Here is the man who has created an Afrobeat buzz in the UK ~ DJ Abrantee. On Sundays at 12:00am viewers can enjoy songs from the motherland. The hype has been high showing that it has been well received. It was even trending on twitter. And inevitably, here, Juliana Lucas speaks to DJ Abrantee about this proud achievement.
Your Afrobeat programme on Choice FM has been very popular. How did you come about with the idea?
It’s an idea that was born a few years back. As you may or may not know I have been championing African music, artists and through my events such as Ghana Independence Day and Hiplife festival for a number of years. One of my main ambitions has not only been to introduce the music to the UK mainstream using the mediums of radio or television but to make Afrobeats a permanent recognisable genre throughout the world. I approached choice with the concept, they asked me to submit a demo just like any other DJ looking for a radio
job. I was confident in the music and knew the demo would sell itself choice thankfully took it on board and as they say the rest is history
job. I was confident in the music and knew the demo would sell itself choice thankfully took it on board and as they say the rest is history
How do you feel about the rise of Afrobeat and Hiplife music in the UK?
I couldn’t be any happier. As I said this is what I have been striving towards for many years. To have Afrobeat and Hiplife in the clubs, on mix CD’s and now on radio is fantastic and we need to continue supporting the movement to get it into the charts.
Afrobeat is finally gaining mainstream attention what would you attribute the success to?
Most of the success is down to the artists staying as true to the music and true essence of afrobeats but contemporary the instrumentation or vocals so it sounds more familiar to a foreign ear. People world over love to dance and afrobeats allows for that while still getting to the soul. Now the artists and producers have cleverly mastered the art of mixing afrobeats with contemporary sounds hense why now widely accepted.
What are your favourite songs?
There are so many but for the past 6months I have been blasting Oleku by a young artist named Iceprince, I love Don’t Dull, Tease me and Pakarumo by Wizkid, Cappo Snoop, Tiffany, Atumpan. The list is endless.
Who should we look out for?
All those I have mentioned above, including Kas, Danny Young, May7ven who’s making waves for the females and Castro and a few others.
Can you tell us about the upcoming Afrobeat and highlife events coming up?
The Hiplife festval is on August 20th @ Indigo2 and it is going to be amazing with Ghana’s biggest stars on stage including Kwabena kwabena, Asomoah gyan, Castro, Ruff n smooth and the ting man himself Atumpan Afrobeats festval on bank holiday Sunday August 28th.
The concert is for all old and new Afrobeats lovers. It cannot be missed. You have probably the most popular artists in Africa PSquare on stage, the newest and most sought after Ice prince and Wizkid on the stage giving you all their hits and Nigeria’s top comedian Basketmouth and myself Abrantee hosting, what more can you ask. Its going to be the biggest concert this year. It’s one of those concerts that everyone who has ever loved or even questioned Afrobeats to attend and see what its really all about.
Tickets are available online @ ticketmaster.co.uk
Interview by J Lucas http://www.nigezie.tv
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