Meet the DJ you won’t want to party without… – Simchas Live 2017
We speak to Kwame Knight, known for his sartorial elegance, signature hat, and being a renowned multi-genre DJ!
Brigit Grant is the Jewish News Supplements Editor
The George Benson hit could be an anthem for DJ Knight. Recognised by his sartorial elegance and signature hat, Kwame Knight (his real name) is an internationally-renowned multi-genre DJ and event planner who has been making parties soar for more than 20 years. Running the gamut from award ceremonies and bar/batmitzvahs, to milestone birthdays, product launches and luxury weddings, Knight has also built up a corporate client portfolio that includes Mishcon de Reya, Reebok, Lulu Guinness and Stella McCartney.
He was the first DJ to host an event inside the Petronas Towers in Malaysia (421 metres above sea level), but is just as happy to spin at the Savoy, Dorchester, Claridges or your garden. This year, he has been hired to host in America, France, Dubai, Switzerland and Italy, although we’re still only in October, so who knows where he will be called to next? But he did have time to answer the following:
What’s been the highlight of your year?
“Being flown out to Cannes in the south of France to
DJ at a Jewish wedding that took place at Castellaras
Le Vieux, which has breath-taking views overlooking the city”
What has been the most requested song?
“Currently it’s Despacito (Remix) (feat. Justin Bieber) – guests request this song over and over again!”
What do you think makes a function great (apart from your presence)?
“All the various components of the event planned and
co-ordinated with precision and plenty of alcohol! Heh heh.”
When the audience is a mixed-age group, how do you keep the balance right?
“Research. Find out what the different generations are into and I always listen to music and keep my music collection up to date with all styles and genres of music. You never know what someone will ask for. So I’m always prepared.”
If a barmitzvah or batmitzvah wants to make a big entrance, what songs do you recommend?
• 24K Magic
• Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO
• Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
• Drinking From The Bottle – Calvin Harris ft Tinie Tempah
• Club Can’t Handle Me – Flo Rida
• Don’t Stop The Party – Pitbull
• Boom! Shake The Room – Will Smith
• Starships – Nicki Minaj
• Bom Bom – Sam and the Womp
• Instructions – Demi Lovato
• Cake By The Ocean – DNCE
Kwame Knight, event planner / producer: 07956 104 086, 020 3130 4040
Come along to Jewish News presents Simchas Live on Sunday 22 October at the Village Hotel, Elstree, 11am to 4pm.
Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Read the supplement here:
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
