Bekool Brilliants: BiGz
2026.05.20 - Balatonica
BIGz is coming to Balatonica Podium on behalf of Bekool Records. We sat down with the Canadian artist for a quick chat about his long journey in electronic music, his different aliases, evolving sound and what still keeps him inspired after all these years on the scene. Read the interview below and get ready for a proper deep dive.
You’ve been active in the electronic scene for a long time now. How has club culture changed since you first started DJing?
Club culture has changed massively. When I started in the late 80s and early 90s, everything felt raw and underground. People went out for the music, the experience and the connection on the dancefloor. DJs had to really dig for records, build a musical identity and take people on a journey because there was no instant access to music like today.
Now everything moves much faster because of streaming, social media and technology. The positive side is that electronic music became global and more accessible than ever. There are incredible talents coming from all over the world. But at the same time, attention spans became shorter and the culture can sometimes feel more focused on content than the actual music and curation.
For me, the essence remains the same though. A great groove, a good vibe and a unified dancefloor enjoying the flow together as one tribe will always be timeless.
You’ve released music under different aliases, including BiG AL and BiGz. What do these names represent for you creatively?
BiG AL is really my original identity and roots. That name represents my deeper history in house music, from mixtapes, boomboxes, break-dancing and hosting radio shows to the London raves, the NYC club kid culture and then DJing, collecting vinyl, running labels, working at legendary nightclubs and connecting people around the world over the years. It carries the experience, the musical journey and the legacy side of what I do.
BiGz became more of a creative background. It allowed me to experiment with modern sounds and textures, deeper grooves and more hypnotic elements while keeping my musical DNA intact.
At the end of the day, both aliases are connected. They just represent different shades of the same artist.
Your sound moves between deep house, progressive, melodic and organic influences. How would you describe your musical identity today?
I would describe my sound today as therapeutic electronic music with soul. No matter the genre or tempo, I’m always chasing atmosphere, groove, vibe and storytelling.
I love deep house because of its warmth and timeless groove, progressive because it creates movement and tension, melodic music because of the emotional connection, and organic elements because they bring humanity into a digital realm.
I never really liked putting myself inside one box. For me, the identity is more about creating a feeling than following a trend or category.
You’ve worked with a huge number of labels and artists. What makes a collaboration really work for you?
Mutual respect and honesty. The best collaborations happen when both artists trust each other creatively and leave ego outside the studio. Your Ego is not your amigo!
I also think chemistry is very important. Sometimes one person is stronger with grooves and rhythms, while the other brings melodies, atmosphere or arrangement ideas. When both energies complement each other naturally, that’s when the magic happens.
Communication also matters a lot. The strongest collaborations feel effortless because everyone is focused on serving the music first.
You’ve played everywhere from Montreal to Beirut to Ibiza. Which city or crowd has left the biggest impression on you?
Every city gave me a different energy and memory. Montreal played a huge role in shaping me musically because of its strong underground culture, diversity and NYC influence. Beirut is my hometown and always feels emotional for me because the crowd is incredibly passionate and resilient. Ibiza is obviously special because of its history and global energy. That Island has a magic spell on me.
Is there a track in your catalog that you feel could deserve more attention than it got?
Definitely. I think every producer has a few hidden gems that maybe arrived at the wrong time or didn’t get enough exposure.
One that comes to mind is my first vinyl record release in 1999 “The Fine Nelly EP”
It was rated as the most underrated record of the year by John Digweed because I didn’t have enough money to promote it like a big label and I only sent 100 promo copies to the Balance Promo Pool which was run by Chris Fortier & Co back then. It captured my NYC influence and the raw process of creating music from a simple idea to a polished final club ready product.
After hundreds of releases and gigs, what still feels like a challenge?
Staying inspired while remaining authentic. The music industry moves very fast and trends constantly change, so the real challenge is continuing to evolve without losing your identity. Keep it raw, keep it real and be yourself.
