This month, the Damansara-born electronic music dance (EDM) artiste certainly realised his dream after becoming the first Malaysian DJ to headline a major music event in the United Kingdom.
From June 7-9, Yusef rocked the dance floor at the Hard Trance Europe Weekender festival in the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare, England, performing a back-to-back set with UK-based hard-trance act Lab4.
“It was a great show. It was great to connect with my fans on this side of the world, and meet many of my colleagues in the industry,” Yusef told FMT Lifestyle.
“I think I rocked it, there were many happy faces.”
The 25-year-old played a selection of his hits, including “Evolution”, “Champagne” and “Energy”, as well as some new unreleased music. He even managed to throw in a Malaysian track, “Modjo”, remixed by local producers Chukiess & Whackboi.
Yusef has been spinning the turntables since he was 13, starting at high school events. At 18, he entered the local club circuit, making his debut for Vision at KL Live in 2017.
His love of EDM dates back to his childhood. “It was introduced to me by my brother. I was only nine when I first heard ‘Raver’s Fantasy’ by Tune Up!.
“As if a switch just flipped, this led me on a path to discovering even more tunes within this style,” Yusef shared.
Eager to make a name for himself, he began performing at various local music events, including “It’s The Ship” and the Island Music Festival.
He also involved himself with the European music scene and became the first Malaysian artiste to reach No. 1 on Trackitdown’s Trance Charts in 2016.
In 2020, Yusef released “Evolution”, his first track with Hard Trance Europe (HTE). This pulse-pounding piece caught the attention of Lab4, which resulted in several collaborations, including “Champagne“.
Yusef was subsequently invited to this month’s festival by HTE founder Nick Coles.
While many enjoy it, Yusef is aware that EDM doesn’t always have the best reputation. Critics purport it promotes hedonistic behaviour, and while Yusef agrees with this to an extent, he believes it ultimately boils down to how one conducts oneself.
“We should have more dance-music events and festivals in Malaysia with a central focus on the talent, rather than just the fun aspect,” he said.
“We’ve seen how this industry can benefit our economy. Hence, I’m rooting to see a more progressive narrative of EDM in Malaysia by the media as well.”
His experience in the UK has certainly infused him with inspiration, and Yusef looks forward to more performances locally and abroad.
Being a DJ, he said, is how he spreads good vibes and connects with those around him. “I love seeing people have a great time and dance to the music I play.
“I‘ve seen how this fast-paced sound brings people together – so if I can be a beacon of this, with this form of music, I’m all in!”