The (uneconomical) truth is out, and the world-renowned trance deejay at the centre of the controversy surrounding Zouk Singapore has spoken up about what happened on Saturday night.
Fadi Wassef, half of Egyptian duo Aly & Fila, spoke up in the wee hours of Tuesday morning (at 3.30am) to explain his side of the story — and for everyone's convenience, in short and sweet bullet points:
The'>
Posted by Aly & Fila on Monday, 7 March 2016
Here's his timeline, reproduced for your reference:
1am: Fadi arrives at Zouk for an interview. A member of Zouk's staff named Byden, who manages the artists, tells Fadi he can play until the end — this being up till 4:15am, plus an additional 15 minutes' playing time, making the official time he can end 4:30am.
Between 1am and 1:40am: Fadi arrives at the DJ booth and is introduced to a "VIP guest" and Zouk's new owner. Their names aren't specified in Fadi's account.
1:40am: Fadi begins his set.
3:30am: Byden asks Fadi if he can play "back to back" with the "VIP guest". Fadi responds with "no way".
3:45am: Byden approaches Fadi again, says he must stop, because the club owner wants the "VIP guest" to play. Fadi then informs the crowd of the development, plays his last song and steps off from the table.
The additional facts, Fadi shared, were that
1. His contracted set time was 1:30 to 3:30am; and
2. Zouk's new owner was hosting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's son as a "VIP" guest.
Here are Zouk's facts in its two statements:
1. There was a misunderstanding.
2. They make it a point to ensure that all artists are able to complete their sets without interference.
3. Fadi was not at any point asked to end his set prematurely before the contracted set end time of 3:30am.
4. Zouk "will continue to value the importance and presence of all artists and their customers and their interests".
We'll let you decide whose story to trust. Although we know this for sure: Zouk certainly does #RespectMYPM.
Related articles:
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 from Zouk Singapore's Facebook page
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