It sometimes feels like Aaron Ferns can be in multiple places at once (maybe he has a time turner like Hermione Granger) because he is involved in so many things. He is the mastermind behind Karak Nights, Stick No Bills events, and much more. Whenever he enters a room, it instantly fills with positive vibes, smiles, and laughter.

This conversation with Aaron gives you insight into his well-known side and reveals some hidden aspects of his life.

— Hey Aaron! So, we all know you are a guru of events and played basketball. But we want more. You have Indian roots. Who in your family is Indian? And how did it happen that you were born in the UAE?

— So, both my mom and dad grew up in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. They each moved to Dubai individually — my dad first, and then my mom followed about a year or so later. So, I never really grew up in India at any point. 

I grew up in an area called Hor Al Anz. I stayed there until I was about nine years old, then moved to Jebel Ali and lived there until I left the country. After that, I moved to the United States and then to Spain.

— Why did you move to the US?

— I got recruited to play basketball. I spent a year there and then came back to finish high school. I did my final two years here and then decided to go back and try again to play professionally. I went to the US for a year, then went to Spain to play there. I was in Madrid, in a little town outside the city. After that, I came back and got a scholarship to AUD (American University in Dubai).

— But you stopped playing basketball. Why?

— So, I came back to Dubai, joined AUD on a basketball scholarship, and around the same time, COVID hit. Things got very stagnant. I went from training four times a day to not being able to leave my house. 

Since I wasn't allowed to play basketball, I felt like I was able to tap into other aspects of myself. Up until then, Basketball was all I knew, taking away my ability to play during that time allowed me to explore what else I could do.

Growing up, I played so much basketball that I genuinely believed it was all I was good at. I didn't allow myself to be good at anything else. As much as I hated being locked up indoors, I feel like it was a blessing in disguise for me.

— And could you tell me more about your parents?

— My dad was a graphic designer, and my mom worked as an event organiser for the longest time. Unfortunately, my dad passed away in 2022.

My mom was the parent that other parents would tell to tone down. She always made it a point to remind me that if you are going to do something, do it with passion and love, or don't do it at all. 

I remember, as a kid, I was super shy. I was the kid who would sit in the corner at birthday parties. In order to help me get comfortable in social surroundings, she decided to run her own summer camp with 150 kids for a few years. It got me out of my shell. My mom told me to be an example at the camp, so I took it upon myself to ensure I was responsible for everyone having a good time. We had swimming, fire brigade visits, cooking, baking, karate, and musicals. It made me feel accepted and part of something bigger. 

When I was 18, I came back from the US and decided to help her out with the summer camp. It was the most wholesome experience, targeting kids who didn't feel welcome or accepted in school. We played random games like Quidditch and Capture the Flag, teaching skills like teamwork, handling losses, and feeling accomplished even without a victory.

My mom is a rockstar. This experience with her is one of the reasons I can be a social butterfly in Dubai.

— Can I ask you about your dad? 

— Of course. You know, it wasn't sudden. He was sick for a very long time. During the early years of my life, my dad was a constant anchor for me. I always felt his presence and support. I would say I had a childhood straight out of a movie. Around the age of 15, my dad started struggling with a drinking problem, which later led to a diagnosis of clinical depression. By the time I turned 22, we were all confined during lockdown, and his health deteriorated significantly. Eventually, his body just couldn’t cope anymore.

— Can you tell me a bit about your parents' relationship as well? Was it a tough marriage or an easy one?

— My mom was always by his side and wanted to go through this with him. My dad was sort of a self-deprecating drinker, which obviously had an impact on the people around him, but never in an aggressive manner. My mom always wanted to be in his corner throughout, and she was the one person who could be there for him, and she saw it through.

— Do you remember your dad before the alcoholism and the depression?

— I had the privilege of knowing my dad before all of that happened. Every weekend, we would host some sort of gathering, and our home was always open; people would just walk in and join the party. There would be drinks, food, and laughter, and my dad was always at the centre of it all. Whether he was strumming his guitar, ensuring everyone's glasses were filled, or cracking jokes, he was the life of the party.

To me, my dad was the glue that held everything together. While my mom took charge of the execution, my dad set the tone.

— Aaron, thank you for sharing. I am really sorry to hear that. Would you say that you got into the events because of your dad's 'life of the party' nature?

— You know, it is funny. When I was growing up, my mom was heavily involved in events. She worked on projects like the Dubai Film Festival and other events in Dubai. I would see her return exhausted, and I thought, "That could never be me. There's no way I'm getting into events."

