DJ Jazzy Jeff. He puts on such a great show. It’s a performance, it’s about skill and he still plays on vinyl. It’s not just about playing all the new stuff.
nleech@thenational.ae
THE BIG THREE
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m
ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m
RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May
INFO
Everton 0
Arsenal 0
Man of the Match: Djibril Sidibe (Everton)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The%20new%20Turing%20Test
%3Cp%3EThe%20Coffee%20Test%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EA%20machine%20is%20required%20to%20enter%20an%20average%20American%20home%20and%20figure%20out%20how%20to%20make%20coffee%3A%20find%20the%20coffee%20machine%2C%20find%20the%20coffee%2C%20add%20water%2C%20find%20a%20mug%20and%20brew%20the%20coffee%20by%20pushing%20the%20proper%20buttons.%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EProposed%20by%20Steve%20Wozniak%2C%20Apple%20co-founder%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
September 30
South Africa v Australia
Argentina v New Zealand
October 7
South Africa v New Zealand
Argentina v Australia
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%202-litre%20direct%20injection%20turbo%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%207-speed%20automatic%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20261hp%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20400Nm%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20From%20Dh134%2C999%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPEC SHEET
Display: 10.9" Liquid Retina IPS, 2360 x 1640, 264ppi, wide colour, True Tone, Apple Pencil support
Chip: Apple M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Memory: 64/256GB storage; 8GB RAM
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, Smart HDR
Video: 4K @ 25/25/30/60fps, full HD @ 25/30/60fps, slo-mo @ 120/240fps
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR, Centre Stage; full HD @ 25/30/60fps
Audio: Stereo speakers
Biometrics: Touch ID
I/O: USB-C, smart connector (for folio/keyboard)
Battery: Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi; up to 9 hours on cellular
Finish: Space grey, starlight, pink, purple, blue
Price: Wi-Fi – Dh2,499 (64GB) / Dh3,099 (256GB); cellular – Dh3,099 (64GB) / Dh3,699 (256GB)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
