Today we’d like to introduce you to Meddi.
Hi Meddi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
If you had asked me growing up what I wanted to be, “DJ” probably wouldn’t have been my answer. What I did know was that I was obsessed with music.
Long before I ever touched DJ equipment, I was collecting music from anywhere I could find it. I grew up before streaming, during the days of AIM, MSN Messenger, Napster, LimeWire and BearShare. I’d spend hours talking to people from all over the world, sharing songs and discovering artists from countries and cultures I knew very little about. One conversation would introduce me to Arabic music, another to reggae, another to Greek music or Latin music. Looking back, I wasn’t just collecting songs. I was learning about people.
Even before all of that, I was the kid recording songs off the radio onto cassette tapes, making mixes and trying to build the perfect playlist before playlists even existed. Music was always a part of my life. My brother used to laugh because every week I’d be immersed in a different culture’s music. One day he’d ask me why I was listening to reggae, the next day he’d joke that I had become Greek. To him it was funny. To me it was curiosity. Music became my way of connecting with people and understanding the world a little better.
Ironically, DJing happened almost by accident. A friend of mine from Lebanon, Nina Jomaa, was organizing a Sephora event and asked if I knew any DJs. I reached out to someone I had come across, but when he found out there wasn’t a budget and the payment was going to be Sephora products instead of cash, he politely declined. Nina looked at me and said, “You love music. Why don’t you do it?”
At the time I knew absolutely nothing about DJing, but I decided to give it a shot. I bought a Numark iDJ mixer that worked with an iPod, brought my home surround sound system, and one of my friends, Omar Ead, borrowed a professional speaker from Circuit City. We jokingly called ourselves a DJ duo for the night, even though he had no real interest in becoming a DJ. We were just having fun.
About a year later, someone who had attended that event remembered me and asked, “Don’t you DJ?” She told me about a new restaurant and hookah lounge opening in Kennesaw called Casablanca and connected me with the owners. That became my first residency in 2006. I was making $100 a night and honestly had no idea whether that was good or bad. I was just excited that people wanted me to play music.
At that point, I still never imagined DJing could become a career. I simply loved music and loved sharing it with other people.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, and honestly, it still isn’t.
One of the biggest misconceptions about being a DJ is that people only see the few hours you’re on stage. What they don’t see are the countless hours spent preparing music, networking, planning events, answering emails, marketing yourself, traveling, or constantly looking for the next opportunity. When you’re self employed, there are no paid vacations, sick days, or 401(k). If you don’t work, you don’t get paid. Your business is your reputation, and you’re only as good as the last impression you leave.
The industry has also changed dramatically. Technology has made DJing more accessible than ever, which has opened the door for a lot of talented people, but it has also made the space much more competitive. With social media, it’s easy to focus on views, followers, or going viral. I’ve always tried to keep my focus somewhere else.
For me, it’s never been about being the center of attention. It’s about the music and the people. It’s about introducing someone to a song they’ve never heard, watching strangers from different cultures sing together, or creating a space where people can forget about whatever they’re carrying for a few hours.
I’ve also had moments where I stepped away from DJing because I didn’t think it could realistically become a career. Looking back, I’m grateful for those experiences because they gave me perspective and reinforced that this is what I genuinely love doing.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that talent alone isn’t enough. Consistency, professionalism, authenticity, and genuinely caring about people will take you much further than chasing the latest trend. Those are the values that have carried me through every challenge, and they’re still what guide me today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At my core, I’m a DJ, event curator, and entrepreneur. DJing is what most people know me for, but I love building experiences just as much as I love playing music.
I’m an open format DJ, which means one night I might be playing Afro House, the next I’m mixing Arabic, Latin, hip hop, pop, dance, or throwbacks. I’ve never liked putting myself in one lane because that’s not how I grew up listening to music. I genuinely love discovering new artists and introducing people to music they never expected to enjoy.
If someone comes to one of my events and leaves saying, “I don’t even know what that song was, but I need to find it,” that’s a win for me.
Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to work with FIFA, Coca Cola, universities, hospitality groups, brands, festivals, and countless private clients. I’ve also been featured by CNN and local news outlets, not just for my work as a DJ but for sharing my personal story. Those experiences have been incredibly meaningful, but what I’m most proud of is earning people’s trust. Whether it’s a corporate event, a cultural festival, or one of my own productions, people trust me to create an atmosphere that brings everyone together.
Through Blakeford Media, I’ve also been able to expand beyond DJing into event production and creative services, which has allowed me to combine my passion for music with my entrepreneurial side. I’m always working on new ideas and creative projects because I genuinely enjoy building things from the ground up.
If there’s one thing that sets me apart, I think it’s that I don’t just play music. I tell stories with it. Every event is a journey, and every crowd is different. I spend a lot of time reading the room, understanding the people in front of me, and creating moments they’ll remember long after the music stops.
More than anything, I want people to leave feeling happier than when they arrived. If I can introduce someone to a new culture, a new artist, or create a memory they’ll talk about years later, then I’ve done exactly what I set out to do.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
People are usually surprised to learn that I’m actually a pretty private person.
My job puts me in front of thousands of people, but I’ve never been someone who chased attention or wanted to be famous. For years, I hardly promoted myself because I was more comfortable letting my work speak for itself. Only in the last few years have I started sharing more of my story, and I’m still learning how to balance that with keeping my personal life private.
Another thing that surprises people is that when I’m not DJing, I’m usually building something. I love brainstorming business ideas, producing events, solving problems, or working on my next creative project. My Notes app is filled with hundreds of ideas, from music and entrepreneurship to coffee, random inventions, and things that pop into my head at two in the morning. My brain doesn’t really have an off switch, and I genuinely enjoy bringing ideas to life.
People also assume I spend all day listening to dance music, but my playlists are all over the place. One minute it’s Arabic music, then Afro House, country, reggae, jazz, Italian classics, Libyan music, hip hop, or even R&B (one of my top genres ever). Music has always been my way of learning about people and different cultures. I think that’s what has shaped me as a DJ. I don’t just play music, I love introducing people to something they’ve never heard before and watching them connect with it.
At the end of the day, I’m just someone who loves creating, whether that’s through music, events, or whatever idea I’m excited about next.
Contact Info:
