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DJ Sharam Jey keeps touring close to home

A first-ever set in Whistler for German Indie dance music maker
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NOMINATED DJ Sharam Jey is up for two awards at the International Dance Music Awards in Miami. File Photo

Cologne-based DJ Sharam Jey is arriving in Whistler on a high note, with two major award nominations in the past week.

At the 28th annual International Dance Music Awards, which takes place in late March in Miami, Jey is up for two awards — Best Indie Dance/Underground DJ and Best Indie Dance Track.

"It's a big highlight for me, having been in the business now for 20 years," the Iran-born, Germany-raised DJ says.

And being able to maintain a career in the community he grew up in is important for him, he says.

"I could move to any big city around the world, but we decided to stay around Cologne. When you DJ there is heavy travelling and it's nice to have a home where your family and friends are around you. The good thing about it is that you are so close to many other big cities like Amsterdam, Paris and Brussels."

Jey performs at the Garibaldi Lift Company on Thursday, Feb. 25, at 9:30 p.m. DJ Kori K. plays the opening set. This is Jey's first-ever Whistler gig.

"I'm very excited. I've been performing for so many years and every time I go to new places it is special for me," Jey says. "It's nice to reach new people and having a good time with the music."

And this time, Jey brought his family on tour, including two tiny ones; his son is three, while his daughter is just 10 weeks old.

"Sometimes when you are with two kids, there is no schedule that means you will be on time," Jey laughs.

"It's the first trip with my daughter, but she is doing very well. This is the first time I've taken them with me, actually. But it is a really nice thing to bring my family with me if I am travelling for more than two weeks. It's not hard work, it's fun work."

Bunny Tiger is Jey's record label, which he uses to produce his own and others' work, and merchandise.

"It has kept me busy for the last four years, which I am happy about," he says.

He also has a new album out, as every six months he produces a compilation album of 20 tracks written and performed in the previous period; the latest is called The Bunny Tiger Selection Vol. 7. It is out on Spotify and iTunes this week.

"I am constantly putting music out on my label, and we've just celebrated its 60th release. The first were my own but then there were collaborations and they grew... This life is about constantly creating, releasing and touring," he says.

He has also remixed music by Moby, among others.

"But for the last few years I have concentrated on clubs, focusing on one thing. We also do our Bunny Tiger clothing, it's all big fun," he says.