At 14, this Laval DJ is following in his dad's footsteps and hoping to make a name for himself
He's 14 years old and has been DJing for more than half his life.
DJ Sajed, whose real name is Sajed Hable, is ready to take the main stage Thursday night at the Orientalys Festival.
The Laval native says he remembers watching his dad, DJ Omar, DJing on turntables and decided to give it a try.
"I started playing and everything. Then, he saw me. Then, he was like, 'Wow, we're mixing.' Then, every day after school, I kept practicing, practicing, practicing ," the teen said.
He's too young to spin at clubs but plays public events and receptions.
"He is very talented. And also we have the passion and he's also fantastic at reading the crowd. He can switch, you know, from people going to sit back on their chair and really make them dance again for another hour," said his aunt, Jacinte Labarre.
His biggest gig yet is Thursday when he performs in the Old Port of Montreal at the Orientalys Festival that celebrates multiculturalism through music, food and dance.
"Everyone represents their culture and they mix between them. So you can see the people from Thailand dancing with the Syrian people, you can see the Iranian people dancing with the Kyrgyzstan people," said the festival's Matias Olivier.
The free festival runs through Sunday and showcases talents from China, Mongolia and Thailand, among others.
"It's a way to build a bridge without thinking about it, between the cultures because everyone discovers something that resonates with their own culture," Olivier said.
DJ Sajed takes over the tunes at what would normally be his bedtime, pleasing the crowd with some reggae and hip hop, plus a little Latino and Lebanese music.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh convenes caucus in Montreal to plot post-deal path forward
Just days after demolishing his deal with Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is holding a three-day strategy session with his MPs in Montreal.
2 hospitalized, suspects sought after 'extreme case of road rage' in B.C.: RCMP
Mounties in B.C.'s Lower Mainland are searching for two people allegedly responsible for a road rage incident that sent a couple to hospital with serious injuries, saying the suspects could be in another province.
Why is this village in Quebec facing a 370 per cent property tax hike?
Residents in the small Quebec village of Danford Lake may soon be priced out of their homes, as property valuations and taxes are set to skyrocket.
Forgotten Cheetos snack bag can have 'world-changing' impact, U.S. national park says
A U.S. national park is cautioning tourists about how a small bag of Cheetos could have an enormous impact.
Calgary's police chief speaks out against Alberta's anticipated photo radar crackdown
Calgary’s police chief has issued a grave warning about the potential impact of further restrictions on photo radar use in Alberta.
Woman who died in B.C. jail cell had asked to be taken to hospital twice, report shows
A woman who died from drug toxicity while in a B.C. jail cell asked to be taken to hospital twice in the hours after she was taken into custody in a case the province's police watchdog says again raises concerns over the treatment of intoxicated prisoners.
James Earl Jones, acclaimed actor and voice of Darth Vader, dies at 93
James Earl Jones, who overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen — eventually lending his deep, commanding voice to CNN, 'The Lion King' and Darth Vader — has died. He was 93.
Romeo Dallaire now recovered from severe infection: CTV News Exclusive
Romeo Dallaire is ready to return to public life again this fall after a serious health scare forced the retired lieutenant-general to postpone his cross-country book tour in March.
White Stripes sue Donald Trump over use of 'Seven Nation Army' riff in social media post
The White Stripes sued former U.S. president Donald Trump on Monday in a case that alleges he used their hit song 'Seven Nation Army' without permission in a video posted to social media.