Sensei Lo, is a DJ and Electronic Music producer, and she’s no stranger to anyone conversant with the Lagos nightlife. She has been a DJ for 7 years starting off as the Resident DJ for Blak Lounge Elegushi, at the Elegushi Private beach. She has performed at several clubs, bars, local and international events including Eko Electro, the Chale Wote Art Festival (2016 – 2019), Asa Baako (One Dance) Festival 2019 & 2020, Budweiser’s BUDX, BBC Media Action’s “No Siddon Look”, ART X Live, Gidi Fest, Major Lazer Live, The SociaLiga, Glastonbury Festival: The Common 2020. Sensei Lo is a member of Lagos Afro Electronic DJ Collective ‘The Village Sound System’ and the resident DJ at Bounce Radio Live Lagos.
As a producer, she makes Afro Electronic Dance and House Music. She appeared on the Electronic Music Began in Africa album by the Spanish duo Moto Kiatu with the song Yele. She also appeared in the remix EP of Chike’s Boo of the Booless album, Dance of the Booless, with the remix of Insecure. She has over 300k streams across all platforms.
Want a fun fact? Here’s one: Sensei Lo is a trained nurse and she left the nursing profession to become a DJ.
49th Street: How was it like, growing up in Lagos with Ghanaian roots?
Sensei Lo: It was fun largely because I could blend in as both a Nigerian and a Ghanaian. But boring because there weren’t so many other Ghanaians at the time so we had a little community around where we lived just to keep us in touch with our roots back home.
49th Street: You switched from being a Nurse to become a DJ, what prompted the switch?
Sensei Lo: Well I would say clash of interests at the time and also a mental state I found myself at the time. I had just started a new job at the time I began playing, even though I had the chance to structure myself in a way both jobs don’t clash, it still took a toll on me. I needed the balance and also some quality time to build a solid career from scratch. I got bored over time doing the same routine work so I decided it was time for a new challenge. At the time I was mostly getting day time gigs and I didn’t want to cut that so I mentally had to reach a state of compromise and went with the music. However I am still very much a nurse. I might not be practicing at the moment but it a part of me that never dies so time would tell.
49th Street: Was it tough blending into the new profession?
Sensei Lo: Well it was, considering I had absolutely no experience with being a DJ as opposed to being a nurse which I had been for over 7 years (at the time). And also I had some colleagues who tried to make things difficult for me. All this prompted me to take a break from the medical profession.
49th Street: Would you say you enjoyed being a nurse more than being a DJ?
Sensei Lo: On some days I think it is balanced. I love being both. I mean I love the feeling I get from saving a life and making some one feel better the same way I love the feeling I get from playing on the decks and just seeing people’s honest reactions to the music.
49th Street: Being in a predominantly male dominated field as a DJ, what are some of the challenges you’ve faced so far?
Sensei Lo: Trying to become better at my craft I would say has been the biggest challenge, but yes trying to “master” each level I found myself has been a huge task. Mostly because I have always tried to carve a niche out for myself rather than being boxed in whatever industry standards exist.
49th Street: You never experienced certain treatments because you’re a lady?
Sensei Lo: The only treatment I would remember is people being amazed I am a woman. One time some guy came to check the decks to see if I was truly playing or just finessing them, but I haven’t received any sexist treatments for being a woman. None that I can’t distinctly remember.
49th Street: How did the journey of Electronic music begin for you?
Sensei Lo: Hmmmm. First off, I realized early that I wasn’t really made for a lot of mainstream music. So when I started at Elegushi it was a herculean task having to play a certain type of music that normally isn’t my thing; it was tough. So my first experience I would say was from the 90’s, then I realized almost 3 decades later that all what I grew up loving was House and Electronic Music sprinkled with some funk and disco here and there. I mean that was really the sound of the early and mid 90’s. Fast forward to 2014 I then got introduced to EDM which made me think that was my place till I completely grew out of the genre, moved on and never looked back till this day. However it led me fully to House Music and that’s where everything really began.
49th Street: What factors influence your style of music?
Sensei Lo: My mood, where I am at mentally. The state of things at the moment I am making the music. Like the pandemic has had me leaning towards Deep House for instance.
49th Street: When did you start producing Electronic Music?
Sensei Lo: I started fully in 2019. I always had problems with FL studio. No matter what I tried I couldn’t seem to get it into my head. So I went to a friend who gave me a copy of his Ableton live. I had it for almost 3 years before I finally made any moves to actually understand it. But I remember hitting Dunnie up because I was so damn inspired by her workrate and level of production. I hit her up for advice, she told me how she did it and how I should approach production . And since I always wanted to make my own records as opposed to the normal DJ trend of paying a producer to make it, I just took my time learning it. Then the pandemic happened and I mean there was nowhere to go. So that was a blessing for me. To have the time to sit and learn it. It was all I did throughout the pandemic. Learning production
49th Street: What’s it like being a Female Electronic Music Producer in Nigeria?
Sensei Lo: Ah no lies it feels great! Especially because it is an untapped genre here so it feels great because I am able to express myself the way I feel with no pressure, no expectations. Just enough room to grow and that’s why the electronic community is pretty close because we understand and value each other. But mostly being able to express the music the exact way it feels in my head. Which you can largely see in my sets. My “Against the Clock” set played a big role in my development; so FACTS is a pretty big deal so to reach out to me to make a beat in 10 mins was the task that broke it for me. It felt like a mighty exam. I had never done that in my life. So that really pushed me to very new experiences and opened my mind up mentally. Funny I eventually made trap instead of house, but I know if I am given the opportunity again to go against the clock it would be a killer because I can proudly say I am not the same DJ/Producer that I was 12 months ago.
49th Street: What challenges does electronic music face in Nigeria?
Sensei Lo: Acceptance and disrespect.
49th Street: A word of advice for females who would love to become DJs or Producers?
Sensei Lo: Just do it. Just go for it. If I had the courage I would have started as far back as 2010. Self confidence is the only thing you need to just do what you want to do.
