by PETER LIGHTBURN

Mohamed Amraoui believes that everything happens for a reason. Raised locally by Peruvian and Moroccan parents, his tutelage began with his father's eclectic record collection - jazz, Latin, soul, disco and the North African rhythms of Gnawa. Parlaying these influences into an ambitious DJ career, Amraoui - or DJ Moka - scored a backup stint with Tony Desypris' revered Jai Bar residency, as well as an Afro Latin night at Tokyo with his good friend DJ Carl. When his ears aren't deluged by the demos he receives at work (the world music imprint, Spiritual Life), Moka makes a monthly appearance at Montreal's popular Soul Meka night, a funky, weekly bop-down featuring global beats with a pinch of house. Mo met up with the Mirror at Phillips Square before a spinning engagement in Milan.

Mirror: What led to the offer from Spiritual Life?

DJ Moka: Me and [label founder] Joe Claussell have had a rapport since I first checked him at Body and Soul in New York and Jai Bar here. There was always a vibe, so he invited me to join the Spiritual Life family in the A&R department.

M: Give us a rundown of what you do for the label.

DJM: Coordinating and budgeting for the artists, booking recording and editing sessions, checking out shows and listening to demos to scout for new artists. At home, I often listen to non-house stuff to sharpen my ears. The biggest challenge is working with a tight budget - for an independent label, this is crucial.

M: Why does Spiritual Life stand out so much in dance music circles?

DJM: It represents honest, emotional music from all over the world, without the hype. Just the name itself is heavy to digest.

M: Any upcoming projects for us to look for?

DJM: Slam Modes' album, Uhuru, a new Spiritual Life compilation with a track featuring Miguel Graça, and a new album by Daniel Moreno, who's a brilliant multi-instrumentalist and percussionist. There's also a special project involving Arab and Israeli musicians - some of the proceeds are going to help the people of Iraq.

At Salon Daomé (141 Mont-Royal E.) on August 16, 10PM, $6-$8

>> Music Listings