Guess who's back? As Beirut's clubbers wait in anticipation for Fady Ferraye's 'Second Coming' at BO18 on February 8, Time Out asks the homegrown house DJ how Amsterdam's nightlife compares.

What kind of music do you play?
That's not an easy question to answer. I play everything around the house sound – sometimes it's proggy, sometimes it's techy, as long as it's hypnotic, deep and unique sounding. I carefully select my tracks. I like certain melodies, keys and compositions – I just follow my heart while cherry picking from my repertoire.

Why you have returned to B018?
B018 has always been my second home, so it was only a matter of time before I went back. This is the club where it all started. I started playing at B018 in summer 2000. I still remember that day, and even the tracklist of my set. Many people have been waiting patiently for my comeback, et voila, it finally happened! I will be playing my second gig on February 8.

What would you be doing if you hadn't become a DJ?
Working in a record shop, preferably a second hand or collectors' vinyl shop. Or a photographer or a writer.

Why was Amsterdam a good place for you to progress your career?
Because Amsterdam is in the centre between the big electronic dance music hot spots of Europe – London, Berlin, Paris. I also like the city and its history. My grandfather is from Venice, Italy, so maybe that's why I love Amsterdam, for its canals. It is also the Venice of the North! But I also wanted to take my career to a higher level, and I mean my music production career as well. There I could release many important singles, I got signed by a very important Dutch music publisher, Talpa Music, and I joined one of the best European bookings agencies, Labyrinth, based in Belgium, which is only a few hours away from Amsterdam.

Tell us about a funny story that happened to you while playing a set.
Well, there's many stories to tell, but I remember a very funny one. I was playing one day, around a swimming pool, in Lebanon. Then at around 6am I dropped a really crazy acidic record, and saw most of my dance floor people jumping in the water. It was very funny seeing that, as if they were stage diving at a rock concert. I always remember that moment.

How would you describe the differences in your residencies at BO18 and Amsterdam's NL club?
Both clubs are great clubs, as both cities are crazy and twisted cities. Each has its own character, and a lovely crowd, always hungry, always wanting more, more and more. Also both clubs have a rich history, they were not born yesterday,
and they share a David Lynch-esque dark red atmosphere. I can't really describe the difference, except that Club NL stays open til 5am max, while B018 goes wild at that time, staying open til 7 or even 8am. But you can touch and hear that on my latest double CD compilation entitled 'The Double Effect'.

How has Beirut's nightlife scene changed since you've been working abroad?
Beirut is still progressing musically as we have all expected, ten years ago, thanks to the DJs and the musicians, the nice and hectic clubs and pubs, the promotors, the radios, the magazines like Time Out Beirut, the beautiful Lebanese clubbers... And also the Arab crowd who keep visiting our city, searching for the good vibe, and embracing the euphoric moments of the til 7am parties, and the after parties as well. If only the political situation was better and more stable we would see what we were always told by our parents and old men, and even by the people we meet in Europe and in every corner of the world – Beirut as the Switzerland, or the Paris of the Middle East.

Fady Ferraye's 'Double Effect' out now. Witness Fady Ferraye’s second coming on Feb 9 at BO18.

For more information and reservation call 03 810618.