Maze x Mxtreme are one of the Electronic Music DJS spearheading the Lagos Nightlife with their Zodiac-themed parties getting popular by the day. The Duo are part of the Electronic Music collective “Nocturne Music” and they’re signed to the management outfit “Plug Ng”. 49th Street sits with them to talk about their music, and career so far.
49th Street: How did you guys meet?
mazexmxtreme: We have known each other since childhood; our parents were family friends. We actually met at the hospital our parents work in, and we went about destroying the flowers around causing more work for the gardener lol.
49th Street: How did the music journey start?
mazexmxtreme: It started when we were 12, we were on the church instrumentalist team. We were in charge of taking care of the instruments and when everybody had gone home, we would stay all night and learn the drum and keyboard disturbing the neighbourhood at night lol. A year later we found out about FL Studio Daw, and that was when our production journey started. We were obsessed and learnt that shit. When we got into university. Maze worked as a studio producer while in university. I worked as a freelance IT personnel then after university, we decided we wanted to do Afro EDM. When we discovered ultra music and EDM as a sound, it was unbelievable that there was a sound that could make you feel like you were on something.
The euphoria EDM has is incredible and we wanted to be part of this, not as a hobby or because it was looking cool, but as a legacy, to bring EDM to Nigerians as a mainstream genre, not just a niche. We wanted other people to feel this rush that EDM brings. In 2015 we started building and perfecting Afro EDM as Maze x Mxtreme and in 2017, we officially came out of our room and be a performing electronic duo.
49th Street: How has the music journey been so far?
mazexmxtreme: It has been difficult and amazing more like a bitter sweet experience, at least we don’t have to explain what EDM means anymore lol, to us that is huge progress. Now there are several EDM events including ours and the scene for EDM DJs is opening. We are nothing but grateful for that.
49th Street: How do you guys balance being DJs & Music producers?
mazexmxtreme: It works hand in hand, as we also produce most part of our DJ set and we feel been producers is what has given us that edge in DJing, as the creative possibilities are endless
49th Street: How would you describe your sound?
mazexmxtreme: Our sound is a cross-cultural sound, Afro EDM; Afro which is our culture and identity, you can never separate the rhythm from an African and this euphoric sound called EDM, we found a way to join these two in synergy and the result is amazing, the rhythm plus the euphoria is a dopamine igniting sound and our dream to make Nigerian rave to EDM is coming little by little.
49th Street: Electronic Music isn’t a mainstream sound in Nigeria, how have you guys been able to navigate finding your sound and sticking to it?
mazexmxtreme: First, to do EDM in Nigeria requires serious courage, now it’s a little easy as some EDM DJs that have been pioneering EDM in Nigeria including ourselves. It has made it a little easier to be an EDM DJ in Nigeria. What we found out was that Nigerians love EDM, they have not just been open about it or rather there has not been an avenue to be open about it. If Nigerians don’t like EDM then songs like Titanium by David Guetta wouldn’t get the amazing standard EDM rave response it gets from Nigerians. Nigerians are open to a wide range of music, we are not mono-generic in terms of music, but we do have a more personal connection to Afro music as it is our culture and way of life. All you have to do is, not try to take the rhythm out and Nigerians will love EDM. This is how we found and stuck to our sound. It was by finding the right balance of the rhythm and EDM, and that took a lot of experiments and bad DJ sets because you have to test your product. We can say now we have gotten a formula that works for us.
49th Street: Let’s talk about the “Zodiac Party”, what was the idea behind it?
mazexmxtreme: The Idea behind the Zodiac Party is to give you an experience outside the norm. It’s a community that breeds an actual rave where everyone gets to freely party with Afro Electronic Music. The zodiac theme which is a glow-in-the-dark decor signifies that we are all stars that brighten up the dark sky and this is a celebration of people in their seasons. That is why each party is a project of that season which is open to everyone to come to celebrate the people in that season. Big shoutout to our official Spirit brand partners Olmeca Tequila, Our Media partners Trace Tv, Our management The Plug and Topboy.
49th Street: How has the reception been so far?
mazexmxtreme: One word, amazing and the last party which was Project Aries came as a shock as we were full to capacity, and we had to limit entry. We will not even lie, it was an amazing and unexpected turnout and we are grateful to God and appreciate everyone who made that day a success. The crowd was amazing crowd they showed love to all the DJs and they were fireeeee in energy. We do hope the next one will be bigger than the last as we will be prepared this time for the turn out lol.
49th Street: Is it a party for only Electronic Music lovers or just general music lovers?
mazexmxtreme: As said earlier on, our sound is cross-cultural here by allowing anyone who is a lover of different genres of music to be able to come to the party and raveee.
49th Street: Are there plans for a bigger Zodiac Party?
mazexmxtreme: Ooh yesssss but can’t spill right now lol still. Hush Hush.
49th Street: Which Nigerian/African artiste(s) would you love to work with to create original music?
mazexmxtreme: We have a list ooh; Fireboy, Liya, Amaarae, Ckay, Arya Starr, Sauti Sol, Ladipoe, Oxlade.
49th Street: Are we getting new music soon?
Yeppp, We are working hard to create some batch of originals and to release soon.
