Ever since she was a kid, Malaysian DJ Amber Na already knew that she wanted to become a musician.
"Music is a huge passion of mine. I listen to music to lift my mood, as a boost of energy, or to brighten an already radiant day. Then when I see other people enjoying my music, this kind of shared emotional experience is contagious. Instead of being a 'star', when DJ-ing I get to dance and enjoy the moment with everyone else while doing one of the things I love most. It is that connection with the crowd that I enjoy most," DJ Amber told Digital Life Asia.
Dreaming big
She was determined to make her dream a reality, overcoming whatever challenges came her way.
"My family used to bring me to learn music and I really love music. Although I do not have a good family background, but I still pursued my dream. And here I am today, DJ Amber Na," she said.
It's a dream that she doesn't take for granted. Instead, she works hard each day to continuously improve.
"I am passionate about my work because I love what I do. I have a steady source of motivation that drives me to do my best. In my past experience, this passion led me to challenge myself daily and learn new skills that helped me give the best music and performance to my fans.
"Also, I will spend my spare time on both practicing and technique, and learning which tracks and types of tracks work well together. On top of that, I spend hours and hours searching for, listening to, and purchasing new music. Every effort to get the perfect tracks and bring the best music to my fans.
"During rest time, I will spend my time accompanying my family and preparing meals for them, as family is most important for me," she said.
Becoming a DJ
It was while working part-time as a model at age 15 that she met a mentor who was willing to guide her to becoming a DJ.
"It was not easy to pursue my education and working life at the same time, as I had to attend school and DJ class for day and night. Of course, I am grateful that my family supported me all the time.
"With all the hard work, I started my first performance when I was 16 years old. I remember that I was really enjoying performing my DJ set for the crowd for the very first time. From there, my career has just grown and grown, and I now have the opportunity to play at some of the biggest clubs and festivals in the world. I absolutely love what I do, and I feel so lucky to be able to share my passion with others every single day. Here, I determined to work harder to become the World Top Female DJ," she said.
Becoming a DJ has allowed her to share her passion for music with people from all over the world.
"I love being a DJ because it allows me to be creative and connect with people through music. I enjoy seeing people dancing and having a good time, and I feel like I'm part of that. It's also great to be able to play music that I love and share it with others," she said.
Giving her best
According to her, one of the biggest challenges that DJs face is finding new and interesting music to play.
"With the vast amount of music that is available today, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. Another challenge is keeping up with the latest technology and trends. With new software and hardware being released all the time, it can be hard to keep up with the Joneses.
"Finally, I also have to deal with the pressure of performing live. Whether it's a club gig or a wedding, there is always an element of nerves that comes with playing live."
What's her most memorable experience so far?
"I enjoy traveling around the world to bring my very best and amazing performance to all my fans. It is really awesome when everyone starts shouting my name 'DJ Amber Na', dancing and waving hands while listening to my remix music tracks. I can feel the energy from my fans around the world and there I will keep improving my remix tracks as well as my performance to keep the rest of the night amazing.
"There are many great things about being a DJ, but one of the best things is being able to work together with my team, Team Amber. We always work hard and play hard, enjoying and celebrating every single moment together for every successful DJ show.
"With all the hard work, I am very grateful with my achievement to be recognized as No. 33-ranked World Top 100 Female DJ and No. 6-ranked DJ in Asia by DJane Top and No. 58-ranked Worldwide. I have become one of the top touring DJs in Asia, where I have performed in over 100 shows across countries since 2014. It is never easy for me to handle all the pressure to be able to perform well on the big platforms of music festivals such as S2O Taiwan, Ultra Taiwan, xcammusic festivals, and so on. Yet, I have always to push and keep myself in good form to give the best performance," she said.
Loving her fans
What advice would DJ Amber give to aspiring DJs?
"There are a few things that I think make a great DJ. Firstly, we need to have a great sense of rhythm and timing. We need to be able to read a crowd and know what kind of music to play to get them moving. Secondly, we need to have a good selection of music. We should have a wide range of genres and styles that we can draw from to keep people entertained. Also, we need to be able to mix well and seamlessly transition between songs, creating an exciting and cohesive set.
"Remember: practice makes perfect and preparation is key! There is no specific key to success in becoming a DJ. However, some important factors that can contribute to success include having a strong passion, staying cool, and always keeping yourself updated with new knowledge of music. Additionally, you must have deep love and knowledge of the chosen genre in order to keep the crowd on the dance floor. You have to keep yourself motivated to bring joy," she said.
With 9.8 million Instagram followers, DJ Amber makes sure to keep her fans updated via social media.
"I will always share all my performances and tagged stories by fans in my IG’s story. I wish I could share every cherished and amazing moment with my fans," she said.
Asked what message she would like to share with her fans, DJ Amber replied: "Please do support and love me all the time so I can bring more joy and awesome performances to every single one of you."
She also said that she is preparing to release new songs.
"I hope you all will like my new song '敢愛Dare to Love'. I have put a lot of effort into this new song and I can't wait to share it with you all soon. Stay tuned!"
So, are you passionate about something? DJ Amber Na is proof that your childhood dream can come true!