Throughout high school, all I could imagine was playing basketball, and I pursued that dream with all my energy. I got to play in the US and Spain — experiences I wouldn't trade for anything. However, it wasn’t until I returned to Dubai that I realised the impact I could have beyond the game.

My early years back in Dubai were very much "Main Character" years. I was focused on my personal journey, which prevented me from fully appreciating what was happening around me. I realised there were many people with similar stories — individuals committed to succeeding in unconventional fields. 

I decided to gather a few people who I found incredibly inspirational and who had persevered in their careers: DJ 1Takennandos, a former basketball teammate Ammar Farouq, a childhood friend and boxer Fahad Al-Bloushi, and dancer Muhala. They were all excelling in very unconventional fields. I called them up and organised a Zoom call, that ended up lasting three hours as we shared our journeys and discovered how much we had in common, despite our different industries. It was incredibly inspiring for me.

As we gained more traction, I loved that we were connecting with people, but I also wanted genuine connections among the attendees. I wanted to bring together people who simply wanted to communicate without any agenda — just to meet, connect, and celebrate each other.

The first event came about unexpectedly. A friend called me out of the blue, excited about her new job at Cubano Lito and wanting to host an event there with Karak Nights. I immediately said yes. Within an hour of that call, I was at the venue planning. Two weeks later, we held our first event with 67 attendees. Our events grew, eventually hosting between 550 to 600 people.

Looking back, I now understand why my mom, despite her exhaustion, woke up ready for action the next day. Bringing these ideas to life gives an unparalleled feeling.

— Why Karak Nights? Why this name?

— The one place in Dubai that attracts everyone, from people rocking up in Rolls Royce to those on bicycles, is the karak chai spot. People of different nationalities, jobs, and lives in Dubai come together there, which represents Dubai’s culture.

— You are everywhere, surrounded by lots of people. Have you ever been tired of it?

— Absolutely, it is a double-edged sword. I thrive on everyone's energy at these events, yet I also carry the responsibility of setting the vibe and tone. There are moments when I walk into an event feeling like I have got the weight of the world on my shoulders — it might be the worst day — but once I step into that room, all of that has to fade away. What matters most is that everyone who enters feels and shares in the excitement, leaving with a sense of being part of something larger than themselves.

Even though I am a social butterfly who engages with 1,500 to 1,600 people, making each person feel at home, stepping out afterwards is like going from a room filled with noise to sudden silence, which can sometimes be daunting. It forces me to take a step back and catch my breath. Sometimes, I am so immersed in the noise that the silence afterwards worries me.

I don't always do the best job of giving myself enough time to recuperate, but I have learned that after our events on Saturdays or Sundays, you probably won't hear from me. I need an entire day to recharge my batteries so I can fully commit to what comes next.

— How do you recharge your batteries?

— It varies from week to week, to be honest. Some weeks, I will just sit in a dark room and not do anything. I just want a moment of nothing — no noise, no texts, no songs, nothing. Other times, it is through basketball. I will go out and play pickup games or join a three-on-three or five-on-five game. That is how I let out whatever pent-up aggression, frustration, or feelings I have inside.

— Have you ever thought that organising events was not the right path for you?

— I wouldn't say it is the wrong path for me but I have struggled with finding the sweet spot between doing them for the community while also allowing it to sustain my life. That is the struggle for a lot of creatives in Dubai, whether it is music, content creation, art, or events. That is always a battle in my head.

So, I think what has been working for me with organising events is that I like to switch things up every now and then. Instead of just doing a panel talk with an artist and DJ performance at the event space, we have moved the conversations online and showcased them through different platforms so that the events are a community-focused experience on their own.

Each event is going to have a theme, and the whole room will be executed to emulate that theme. For instance, on the 22nd, we are aiming to have a disco-themed party. We are going to change the interiors of the space to implement that disco theme. It is something to provide the community with a different experience every time they come in and an opportunity to meet different people through that experience.

— And also, you have launched a YouTube channel!

— Yes! We have a lot of cool stuff coming. Talks with really cool creatives, some sports challenges by 1take and I and a lot more! From the get-go, we didn't have a very big team; it was just a few of us trying to delegate as much as we could to each other. We didn't really have the capacity to handle all our social media accounts. It was just a lot. That is one of the reasons why when it came to my personal social media page, I thought it was a great idea when Jo [Aaron’s manager, the co-founder of Notanagency] came to me with the concept of managing me. It took a lot of weight off my shoulders.

