by Reuben Adewale
As electronic dance music captures the attention of people across the Nigerian landscape, the three musketeers akin to Saitama, Genos, and King are leading and uniting people through the sound. ‘The Boyz’ are three super talented individuals: a DJ, producer, and vocalist who bond together to deliver sounds that resonate with the soul. Their vision is to unite people regardless of their differences. We had the opportunity to converse about their craft, their bond, and the Electronic Dance Music community and their coming project.
Could you tell us about your artistic journey individually?
Sigag Lauren: I started producing electronic music in 2013, during the era of Swedish House Mafia and David Guetta. When the EDM scene was hot, I fell in love with the music. I always wanted to create something that sounded out of this world, something crazy. I knew a lot of people were not used to the music then. Nobody really cared much about what House music was; we were not so exposed to that sound. So yeah, starting out, wanting to be different, I started producing. Around 2015/2016, I started making remixes.
My first remix was of Ric Hassani’s ‘Gentleman’. I just kept on making remixes, went on to make a remix for Simi and so on, then I started putting out original music as well. Over those years, I feel that all of us were also doing what I was doing. For a long time, we thought we were the only ones, but there were people like us out there, just scattered. So Calix and I tried to find people who were into this sort of music, like producers, and everybody. A bunch of us came together, we had a group chat (that still exists) and started getting acquainted with people such as Maze, MXtreme, and a few others. We supported each other the best way we could and we have just been going forward as the year goes.
Your journey started in 2013, which means you’ve been in the industry for quite some time.
Sigag Lauren: Yeah, but I didn’t start professionally in 2013. Back then, it was just me producing in the comfort of my bedroom. Professionally, I started in 2018, when I released original music.
Calix: Basically, my own journey started in 2017, shoutout to ‘Aye!’. So when I finished uni, I was still trying to figure out ‘Do I want to take this full time’ or ‘just go for doing 9-5 job’. But then I started putting stuff out on SoundCloud. I actually uploaded an edit of Olamide’s song and my SoundCloud was growing at that point. ‘Aye!’’ reached out to like “yo wassup, I’m feeling your stuff, let’s do a show together”.
A show?
Calix: Yeah, that was in 2017. From there, we started building ‘Village Sound System’(vss), that was Aye’s idea. So from there, we kind of formed a little community for The Dance Movement. From there, I discovered other people. I met Sensei-Lo, I discovered ‘spektrum’(Element House). So I kind of opened up to the fact that there is a whole bigger community. From there, I met Jamie Black, Maze, and MXtreme. In 2020, I moved to Liberia for a DJ residency.
Then while I was away, we started Nocturne Music, which was a smaller community of finding other producers and DJs that want to electronic music DJs . So from there, I met Tobi Peter, Kevin London, Faem, Beyo JR & others. We have all been putting in the work, connecting with everybody, and putting ourselves in the forefront. So from there, we put out music in 2020. Came back 2021,we started doing shows, putting people that wanted to DJ on events. Then from there, The
Boyz(our trio), In 2021 decided to put out music & we did the Ijoya song. So I would say The Boyz officially started in 2021 but we have been friends before that.
Jamie Black: I started producing in 2018/2019. The first person in the community I met was Calix, then I met Maze and Xtreme, then I met Sigag Lauren. Into Covid, 2020 was the year I started putting out remixes and doing EDM content and started playing some shows like Zodiac party. We started building up really well and in 2021 we started The Boyz just to push it out more together. That’s when we started collaborating more and in 2022 that’s when things really kicked off properly, with shows like Activity Fest, Sweat It Out, and other shows that opened us more in the community. So yeah, we have been pushing it since then.
Considering that EDM is not very popular in Nigeria, what were the major influences that motivated you to continue producing this genre of music?
Jamie Black: For me, I have always loved EDM since 2013. I looked at the way they partied in Europe and America, like Ultra, Tomorrowland, and all of that. I really loved the vibe, the emotions, and the good time. Also, in secondary school, I connected with a lot of friends because of electronic music, so I always wanted to share that with all Nigerians and bring the music to the mainstream here.
