‘Irish crowds are so rowdy, so ravey and so fun’ - Ammara

LONDON-based DJ and producer Ammara burst onto the music scene in 2021, quickly becoming renowned for her trademark blend of fresh energetic techno and hard house mixed with mainstream pop melodies.

“What I think is really fun about my sets is I’ll start in one place, and I’ll take you on a whole journey through the different genres from hard house to trance or hard trance to techno,” she explains as she speaks to me from her studio in London.

Born in the UK but growing up in Spain, it was returning to Britain as a teenager that sparked Ammara’s obsession with dance music.

“I was always a raver,” she laughs.

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“Growing up I was always on the other side of the decks, and I just really got the bug for it and at first it started as a hobby, it wasn’t until much later on that I realised I could do it as a career.”

Originally moving to London to pursue a career in acting, which saw her land a coveted role at the Globe Theatre, the pull of London’s club culture took Ammara in a different direction.

“I knew I wanted to do music,” she admits.

“Even my director at the time knew because we were doing so many shows a week and I was doing matinees and evenings, and it was pretty relentless, but I’d still be going out and clubbing after shows.

“My director would be like, ‘You really need to chill out because you’re going to lose your voice, and you need your voice for the play’, but I was just addicted to dance music.

“So, when it came to making the switch from acting to music it was a no brainer.”

Her theatrical background has come in handy in relation to perfecting her on-stage DJ persona: “I’m quite confident going on stage, I get a real buzz from it.

“But it’s definitely a different persona to what I’m like around my friends and family.

“I’m still a very outgoing and energetic person but there’s a certain thing that clicks in when I’m on stage and I think a lot of that’s to do with the fact I studied performing arts and worked as an actor.

“And I always give 100%, even if I’m really tired, I think one of things I feel like I’m known for is that I’m always going to be dancing and giving it on stage because I genuinely want to.

“And because I’ve been the raver I really connect with the crowd, and I want to have a good time with everybody I don’t want to be separate from them, I want us all to be together having a great time.”

However, it wasn’t until lockdown that Ammara started to hone her production and DJing skills.

Originally, she had hoped to invest in a music production course but instead opted to teach herself through old YouTube videos. In 2020 her career began to take off after she sent her track Acid Fantasy to DJ Patrick Topping, and signed by his label Trick. In 2021 the Acid Fantasy EP was released followed by Ammara becoming a regular at the label’s parties.

“It sounds like it was really easy,” she laughs.

“But I think lockdown and having the opportunity to knuckle down and properly learn the craft of music production and DJing really helped me.

“And off the back of that I just started gigging quite regularly after lockdown. I’d never done that before, so I did get thrown in at the deep end, but I think it was a good way to start.”

Now, she is preparing to bring her rave ready sound to Belfast as part of the line up for Emerge, Ireland’s biggest electronic festival. This will see more than 50 dance and electronic artists taking to the stage over the course of the August bank holiday weekend.

“I’ve played Belfast many times – I love it,” she enthuses.

“One of my first ever shows was at Custom House Square and I’ve played the Telegraph Building a few times and the Limelight.

“I just can’t wait to be back – I’ve not played Emerge before, so I’m excited.”

In addition to playing the festival, Ammara will also be performing at the Emerge afterparty in the Telegraph Building.

“I’m going to have to have some stamina to stay awake.

“My set for the festival will be very different to the afterparty and I’m going to have it all planned out, it’s going to be a great time.

“The energy in Belfast is brilliant – Irish crowds are so rowdy, so ravey, so fun – that’s what we need.”

Between playing festivals, being named a Radio 1 Future Star and having releases on Ministry of Sound, Ammara makes a conscious effort to remain optimistic about the gender gap within the industry as she believes that equality is gradually becoming more attainable.

“It’s definitely a male dominated industry but I don’t really know why that is,” she admits.

“It was a bit intimidating but also exciting because there was a part of me that just wanted to show them what I could do.

“You’ve got to switch your mentality from being intimidated to being confident and wanting to show the guys what you’ve got.

“So, I hope by doing what I do I’m inspiring other female DJs to give it a go and I do get loads of DMs (direct messages) and questions asking for advice which is great.”

Catch Ammara at Emerge at Boucher Road Playing Fields on August 24.

“Even if you’re not into dance music give it a go, it’s a place where there’s no inhibitions you can come and be yourself, you can let go and it’s good fun.

“Come to Emerge,” she exclaims.

emergebelfast.com