Recently, I realised it was a platform through which I could showcase more. I also wanted to tap back into the sports element, which I felt I had deviated from for a while. This was my opportunity to get back to that and overcome my fears.

After discontinuing basketball, I became nervous about getting back into it because I felt like I had failed at something I was so passionate about. I had a lot of thoughts about failing at what I set out to do, so I was scared to step back onto the court. The segments we have are my opportunity to prove to myself that I can.

— Now, Stick No Bills. What is it?

—It came two years after Karak Nights. I attended a Desi brunch for a friend's birthday, where I knew the photographer. He mentioned, "Oh, there's a DJ I really want you to meet." Lo and behold, it was Jeftin James, AKA DJ Jeff. We instantly clicked. We talked about music, events, and his ambitions.

After the event, I suggested we grab coffee. I wanted him to perform at Karak Nights, adding a South Asian flair. Instead, he pitched a concept: a South Asian fusion night. I thought it was brilliant, though uncertain how big the crowd would be. But I decided that in the worst-case scenario, it wouldn't work out.

We scouted venues and settled on Tandoor Tina at the 25hours Hotel. Setting a date, we took the plunge. For the first event, we kept it invite-only, and 650 people showed up. Jeff and I personally invited everyone, and the turnout exceeded our expectations.

Growing up Indian, there is often a pressure to challenge stereotypes and show that our culture is cool. That night, I saw a room filled with South Asians, alongside others, all-embracing our culture. The energy in the room was palpable. It felt like the collective spirit was saying, "It's our time now, and you are all going to vibe to our stuff tonight." People danced to old Bollywood tunes mixed with Afrobeat, singing every word with pride. It was a profoundly impactful moment for my identity as an Indian.

— I don't know why I am going to ask this, but I feel that your response could be interesting. What is your guilty pleasure?

— I started playing guitar at a young age. My dad was in a band while growing up; he was an orphan and took care of his siblings through his band in India called The Vandals. Music was his passion.

We had a guitar at home, and I began by learning "Smoke on the Water." Over time, it became my outlet — I would sit down and play songs or write silly tunes that only close friends heard and laughed about. Sometimes, I write a song about my day or playfully tease someone by singing about their quirks.

— Did your dad teach you to play the guitar?

— My dad always had this thing where he was never going to force me to play music. He had a guitar lying around, and so I picked it up and messed around till I learnt a song or two on my own. But he played a vital role. You know, when you start playing an instrument, it sounds pretty bad at first. My dad would tell me to go to my room and practice until the chords sounded nice enough to play in front of people. I would be in my room watching YouTube tutorials for maybe four or five hours, just trying to figure it out. I didn't want to learn the guitar from conventional classes, but instead explore music myself which is why I enjoy it so much.

Music is such a fascinating instrument. It allows you to amplify a situation, set the tone in a room, and embrace a certain feeling. It has always been a huge part of my family. We had a CD collection at home and would go for drives just to listen to albums.

As a kid, I couldn't handle my emotions well when playing basketball. There were times I would lose terribly and sit in the car frustrated. Instead of talking to me about how badly I played, my dad would play some Beatles or John Mayer and have me indulge in whatever I was feeling. It helped me understand my emotions better. Music is a beautiful instrument for anyone to have.

— What events should we expect in the near future?

The upcoming events are monumental for us. With Stick No Bills, we are performing at Wireless, which is probably the largest platform we have been on so far. Meanwhile, with Karak Nights, we are launching a new event called Code Switch. It is inspired by the adaptability of third-culture kids, who seamlessly interact with different cultures — my accent adjusts depending on who I am talking to, whether it is Arab, Indian, or British. There are challenges, but it is enriched my ability to connect with diverse people.

Each Code Switch event captures a distinct vibe, reflecting Dubai's diverse and experiential nature. Our inaugural event is on June 22nd.

Additionally, we have ventured into venue activation, offering a service where we conceptualise monthly events for venues. Our first partnership is with Nawab at Jebel Ali Village, an Indian restaurant aimed at showcasing the South Asian community. We kicked off with a styling workshop featuring Indian jewelry with Shivani.

I also want to highlight our upcoming Pre-Games Night, a game-themed event preceding other activities. We are hosting improv game sessions featuring captains like Shawn (@myparents_are_divorced) and Karim (@nawstique). They compete in games where one speaks gibberish, and the other translates to the crowd — a fun element to bring everyone together. I am thrilled about this project starting next month.

I also want to show my appreciation towards Jyotsna and her agency. When she came to me with the concept of managing me, I didn't see myself as more than the events I was doing. She saw potential in me and invested in me to become something bigger.