Sigag Lauren : For me, it was just about being different. I have always found myself to be a nonconformist, not doing the regular stuff that people do. For me, discovering electronic music was like, “Okay, this is kind of different from what most people do, you know… I kind of fancied the idea of being different because I myself, I like to think I’m a different individual.” So I found something that I felt was different and unique. At the time, nobody else was really doing it and I felt different, that kept me going.
Calix: I would say, my own dance music influence came when I was listening to the radio in Abuja, I think around 2016. It was DJ TTB that was playing and he played a Major Lazer song and I was like, ‘Oh, what the f*ck is this??!!’ and I Shazamed it. From there, I went into research and figured out other people that were also in the genre, studied the game, and fell in love with it. Since then it’s been all progress.
Describe the community.
Jamie Black: As the years go by we are achieving more and more as a community, we did Boiler Room this year, they had an EDM session, where our people played. The progress has been good. In the future, I hope to see more growth, mainstream acceptance, more shows for everyone, the DJs, shows and opportunity and exporting the African electronic music just like South Africa. They have guys like Black Coffee, and all exporting their electronic music talent, so we want that in Nigeria, so we are dedicated to doing it. Like Maze and Xtreme are already exporting it Internationally, this year, thanks to Davido, they have been to O2 and Europe basically.
Who is your favorite artist in the EDM scene?
Sigag Lauren: For me right now, it would be Fred Again. I think he is really interesting because he has a kind of musicality, and you can tell there are a lot of emotions in his music. As much as it is dance, there are love emotions in it. People feel something when they listen to the music, which I think is very important for me. I think I resonate a lot with him and the stories that he tells through his music. So Fred Again for me right now.
Jamie Black: For me, I would say Martin Garrix. He has always been of heavy influence to me. Yeah, Martin Garrix.
Calix: As for me, I will still stick with Major Lazer. That was my first love and I like them because they are open to experimenting with different types of sound. They experiment with music all over the world.
Sigag Lauren: Bro, they even have Amapiano too.
Calix: Yeah, yeah. So Major Lazer are still the major influence to me.
Could you describe your creative process?
Sigag Lauren: Mostly because of the way I started making the music, I think I like to have a vocal idea. It is always easier that way, or most of the time to have a vocal idea to build around. So sometimes I might find some samples to chop up and all. Another way is starting with a chord or melody which drives the emotions of the song. Like I mentioned earlier, about it being able to convey emotion, being an important part of the music-making. So chords or the melodies are where the emotions lie. So when I start with that melody or get that chord progression I feel is striking, I feel like it is always a good start and I build around it, until I have a complete song.
And for us creating together, it is a matter of whose computer we are using (laughs). So yeah, one person at the front of the computer, maybe Jamie, and the rest of us are bringing in ideas and sharing them amongst each other in the process.
Jamie Black: For me, my creative process comes in two different ways. The first is just me on my DAW (FL Studio) and messing around in it, trying out different things. Like anything I like because I stick to my ears about what I like, so I just mess around with it and create. The other way is just me being at home, probably not using my phone or anything and there is just a melody in my head and I just bring it out to life.
Calix: For me, it could come any way. Sometimes it might just be me listening to different songs and I get an idea from it.
Jamie Black: Exactly.
Sigag Lauren: Good one.
Calix: Just like recently I was listening to Lil Wayne’s Lollipop and I was like, “Yo, that melody sounds dope, the lead melody of the song can be used to make a dance track,” and I sent it to Jamie. So for me, there is no definite way, it’s just random. Like making a drum or chilling and an idea comes. There is no particular direction, it could just come in different forms.
How do you infuse African and Nigerian elements into EDM songs?
Jamie Black: For me, I think there are two different ways. Sometimes, if I am making a remix, I could bring in samples from the original songs or just the vocals and mix them with electronic elements. That’s why we have genres like Afro EDM, Afro House, and Afro Tech too. It actually originated from South Africa, although here in Nigeria we kind of fuse it more with electronic elements, maybe an electric lead or something. But yeah, Afro House or Afro EDM is how we incorporate the Afro elements with EDM.
