Trance music fans know and love the popular Egyptian trance duo Aly & Fila, but most of us regular Singaporeans were first introduced to them in a controversy with Zouk that happened earlier this month.
In case you don't remember this, here's a recap:
- Aly & Fila is a deejay duo made up of Aly Amr Fathalah and Fadi Wassef Naguib. Only Fadi does tours and live performances, though, because Aly suffered a severe ear injury while performing roughly five years ago, and was warned he may lose his hearing in that ear if he listens to loud music.
- For the past 12 years, the pair played exclusively at Zouk, one of Singapore's oldest and most iconic nightclubs, until Fadi's most recent show in early March.
- There, Fadi was recorded venting his anger at Zouk's management on video when he was told to step down from the spin table at Zouk and give way to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's son Norashman Najib, who allegedly was "invited" to play by the club's new owner, a representative from Malaysian company Genting International.
His parting words to his fans on the floor were:
“It seems that Zouk here wants someone else to play. Not only because of that, because apparently he’s the son of a prime minister … Thank you so much, enjoy my last track. I’ll see you somewhere in the future. Not in Zouk anymore, because I won’t play in Zouk any f***ing more. They’ve insulted me, but I love you guys.”
After Zouk's terrific PR team posted two statements denying doing Fadi any wrong, he himself returned with a succinct timeline of what happened that night, eliminating any doubt that might have remained among fans over who was telling the truth.
The club has till now yet to venture a response to what he said.
But that was then. Now, in what might perhaps be the biggest snub the duo can give to Zouk since then, Fadi is coming back to perform here, just over a month later — but he will be spinning at MILLIAN club, at St James Power Station, on April 29.
The duo has yet to announce this on their own Facebook page (which only has a million followers) or on their site's tour listing, possibly because Fadi's recuperating from the recent conclusion of the Ultra Music Festival in Miami:
He's also next scheduled to perform in Canada, followed by the UK before coming back here:
Guess Zouk will really never be hosting Fadi again, possibly ever.
*Editor's note: A previous version of this article incorrectly said Aly & Fila were performing in Singapore on April 20.
Related articles:
Zouk acting like Malaysian PM Najib, cannot admit they’re wrong
Zouk Singapore responds to trance DJ furore, makes music lovers even angrier
Well-known DJ’s set cut short at Zouk so that Najib’s son could play instead
Top photo: Screenshot from Aly & Fila poster
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