DJ AI-VA

Profile

 

For DJ Ai-va, the number one priority is musicality. Drawing his influences from Soul, Funk, Rock, Reggae, HipHop, Breakbeats, Baltimore club, hyphy, etc DJ Ai-va extracts the essence of all these styles, blending and arranging them in a way that’s captivating and entertaining to his listeners.

After a few years’ practice at home, in 1991 DJ Ai-va started playing at schools’ parties, small clubs and bars. In early 90’s DJ Ai-va plays electromagnetic tapes (then most populat format in ex-soviet union), later he switches to cd and vinyl. In late 90s together with Ozols and Gustavo, he is one of the first and very few hip hop party DJs in Latvia. At the same time, he is starting to organize events and hip hop parties in various clubs in Riga – “Pulkvedis”, “Jim Beam”, “4 Love & $”, “Ultra”, etc.

 

 

Since 2000, DJ Ai-va has been managing and promoting various Latvian hip hop artists, producing weekly hip hop radio show, managing hip hop label Riga Records, which has so far released 14 albums. Opened a music school (Rythm Institute) - www.ritmainstituts.lv - where young people from all over Latvia can learn how to become cd, vinyl or radio DJ, music producer, emcee, etc. Has been organising many hip hop events such as Hip Hop Fest LV (2001-2006 so far), Baltic Graffiti festival, tours all over Latvia for local hip hop acts, first ever in Latvia Hip Hop and Extreme Sports Awards.  Made TV shows (2000 – 2005) for local TVs: Atom TV (main editor/TV5), Muzikas Video (editor, manager/LNT),  Alternative Sounds (main editor/TV5), Morning Show (main editor/TV5), Hip X Hop (co-editor, producer/LTV7).

 

 

Has made and managed a project „Eastern Block” where latvian MC’s meet russian MC’s. Album release, tour all over Latvia and visit to President of Latvia, Vaira Vike-Freiberga where Ai-va dj’ed.

 

Has also played numerous sets in popular Latvia and Baltics night clubs, bars and parties (Nautilus, Fashion Club, Pulkvedis, Grands, Multiklubs, Tonuss, Prive, Illusion, etc). Currently (for about 3 and a half years) a resident in Latvia’s biggest and the most popular night club: „Essential”.

 

As a travelling party rocker, he has played in many countries including neighbouring Lithuania and Estonia, as well as USA (Chicago, NYC, California), Canada (Toronto), Sweden, Norway, etc.

 

Plays hip hop, r`n`b, funk, soul, breakbeats, baltimore, hyphy, etc

 

Warm up for:

Busta Rhymes,

Spliff Star,

GZA,

Slum Village,

Onyx,

Guru (Gang Starr),

Young Buck,

DJ Cash Money,

Wu Tang Killa Beez,

Killah Priest,

Shortee Blitz, etc.

 

DJ at events:

Baltic Beach Party (LM rave stage/main DJ. 62 000 visitors) 2007,

Undercover Moonlight Party (Hiphop stage. 15 000 visitors) 2007,

Baltic Graffiti Festival 2006,

Open Street Sessions 2006,

Hip hop awards 2006,

Re:Loud (DJ stage/main DJ. 20 000 visitors) 2006,

Ung08 2006 (Stokholm),

Surf Seminar 2006,

MTV Latvia Opening 2006,

Converse Sk8 Attack 2004, 2005, 2007

Various events from 100 to 80 000 visitors

 

 

Has released various mixtapes such as:

Mass DNM mixtape 2006,

Eastern Block 2003,

Beats of the year 2002 - 2005,

European Urban Hiphop 2004,

Converse Your Life 2006

Etc.

Remixes for local artists released on their albums:

Ozols, Gain Fast, Mistake, etc

Blends, edits, remixes for numerous worldwide artists

 

 

With all his success and achievements, it's not hard to imagine DJ Ai-va as
management maven. This is because he just keeps on pushing the right buttons, not
unlike the way successfull businessmen learned in the ways of investools. DJ Ai-va is
definitely in a league of his own when it comes to music production and promotion.
If the world of Hip Hop and Rap music has Eminem and Jay-Z, the world of promotions
has DJ Ai-va. Some may think it's a stretch but those who has seen his work would
definitely agree to this assertion.
 

Find DJ Ai-va on web:

www.myspace.com/djaiva2

www.djaiva.lv