Sigag Lauren: To add to what Jamie said, most of the time there are different ways to show Africanness in the music. Like for my own personal original releases, sometimes it could be the lyrics. I have a song called ‘All Your Love’ that goes like this ‘Shebe you go give me, give me all love’ so it has some Pidgin in there. Every Nigerian that hears those words will know this is definitely Nigerian.
And sometimes, one of the most important parts of African music is the percussive part, which is the drum and other percussive stuff around it. So most of the time, the percussive part could be a telling element to say ‘yo this is what we are doing’. So most of the time, I try to add those percussive sounds in it, any way that I can. You can’t really force it. Those percussion resonates with the African in you.
Calix: Basically, what Sigag said. That’s what really makes it African.
Let’s discuss your music projects. Sigag, you released a remix tape featuring Joeboy, Teni, Dj Neptune, and others. Could you share what the production process was like?
Sigag Lauren: Most of the credit goes to my manager, Matthew, because it was his idea. So I had previously made some of these remixes, most of them were already released, like the Dj Neptune one, the Brymo one. So my manager hit me up and was like, “Yo, you know what, you should have a body of work for some of these remixes.” The Joeboy one wasn’t officially released before, but they heard it and already liked it. For some reason, they did not release it.
So when we were making the remix tape, we tried to reach out to them, like we want to do this, there is nothing to lose, it’s music. So we were able to include it in the remix tape. There was a remix to Teni’s ‘Uyo Meyo’ that was kind of popular at some point when I made it, a lot of people knew it and you know, we felt like it was also good to include it in the remix tape. So yeah, that was the idea behind it. I think a lot of people are opening up to the idea of remixes, you really can’t tell what is going to blow up or become the next big thing.
Calix and Jamie Black, you both worked on ‘Noisy Neighbors (vol. 1)’. Could you describe the process?
Jamie Black: Noisy Neighbor actually came about at the beginning of last year. I knew Claix but I didn’t know The Hause at that point. Calix called me over to the house and we sat down and had a conversation about putting out an Amapiano body of work made by Nigerian DJs. One was actually out by Smeez and D3an, shout-out to them, they were the only ones doing proper Amapiano, like South African Amapiano, so we decided to hop on the wave.
(The Hause) already worked on the song ‘Kwame Nkrumah’ then I came in and we started working on songs like ‘SUYA’, ‘STRESS’, ‘HIGH ON LIFE’. So the creative process was actually good, because some songs were already laid out, like ‘HIGH ON LIFE’ I already laid out the chords and all, then Calix and The Hause came in and added some other elements, saxophone and more. The Hause, they play a lot of house and highlife music type of fusion, so we tried to incorporate that in the song, you could hear the Sax, guitar and all of that mixed with Amapiano. Then for ‘Stress’, Calix worked heavily on that, with the baseline then I think The Hause worked on the drum and all. So it was a lot of back and forth deciding what we wanted in the front, until we finally got it to where we all loved it.
Whose vocals were featured in the song?
Jamie Black: The project was entirely us, so for ‘SUYA’ that was my voice and Calix’s voice and for ‘Stress’ that was MisterKay and there was a point where Chi-wav, the other half of The Hause also said something too. Everyone was heavily involved in the project, I am really proud of the project. Today someone even called me to tell me that they were playing ‘Stress’ at the supermarket in Abeokuta.
I like the ‘NO MORE’ track too.
Jamie Black: Oh yeah, ‘No MORE’ was MisterKay. It was actually a song that we worked on so many times, like the original one did not even sound like the final version. We went back and forth until we got to a point where we really liked it.
I also noticed the sample of Professor Patrice Lumumba on the ‘KWAME NKRUMAH’ track.
Jamie Black: That is actually one of my favorites after ‘SUYA’.
You and Calix worked on the ‘FELA IN IBIZA’ pack. What was the experience like and who were the vocalists on the songs?
