A.M SNiPER has been doing Napa before “doing Napa” was a thing, the guy knows the place inside out and toast the release of his latest single Buspass featuring the infamous UK music legend Wiley, we caught up with Sniper to find out the latest lowdown on one of Europe’s finest and wildest party towns.
Q. How has the Ayia Napa scene changed over the last 10 years?
Well Ayia Napa started building in the late 80’s, with Club Black N’ White being the first club to open by my family and to this date, we kept the same location and music policy, the one thing that remains the same about the club is it’s black and white checkered floor that over 3.5 million visitors has danced on! In the 90’s we evolved from having a one resident DJ per club to bringing DJ’s from various genres etc one of the first superstar DJ’s to visit Ayia Napa was Robert Miles who has just released what is now a smash hit the club anthem “Children”
In 1996 at age 16 (not a lot of people know or remember) I brought PURE SILK to Ayia Napa with Noris Da Boss, DJ S, and MC CREED being the first ever to take garage music outside the UK, in no time, and without the social networks buzz, Garage caught on fire, that’s where I evolved as a DJ and eventually joined the So Solid Crew in 2000 which then a whole madness followed of chart hits, controversy and probably one of the most exciting times in UK urban music.
Since then Ayia Napa now enjoys visitors from UK club land as well as Russia, Scandinavia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy as well as the Middle-East and MENA region.
From 50 cent to Memphis Bleek, Flo Rida to this month having Zane Low, Charlie Sloth, John Newman, Bass Hunter, Jaguar Skills, Katy B, Tyga, Wiley (as a neighbour), Giggs, JMC amongst some visitors, as well as footballers, and upgraded luxury hotels and apartments, cafes, bars, restaurant, a new yacht harbour underway Ayia Napa has pretty much shot into the elite once again with some very promising and exciting events underway.
Q. What do you think has initiated that change?
Me! Us! WE! Hahaha, we work hard, both individual and as a team, after all T.E.A.M = Together Everyone Achieves More! To be honest I know this sounds crazy but we have had little support form the government and even the town hall at times fail to see what is developing here and how good it is for the resort, having an open mind is the only way Ayia Napa can evolve and through music, entertainment, honest hard work and some great acts we are doing that year after year…
Q. Could you give us and our readers a brief guide to the hottest bars/clubs in Ayia Napa right now?
1. Club Black N’ White – A MUST DO! since 1985 r&b and hip hop, the vibes are amazing, the music is a journey! Finos aka DJ MEFLIN is there making sure it keeps the authenticity even when guest DJ’s are on the decks – www.napasound.com @napasound on twitter
2. Club Ice – Biggest live events and DJ events club in the resort, form Trevor Nelson to Charlie Sloth, Jaguar Skills, Foam parties, UV paint parties, some of the biggest acts, Zombie Parties, Linos the most entertaining person to run night clubs is at the lounge early on making sure it all ticks properly! www.napasound.com @napasound on twitter
3. Club Ice Lounge or Havana Base lounge, a couple of the best bars in Ayia Napa, Ice Lounge has the perfect setup to start the night off, shisha, cocktails, best looking venue to be in, Havana is open air, refreshing, exotic and fun.
4. Kandi Beach Party – The beach concert I perform at every other week alongside major acts like Giggs, Skepta, Wiley, etc. This is a proper mini festival every week with over 2000 people visiting where I perform with the band, fireworks, light show, one of the best experiences in Ayia Napa, this is also where we host our larger scale 5000 plus festivals like NAPA ROCKS, FIRE ON THE BEACH AND ESKIDANCE! Dammie and Leo alongside the Kandi team run this so look out for them @kandi_beach on twitter
5. Club Shuffle – The deep house venue opposite ICE, smaller venue but more intimate and the vibes are pure shuffling, especially Tiny Flirts with his team every Thursday doing the FLIRT NIGHT
6. WATERWORLD THEMED WATERPARK = One of the best Waterparks in the world according to CNN, so that is more than certified, themed like Ancient Greece, this is the ultimate fun experience that you should fly in from, even if you are in neighbouring islands or countries… www.wwcyprus.com @waterparkcyprus on twitter
As you can see each venue has a character, a person who makes the whole team work properly and there is a face to know and recognize, we want to make sure everyone is comfortable and knows us and has a direct relationship with us!
[youtube id=”A631pxIZ8bE” width=”620″ height=”360″]
Q. What was it like working alongside Wiley for Bus Pass?
It was great, the idea worked, the vibe worked, he’s a neighbour now as well as family, we was in the Waterpark when he suggested it, and it made sense, people flying into Napa, him flying all over the place, me being the ultimate host, so we laced it, took our time with the video to make sure the visuals were on point and boom! #BusPass The response from people that heard it or hear it the first time is fascinating, the level of the record is smash hit, but as you know that depends on what machine you are with, but as a song, no one remembers chart but the music, and we are sure this record has stuck with people and their summer holidays, I am happy so many are already pre-ordering and keeping it close to their heart… You can say hello to me on my twitter @snipermusic I’m also giving out some free holidays to Ayia Napa via various competitions and draws!
Thank you heDD!
