Nigeria is spearheading new music and fusion in west Africa, and it’s DJ’s are keeping up. Osivue the DJ after curating the New Age playlist, has made an outright stance for the new wave of music emerging from Africa. His House Rules is the perfect mix to discover new African sounds, jam to the ones you may already know, and fall in love with African alternative music all over agin.
Enjoy the mix as you find out more about the budding DJ.
Where are you? Describe your location to us? What do you see? What do you hear and smell?
Currently in my room. Dim lighting provided by my bedside lamp as usual. I don’t see much because my room is almost always poorly lit but I’ve lived here a while now so I know I’m facing my little DJ desk set up backed against the wall. I hear nothing really, it’s 1:32am so I think my friends are asleep and I am currently inhaling the scent of my green tea – nightly requirement, obviously.
What do you start and end the mix with?
I start it with a song called Relax by Tim Lyre and I end it with a song called Wave by Jilex Anderson – two very talented Nigerian artistes.
If this mix was food what food would it be?
Haha, it would have to be Chicken, Waffles & Gravy, because it’s a mixture of familiar sounds and musical instruments but infused with elements of surprise – just the same way the food combo tastes. If you get what I mean y’know
What do you imagine people doing as they listen to this mix?
Probably on their way to a lecture they are in no rush to get to whatsoever. Or on the bus to their lousy 9-5 shift wearing crappy Apple earphones that barely emit sound. Funny enough, one of my friends tells me she always listens to my mixes while she does her makeup because it kinda gives her a time limit, and it’s something she can vibe to while at it. So I guess I can imagine people doing that… well, females at least. My mixes are almost always between 20 and 35 minutes, which is probably also the average time people take showers for. So I guess it could work for that as well. But whatever it is they’re doing, I just imagine them thinking “Rah, Osivue is actually insane!”
Describe the Nigerian music scene.
This is definitely a tough one because I could write volumes of journal entries on the topic. But to keep it concise, the Nigerian music scene can be best described as a collaboration of sounds across all 36 states of the country, (in addition to those in diaspora that create Nigerian or Nigerian-influenced music) that portray the lifestyles of the different classes or social stratifications of Nigerians across the world. You have people making music to represent the ‘streets’ or the lower to lower middle class, you have people making music to portray the lavish lifestyles enjoyed by the upper middle or higher class, you have people making music to represent those who have migrated away but still strongly identify with their home country and so much more. And then, you have a Nigerian music industry that it still arguably in its infant stages in relation to the industrial frameworks of other highly populated and highly influential countries but making an active effort to safeguard and award the plethora of musical prodigies that are constantly making beautiful music for the masses. The Nigerian music scene, like any other, has its strengths and its weaknesses, but one thing is constant: it never fails to evolve or provide mesmerizing tunes.
What do you think of the new wave of afro-fusionists, especially those budding in Nigeria?
Well, first of all, I would be skeptical to categorize them all as afro-fusionists, considering the variety of evolving niche genres that a number of these budding Nigerian artistes who are currently considered afro-fusionists, would rather categorize themselves as; such as soul-fusionists, alternative afro-fusionists, and of course those who identify primarily as afro-fusionists. By “them”, I guess the tag used here refers to the more youthful and contemporary artistes currently reinvigorating the ‘African’ sound both in Nigeria in diaspora. That being said, I think they’re absolutely sensational, and to be fair I don’t think they get enough credit for the Lord’s work they are doing for the industry. Being able to efficiently ‘fuse’ a variety of sounds that have traditionally been treated and considered as individual and exclusive is not easy by any means, and the new cats in the game are making it look like child’s play. Artistes like Tay Iwar, Ozzy B, Odunsi, the Engine, Lady Donli, BiddySings, Nonso Amadi, Tomi Thomas (the list is endless to be fair) constantly amaze me with their ability to think miles outside the box and effectively transform thought to content in a new and refreshing way, week in-week out. Artistes aside, the audio engineers and maestro producers such as GMK, Omar Su Le Son Qui Tue, Legendury Beatz, Adey, DJ Juls and so much more are putting in overtime alongside these artistes to produce breathtaking music that I’m certain will outlive their lifetime, in my opinion. And that in itself is legendary.
You have the opportunity to be the official DJ for any artist in the world, who are you going for and why?
To be fair, I actually never thought about this before today, haha. But now that I do, it will have to be Wizkid. Shouts to DJ Tunez and all, but I’d definitely be taking his job! Why? Well, more like why not? If I get to DJ for him for only like a 10-day African tour or for a few nights in Lagos, I’d learn so much from his aura and his expertise and that would be incredibly beneficial for my development, talk less be his official DJ. But also, I probably know every Wizkid song and feature he has been on like the back of my hand, and I’m confident in my ability to create a rave for any gig he has – regardless of the audience, location or time of the day. But then again, he’s arguably the biggest recording artiste out of Africa at the moment, who wouldn’t want to be his official DJ?
What was the last movie you watched and how did it impact you?
It was Get Out directed by Jordan Peele. It impacted me in several ways to be honest, but most importantly, I think it made me more aware of subtle nuances and hints both in life and while watching other films or TV series. I read a Buzzfeed article the other day that highlighted 22 things people probably missed in the movie, and it just amazed me to see how things could be in plain sight and I could still miss it. So yeah, I’d say it impacted me in terms of my attention to detail and clues.
A chicken walks through that door right now wearing an agbada. What does he say and why is he here?
This question is so hilarious, honestly. Whoever thought about this deserves a raise. But yeah, a chicken wearing an agbada that walks through the door is probably the reincarnated brother of the delicious peppered chicken I bodied at my cousin’s wedding a few years ago. And to be honest, before he has time to say anything or lay some curses on me, I have ducked out the window. Ain’t nobody got time for that!
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