From Secret47, comes 'best ever' birthdance
Gent Rizaj is one of Kosova's best known DJs. You'll see him playing in Adriatic beaches, Burning Man desert, clubs in NYC & Zurich. He's also organizer of Birthdance, 'best ever' series of parties.
Whoever knows Gent Rizaj aka Secret47 from before war years, remembers him as a very competitive tennis player and producer of home-made mix tapes. During the years he lived in New York, he co-founded Buyrum collective, together with his brother Noki, also a DJ, and their buddy Petrit (aka INK), and they became quickly known in the Big Apple for their annual Halloween events.
In the past decade or two, Genti is also known for Birthdance, which initially started as his own birthday party, but quickly evolved in multi-day music festival or series of smaller and bigger music events, organized under his artistic persona Secret47, playing an amalgam of tribal, futuristic, funky, house. Why Secret and why 47? No one really knows, but next week Genti is turning 47, and he promises he’ll tell us all the story behind his music character.
One more thing: just like Nike has ‘Just do it’ tagline, or Apple has ‘Think Different’, Genti for years have insisted (not wrongly) that he organizes ‘best ever’ events, curates ‘best ever’ experiences and as years went by he is now known as ‘best ever’, or shortly ‘Besti’, by the big number of friends and followers.
So, we figured we catch Genti or Secret47 or Besti, to discuss a bit about his past and present plans and his path from streets of Prishtina, to clubs of New York and deserts of Nevada - and the big finale of Birthdance (last ever? best ever?) this year in Prishtina & Tirana.
Arlinda: It seems your work as a DJ so far, but also your life journey, draws a major inspiration from New York. I always get mesmerised by NYC, even if I don't do anything but walk around in the East Village or pop up in a gallery in Brooklyn. Tell us something about that relationship you have with the Big Apple, and how it is reflected in both in your music and the curated program for the BirthDance 47?
Genti: Well well… where do I f*cking start & finish ! New York in the late 90’s & early 2000’s was simply the best crazy city, totally my BPM! I was the perfect fit to go nuts with ideas & learn the most from so many super talented musicians, people & clubs. I made sure to see almost all the Broadway shows at the time, visited the magnificent museums that the city of NYC offers and this certainly immensely influenced my musical repertoire and it gave me the dramatic edge I have now for my events. I lived close to PS1 in Queens and went to all events at the time and that gave me a lot of artistic values. Noki, Petrit & Myself started our first Halloween event in 2001 & it’s still going now in 2025 - we have not missed a year - so you can assume that NY adrenaline is still kicking in!
You're known as DJ Secret 47. I was always wondering what's all that about. What's the story behind your name? What's the ‘secret’ behind 47? And will it be revealed now that you're finally celebrating your 47th birthday?
The story behind will be finally be told this year on Birthdance47.com, since I will be 47 this year & that was the whole idea behind it. It’s a journey of self-discovery that all my favorite people will be involved in.
What about the music program this year? You're very careful to curate the type of program with a precision and special guests that bring something special and meaningful in the music. What is each day of BirthDance 47 bringing and how is it all connected?
This year my 47 ON course will be the Best EVER & maybe my last one! It’s a six-nights series of events and as you said… it’s organized with precision & details. With more than 120 guest flying from all of the world just to be part of the dancefloor. The best compliment I ever got was, when I asked a very knowledgeable Dj if he likes the music in an event of mine? He replied: “I don’t really care about the music right now, because the party is so good.” Birthdance is about visual magic, musical drama & events with healthy food, yoga, arts, make up, theme night & much more:
19.02 Wednesday 20h - Opening Dance at MONROE
20.02 Thursday 22h - White Theme Dance at GRAPE (Hotel Garden)
21.02 Friday 20h - Dance with a View at NOYA
22.02 Saturday 23h - Marathon Dance at ZONE CLUB
23.02 Sunday 13h - Last Dance at EDHE
01.03 Saturday 22h - Tirana Dance at Tunel
Your look, what you wear, is essential component of your DJ persona. You have a long-standing collaboration with Yllka Brada, who is very good for the type of urban electro gothic look you frequently push. What's the theme this year? What's the visuality you're looking or hoping for?
Very true! What I wear is big part of me and my performance. I REALLY love it! And I’m that lucky lazdran to have Fashion Queen Yllka Brada in my life. This year I tried my Birthdance clothes with my eyes closed, so Yllka has a secret outfit for secret47 and I’m so excited! Also, this year the wonderful and super talented fashion designer Lia Stublla is designing her first menswear for me and I was blown away by what she did! Kukuuuu
It's fair to say BirthDance 47 is not really a birthday party anymore, but an exquisite, little urban music festival, but still - if you could imagine those times in 1990s, in your high school years, first music and party experiences and birthday celebrations as a kid with music on cassette tapes and early CD's - what's one thing that still influences your music which is true throughout your entire life?
The idea behind BirthDance is to celebrate One Birthday for ALL of US... that is why it now happens in different dates and only a few of thousands of participants know my real birthday. It all started exactly in 1990’s when I was always the DJ for my school friends. Me and my brother Noki had a cassette tape recording company called Music Box when I was 14 (I think). I always loved making music for people and this year I will also have free USB’s full with music for my Birthdance dancers. Also, sunglasses, umbrellas, bags & much more with my new 47 logo by Arian Ahmeti. The thing that influenced me then & now is seeing people dancing together happy with music & being part of that happiness! “Some dance to remember … some dance to forget”
