Destiny is a gorgeous thing, in that in the midst of all the chaos dwells orderliness, an orchestration beyond our mortal sight. From experiencing the loss of her father at a young age, to playfully carving out rhythms for the innumerable musical sessions held in secondary school, using cupboards and tables as percussion instruments, to idly practicing how to DJ with her best friend in the university, and eventually performing sets for notable brands like Insert Nights, WeTalkSound, Whisky With The Girls, Palmwine Fest, Obi’s House, Chibyverse, etc. In this interview, DJ Axara shares her journey with Afromixx. Her highs and lows, days she felt like quitting and nights she couldn’t stop going—as she watched people swing to her prowess as a crowd controller.
I’ve always loved music since secondary school, but I never thought about DJing in particular. Back then, I used to be the one they called to sing and drum on our lockers and cupboards in boarding school, in the hostel, or in class.”
– DJ Axara
I would like to know what growing up was like for you.
Growing up wasn’t boring but also not interesting as I would have preferred with the benefit of hindsight lol. It was just me and my mom. I lost my dad at a very young age, and you know, I had to be very responsible because I was the only child, and there was no option of me getting a sibling. I had to do a lot of stuff myself, and my mom did really great in terms of being a mother and stepping into the role of a father.
I’m so sorry, Axara. Being an only child, your mom must have been really protective of you, correct?
Oh yes. *laughs* She still is.
Have you always wanted to become a DJ? What inspired you to pursue DJing?
I’ve always loved music since secondary school, but I never thought about DJing in particular. Back then, I used to be the one they called to sing and drum on our lockers and cupboards in boarding school, in the hostel, or in class. When I got into university, I met my best friend, who casually suggested that I start DJing. I downloaded Virtual DJ and started trying to learn. My best friend, TinyBraz (God bless her), went back for holidays one time, learned properly, and taught me.
And how does mom feel about you being a DJ?
Truthfully, my mom doesn’t entertain the idea of me being a DJ at all. My mum is 100 percent protective and feels that this career path is very rough but she’s gradually easing into the idea of me being a DJ.
Haha. So, is Axara like a stage name?
Yeah. Axara is a stage name. I got it from the series “Lucifer.” Before then, I used to go by another name that I would rather not mention. *laughs*
Tell! I promise it won’t be mentioned in the interview.
*laughs* It was DJ Beast.
Haha, the irony. You look nothing like the name.
*laughs* I know. That was the point of the name
Do you ever get nervous before a set? If so, how do you handle it?
Yes, I do. Especially with bigger gigs. Most times, I get nervous some days leading up to the gig and some minutes into it. But once I start and get into it, I relax. A compliment from someone enjoying the music or the event organizer, seeing the audience vibing and a shot of something nice (if you know what I mean) also helps.
Off the top of your head, can you name some of the brands you’ve worked for?
WeTalkSound, 234RnB, Obi’s House , Whiskey With The Girls, Unheard, Palmwine Fest, Hause Fellowship, Amapiano Left & Right, The Awakening, Raveolution, Rooftop Riddim, LSTN w Minji, Love and Riddims, Chibyverse.
That’s so cool. What has been your most memorable gig so far, and why was it special?
I have a couple, but my most memorable gig so far would be Insert Nights (Nexus). I think I did a great job that night. People really vibed to my sound, and the energy was litttt!
Interesting. What’s it like to be a female DJ in Nigeria?
Being a female DJ in Nigeria is such a cool experience. Once upon a time, my response would have been different because when I started out, it was tough, but right now, I’m really enjoying being a DJ. Right now, I’m just taking all the opportunities that come my way and making sure that I slay every set.
Oh, that’s good to know. I used to hear tales of sexism and all. That’s never occurred with you?
Oh it did… when I first started out, because I was a female DJ, some people didn’t trust that I could handle shows properly. Some male colleagues felt like I was just doing this for fun and never took me seriously. A couple people even doubted that I could DJ properly. Sexism probably still exists in this industry but it’s big 2024 and there are a lot more badass female DJs.
What activities do you enjoy outside of DJing?
For fun, you mean? If yes, I love to listen to music. I also enjoy partying a lot. Reading books, and scrolling through Pinterest has also recently become an activity that I enjoy *laughs* ifykyk.
Partying is like your job, though. What’s a typical weekend like for you?
A typical weekend starts out with a gig on Friday night. Moves on to either an outing or another gig on Saturday night and then rests on Sundays (sometimes) as well as resetting myself for the start of work on Monday. Some weekends are calmer and some are crazy. I prefer them crazy. *laughs*
Would you say you’re where you wanted to be five years ago?
When I really count my blessings, honestly, yeah.
Deep. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In the next five years, I will be on a tour, just like Waffles is doing right now. Well known for shutting down parties in Nigeria and across the world while making the right amount of money from doing that. I will also be a well trusted and respected source in the music space.
Uncle waffles? It sounds like you admire her. What other DJs do you admire?
I love Waffles. She’s killing it, and so is Dope Caesar. Amazing DJ. I admire a lot of DJs, and I can’t mention all of them, so I’ll just mention a few: Shimza, DJ Consequence, Larizzle, Uncle Bubu, DJ Camron, and DJ Nana.
What’s your take on the expression “never meet your heroes”? Have you met any of yours?
I get that it might be disappointing when you already have a certain expectation for someone and they don’t match it when you finally meet them in real life, but these “heroes” are humans at the end of the day. So far, meeting my “heroes” hasn’t been a bad experience for me. They always turn out to be very chill and ready to share knowledge, and in this category, I’d like to shout out to Dope Caesar and Godwin Tom. They understand this ‘hero’ assignment really well. *giggles*.
What’s your relationship like with Dope Ceaser? Are you besties?
Oh, we’re not. I was privileged to be a part of a music Bootcamp Femme Fest organized sometime last year, and that’s where I met her. Ever since then, she’s been warm and very supportive. Always ready to share knowledge and answers to any questions I have.
Are there times when you feel like quitting?
Oh, I felt like quitting so many times in the first 5 years of my career. Those thoughts don’t come anymore. Now I know that I’m destined for greatness.
What keeps you going?
My dreams, tbh. Everything I want to achieve in my DJ career. Seeing what other DJs are achieving also inspires me to put in more work.
If you wanted to have a crowd turnt up, what music would you play?
Hmmm. It depends on the crowd, to be honest. But my picks are: Oblee by DJ YK Mule, Shake Shake by Caiiro, Apala Disco remix by DJ Tunez, Seyi Vibez, Wizkid, Terry Apala, Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar and finally, Hello Africa Riddim by Sarz, Dr Alban and just recently, Ozeba by Rema.
Pick your poison.
Do you have a favorite food?
At the moment, I really f*ck with toasted bread and eggs. I could eat it anytime, anywhere.
Haha. How about a favorite color?
I love black.
What’s the most meaningful compliment a fan has given you after performing a set?
Every compliment I get after a set, or when someone recognizes me, is very meaningful to me. I’m particularly in love with the people who immediately book me for a gig on the spot or introduce me to someone else who does. That tells me that you were truly impressed by me.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in DJing?
Take time to learn the skill properly. Make sure you enjoy yourself while doing this. Stay grounded. Be open to collaboration, especially with other DJs.
