Exclusive interview with Virgin Radio UAE Dance Show Host, Scott Forshaw
UK artist Scott Forshaw already has an impressive 15 million global streams under his belt through major dance label releases on Armada, Ultra, and Toolroom, and a peak of more than 250,000 unique monthly listeners on Spotify. Beyond his solo endeavours, Forshaw also has co-production credits with renowned artists such as John Newman, Altego, Black Caviar, and more, underlining his fast-growing reputation in the industry.
For anyone who’s been to Dubai, you’ll likely have heard the name Scott Forshaw. His profile is prolific in the Middle East where he’s a regular on the festival circuit and club scene, notably as resident DJ at Zero Gravity, Dubai’s largest beach club since 2016. His consistency has seen him nominated for five high-profile awards from Time Out and What’s On, winning two in the process.
Having recently signed a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing UK and Organized Chaos – the publishing arm of UK indie Perfect Havoc where Scott is also signed – things couldn’t be better falling in place for this bright young talent.
To mark his latest single ‘Just Keep Dancing’, we grabbed five minutes with Scott Forshaw to discuss collaboration, his new show on Virgin Radio UAE and some standout memories from the Dubai club scene.
Your new single in collaboration with Stephani B and Alfie Cridland ‘Just Keep Dancing’ is a massive, high-energy track. Can you walk us through the creative process behind the track?
We aimed to blend each of our unique styles into one track. We drew inspiration from various elements we all liked and agreed on, then combined them together to create the single. After a few adjustments and tweaks, we all agreed we had a banger on our hands.
How did the creative process differ from your previous releases, like ‘Oxygen’ or ‘Castles In The Sky’?
Those tracks had a more progressive and melodic vibe, but with ‘Just Keep Dancing’, we wanted to dial it back a bit and create something that’s much more energetic and dance floor-focused.
Stephani B has been making waves with her hybrid live drumming and DJing approach. Did this impact the production of ‘Just Keep Dancing’ at all?
With this track, we definitely had to ensure the drums and percussion were spot on. We also made sure the track could easily be adapted for Stephani to perform live on her drum pads.
The track is out on Perfect Havoc, and you’re also signed to them as an artist. What’s your relationship with the PH team, and how has your experience been working with them over the last year or so?
I’ve known Adam Griffin from Perfect Havoc since around 2019 when we were introduced by a mutual connection. Since then, we’ve collaborated on and off on a few different projects, so being managed by them feels like a natural progression. The whole team at Perfect Havoc is incredibly hard-working, and I’m really impressed with what we’ve achieved so far. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the future!
Congratulations on your new dance show on Virgin Radio UAE. What was it like to be asked to host the show and what do you have in store for it over the coming weeks?
It was an amazing feeling! Virgin Radio is hands down the biggest station in the UAE, so when I got the offer, I didn’t have to think twice – it was an instant yes. The show airs every Friday night at 9pm, so I like to keep the music fresh and upfront while also mixing in a few classics to get people hyped for the weekend.
You’re a household name of the club scene in Dubai. What’s the scene like out there?
I’ve been in Dubai for 10 years now, and in that time, the music scene has grown exponentially. It’s exciting to see where it’s headed. When I first arrived, there weren’t many big-name international acts coming to town, and when they did, it was a rare occasion. Now, it feels like every week there are multiple big names in town. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to share the stage with many of them.
Over the years, I’ve had some unforgettable shows, but the real highlights include closing the MainStage at the first-ever edition of Untold in Dubai, playing to over 250,000 people at sunrise on the main highway through Dubai, which was shut down for the event, and holding down a residency at Zero Gravity, one of Dubai’s longest-running and best beach clubs.
The dance music scene is constantly evolving. As a DJ, how do you stay current while trying to maintain a unique sound?
For me, it’s all about honing in on your own taste and trusting it. I’m always on the lookout for new music across all genres and styles, and I make it a point to incorporate that into my sets. I’ve never been a fan of pigeonholing myself into one specific genre, so I like to keep my sets eclectic and fresh.
Can you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or collaborations?
I’m constantly working on what feels like hundreds of new tracks, but my next release is a track called ‘Jumeirah Jam’ with Echostorms, heavily inspired by Dubai, dropping on Soave on October 11. After that, I have another release on October 25 called ‘Mind Body Soul’ with Hollaphonic, which will be released by Perfect Havoc.
Do you have any big gigs or other announcements you’d like to share?
We’ve just announced our new season at Zero Gravity! Between now and November, I’ll be sharing the stage with Belters Only, Goodboys, Switch Disco, Charlie Hedges, and many more to be announced. Plus, stay tuned for a HUGE NYE announcement!
Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring producers looking to break into the dance music scene?
I’d say to just keep at it! I’ve been producing on and off since around 2004 in various forms, so it’s definitely a long game that comes in cycles. The key is to stay committed day in and day out, keep pushing forward, and eventually, you’ll find yourself in the right place at the right time, and things will move.
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