60 Seconds With IAMDJDRAKE
60 Seconds With IAMDJDRAKE
Hi Drake, for those who don’t know you, please tell us a little about yourself and how you first got into DJing?
I’m from the U.S. specifically the East Coast. I started as a DJ at the age of 13 after hearing the song Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels of Steel, watching a local DJ mix R&B records, and seeing Jam Master Jay live in concert. The three of these events kicked off my love for DJing and the rest is history.
As a producer, who or what inspires your productions?
In my early years, DJ Premier inspired me the most. As I matured in producing, Pharrell became my inspiration because of his ability to produce across different genres. Now, Black Coffee and Kaytranda inspire my house sound and production.
Describe your sound in 5 words…
Energetic, African vibe, soulful twist.
Your brilliant new release. ‘Fool 4 Your Love’, ft Jemimah Eze has just been released, are you pleased with how it sounds?
Yes, very pleased. Love the mesh of smooth vocals in both English and Nigerian with the hard baseline.
What was the inspiration behind the release?
‘Fool 4 Your Love’ is about being madly in love and willing to do anything to get the love back, even though you know the love is not good for you. I know that this is a theme that many people can relate to.
Will there also be remixes of the single coming?
Yes. There is an amapiano remix coming in July, and we are taking submissions for other house remixes.
‘Fool 4 Your Love’ also hails the launch of your own label, DNJ Records, what can we expect to hear on the label moving forwards?
I’m starting the label with my own Afro Soul house productions. I plan to expand the label to sign other independent artists that represent different genres.
What’s your studio set up like?
I use Ableton as my DAW, and the NPCX drum machine and Akai NPK Keyboard to make my music.
When in the studio, do you have any rituals or bad habits?
I like to watch TV when making music.
You’ve been the opening DJ for mega musical stars such as DMX, Busta Rhymes, Chris Brown and Keyshia Cole, how did that come about?
I’ve been recognized as Connecticut’s premier DJ for many years and being a radio DJ on Clear Channel Power 104.1 FM came with amazing opportunities to be the opening DJ for artists that performed in the area.
Where is your favourite place to DJ and where are you most looking forward to play this summer?
Nightclubs with open formats because I get a chance to play different genres of music. Always love playing at the Summer Jazz festival in my home state where crowds can get up to 20,000 people.
What are your thoughts on the current House scene?
It’s exciting because of all the different genres within house that are becoming more mainstream. This opens the doors for artists like me to create my own style of house – Afro Soul.
What are you top 3 current tracks of the moment?
1 IAMDJDRAKE, Jemimah Eze – Fool 4 Your Love (Original Mix) – DNJ Records (of course my release is on the list!)
2 Blaze – Breathe (Natasha Diggs Remix) – Slip ‘n’ Slide Records
3 October London – Make Me Wanna – Death Row Records
What else are you working on at the moment that you can tell us about?
Finishing the amapiano remix of ‘Fool 4 Your Love’, completing another song with Jemimah Eze called ‘Omalicha’, which means beautiful, and releasing an EP by the end of this year.
IAMDJDRAKE ft Jemimah Eze ‘Fool 4 Your Love’ is out now on DNJ Records.
https://tidal.com/browse/track/358045847?u
