Canadian native Haki Batra is a twenty-two year old UIC marketing major with ambitious goals and impressive beats. Her Campus had the pleasure of working with Batra for our BooHoo Holiday Fashion Show last semester and the crowd loved him. Read more to find out about Batra and his DJing career!
HC: What do you see yourself doing, career wise, after you graduate?
I have a bunch of ideas. Like, a lot! There’s so much that I want to do, I just have to prioritize my ideas. I want to start up my own company, work full-time there and then sell it, something like a transportation business or a card membership for clubs.
HC: What made you move here, all the way from Canada?
My mom actually got remarried, and I thought it’d be a really good idea to move here. There’s so many job opportunities here in Chicago. I can fluently speak French after living in Canada, so that’s cool too.
HC: How did you get involved with DJing?
I used to always play music for parties in high school, but the first time I really djed was for my mom’s engagement party. After djing so many parties in high school, I realized how much I loved it and decided to download a music program. I practiced a lot and watched a lot of YouTube videos.
I knew that I really loved doing it and I thought, ‘Why can’t I do something I love and make a profit?’ Then I started my company, Shut Em Up Entertainment in 2012. We do everything from birthday parties to small, private parties.
HC: What kind of venues do you DJ?
All kinds of parties and clubs, pretty much every club in Chicago; The Mid, Dolphin, Time, Prohibit, etc.
HC: How do you make yourself stand out as a DJ and get noticed?
I really think the best way to get noticed is by my performance and the overall show. I put my all in my shows. I throw energy-filled shows with excitement and entertainment. I go to club owners/promoters directly and talk to them, that’s how I get my gigs.
HC: Who are you influenced by when it comes to DJing? Do you have any role models in the industry?
Steve Aoki, I met him in a Brazil airport and we both had an hour layover so I started talking to him and he taught me lot; tricks about djing, producing and helped me out. It was awesome because he’s one of the top EDM guys in the industry, and I got to meet him. Also, Frankie Knuckles, before he died, he came to me and told me I was doing really good and could be successful.
HC: Are you ever afraid that the audience won’t like your style? How do you overcome that?
I never get afraid of that. There’s a difference between a regular DJ who just plays songs and a DJ who listens to the audience. I listen to my audience and see how they react, and pay attention to them. If I can tell they aren’t feeling it, I change the mood. I love seeing the audience’s reactions and excitement, it gives me a high.