It’s all about love for Offer.
Something to
Offer
This Tel Aviv powerhouse shines a light into DJ darkness
In a global gay DJ party scene that
has been stagnant over the last five years, Israel’s Offer
Nissim has not only skyrocketed into the exclusive club
of about a dozen elite circuit DJs (including Victor Calderone
and Nissim’s mentor, Peter Rauhofer), but has also
garnered a growing, almost obsessive fan base.
In anticipation of the 44-year-old DJ’s first-ever appearance in
Toronto for Gairy Brown’s New Years Eve bash at
the Docks (recently renamed Sound Academy), Nissim gave fab
a rare interview.
Nissim has a mysterious image—people have speculated about his gender.
Personally, I find this rather homophobic. He is not a transsexual
nor has any plans to become one. But since his soft-spoken, and
somewhat effeminate image does not fit into the typical buffed DJ
image, gay men gossip that he must be a trannie, as if it’s a bad
thing. He’s also been called a diva. The rumours got out of control
this summer when he couldn’t make it to a Montreal gig. His longtime
Canadian agent tells me the boring truth: the airline gave Nissim
a free ticket but the airport in Tel Aviv didn’t know this and wouldn’t
let him on the plane. The venue quickly booked a make-up gig a month
later, which Nissim attended, blowing everyone away. Rumours that
he first cancelled because the venue allowed women were completely
false.
I’ve been fascinated with Nissim because he’s breaking down the
old-school circuit DJ image and sound with a fresher, creative,
more uplifting vibe that reflects what younger gay men are into.
Nissim is not afraid to play tracks other DJs find too cheesy or
too gay. His ability to use familiar vocal divas to uplift your
soul contrasts with the many dark DJs now who dislike vocals. He
assures me his Toronto debut will be “very happy and energetic.”
Nissim, who describes himself as “very single but very much in love,”
exploded onto the scene only a few years ago. But music has always
been in his life, nurtured by a lot of love (a word he uses quite
frequently in this interview) from his family, including a brother
and sister who routinely attend his monthly gay parties in Tel Aviv.
“When I was a kid, I’d skip a lot of school so I could put the speakers
at home out toward my neighbours so they’d hear my weekly top-10
list.”
He’s managed Dana International, the Tel Aviv transsexual
who was a Europop sensation with the song “Diva” back in ’98. He
rose to global fame as producer/remixer for the Rauhofer-owned Star69
label, dishing out #1 dance hits with singer Maya
(who was in Toronto back in September). Maya writes the material,
while Nissim works his production magic, turning out hits like “Searching”
and “That’s the Way I Like It.” The duo is currently working on
a new album together; Nissim tells me Maya only likes to record
her vocals at night.
Seeing Nissim spin live, you quickly discover that he likes to put
on a show. He’s so passionate about what he’s playing, he needs
to express himself by conducting the audience as if he’s a symphony
conductor. “Ever since I can remember, [conducting] is a part of
me. When I’m playing I’m sharing my feelings with the crowd and
I’m very emotional. So it goes with my productions as well as playing,
as I like to give love and happiness,” he says.
This typical Aries workhorse spins regularly with Rauhofer in NYC,
even though their sounds are quite different. He’s remixed many
of the big divas including Madonna (whom he’s never
met). I had to ask him about the new Madonna album, slated for spring
2008, and if he’s been approached to remix Madge.
“The beat goes on and on,” is all he tells me. On the new comeback
album for Whitney Houston, also expected in the
spring, he’s a little more open. He admits he’s been approached
to remix her first single but that he’s been waiting a long time
for the vocals and for the first song to actually be chosen.
The last time I interviewed Rauhofer, he seemed to be down about
the current state of music—everything has been done before, he told
me. Nissim agrees…somewhat. But he says he’s not so influenced by
trends, creating music by his own rules. His own current favourite
scene DJs are Ana Paula, Jesse Garcia and
Toronto’s own Cajjmere Wray.
When asked if he’s ever DJed in Lebanon and his thoughts
on Arabic music, he says that he’s received a lot of offers in
the region.
“I hope there will be peace soon with Lebanon and I will gladly
play there,” he says. “I do have to say that I have a lot of respect
for the Arabic music and culture and I’m using eastern elements
in my tracks, like my remix for Lebanese singer Fairuz
and my remix for ‘Candyman’ by Christina Aguilera.”
For a DJ who has never played in Toronto before, the hype
for this New Year’s appearance is insane. Will he come
through and become this city’s new favourite DJ or will he
disappoint? I’m anticipating that Toronto is ready for a fresh
new sound and won’t refuse this Offer to take the scene into
a bright new direction.
 daniel
paquette
tunes@famagazine.com
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