Jamie Black: I sang ‘FELA IN IBIZA’.
So you are a singer?
Jamie Black: Yeah, singer, Artist, producer, DJ, Songwriter, the whole music galacticon (laughs).
What shows and fests are y’all looking forward to?
Jamie Black: Currently, we have shows and festivals in Nigeria, like Activity Fest, Element House, Zodiac Party, Group Therapy and Sweat it Out… Festivals are much bigger so in that term I will say Activity Fest and Element House
We are looking forward to all the fests in Nigeria. At this point, adding electronic dance music DJ to your lineup is a showstopper and it has been happening. I mean maze & mxtreme played in festivals like Mainland Block Party, Light Out Fest. So if more DJs are included it will be good for the community.
Which DJ or artist are you currently feeling?
Jamie Black: Thukzin from South Africa and in Nigeria my favorite DJ right now is my guy, Calix (laughs). He is like Diplo, he is always messing around with all the genres, different types of music, supporting everyone. I would say Calix has done a lot for the industry and I think he doesn’t get enough credit for it, so yeah.
Calix: For me, I would say Westend and Noizu. When it comes to Nigeria, shout out to Maze and Xtreme for holding down the Afro EDM. I remember us having that conversation one day, like let’s start this Afro EDM wave, blah blah blah, this was like 2018, fast forward to five years later, the idea was to build a community and put everybody on and I’m happy that everyone is on their own wave. Shoutout to Maze and MXtreme, shout out to Jamie Black for holding it down. This is my guy when I knew a little about producing but he was always giving me games, shout out to Jamie Black.
Do you guys look forward to collaborating with any artist soon?
Calix: Of course, Kah-Lo is a friend of mine and I have been wanting her to give me that verse, then Major Lazer is the one that when it happens I’ll tick that off and yes!
Jamie Black: For Nigerian artists, I think the one that would go very hard on EDM is Rema, and for international collaboration, I would say Martin Garrix for sure.
Sigag Lauren: For me, it would be Fred Again.
Which Afrobeats artist are you currently feeling?
Jamie Black: Burna Boy.
Calix: Tems, she will be very good on an EDM Song.
How would you describe your music to people who are looking into tapping into it?
Jamie Black: There are lots of people with a nice catalog in the country, so I would say listen to Sigag Lauren. I’ve a couple of songs too and Calix. Kevin London, Faem , Ekiti Sound.
Calix: The next phase for us DJs and people in EDM is to put out our original stuff instead of just Remixes.
How do you handle creative blocks?
Jamie Black: One thing I have found is that you can’t force it, sometimes you just need to take a break, kick back and relax. For me, I would play games, watch movies.
Calix: For me when it is not coming, I just take a break, a nap or listen to something else. And sometimes I might just export the idea and send it to somebody else, let me see what the person can come up with, I might send it to Jamie, Sigag or anyone, you know.
So what’s next for you guys?
Calix: So yeah we have a project, and it is about reimagining a lot of classic Nigerian songs into house music, so the ‘Ijoya’ song was the first release, so we are going to release the second single in July & also an event in the same month. Subsequently, we would be doing the “House Arrest” our own event from the three of us. The project is finished, it’s just picking out the right time to release it. It will be out hopefully by the end of summer, hopefully if all the clearance and everything goes according to plan.
Can you describe what we are about to experience?
Jamie Black: I guess we just have to wait and see, we are always coming with the vibe.
I’m looking forward to it. How about solo production?
Jamie Black: Personally, I’m looking forward to releasing a lot of music, this second half of the year. God willing I could also put an EP out but definitely a lot of singles will be coming out this second half of the year.
What is the trio name called?
Jamie Black: The Boyz
What is the inspiration behind the name? Is it from the Prime series?
Jamie Black: Nah, we were just three guys and it felt like a cool name.
Any shoutout?
Jamie Black: Shout out to everyone putting the community out there, a lot of names, Aniko, Maze and Xtreme, Tobi Peter, Kevin London, Icey, IMJ, We Are All Chemicals, my friends and supporters. We are like one big family.