How easy was it choosing a DJ name for yourself?
It was pretty easy actually; when I returned to the UK back in ’91 during there weren’t many Nigerian Djs in the UK around at the time with the name ‘Abass’- so I chose the name and besides my real name is Abass.There has been a few times when a few event organisers have mistaken me with Abass Obesere (the Fuji musician), which is not a problem as such, however it’s the negative connotation that comes with it that I don’t like.
In the last four years or so there have been different variations to my name such as DJA (which is the more popular variation), Abassido and Sido etc
I heard that you were a very good footballer whilst at University- What made you become a Dj?
I was a campus Dj back then and I was also part of a dance group- so becoming a Dj was quite a smooth transition for me.
What would be your ideal Dj Set up?
I prefer a lot of Dj set ups- the most ideal one for me for the clubs will be a pair of Pioneer CDJ1000 MK2 and a Pioneer DJM 600
What is your favourite Nigerian dish?
Well…. One thing a lot of people don’t know about me is that I cook extensively, so much that it’s safe to call me a Chef in my own right. Food is one of my greatest pleasures in life-I do have another pleasure: but I’ll leave that for you to figure out (laughs)-With regards to my favourite Nigerian dish I won’t go for the traditional dishes (i.e. Eba, Iyan and pounded yam) as they are now staples in my diet-I’ll probably choose dishes such as Jogi or Ojojo (water yam) as my favourite dishes.
As one of the pioneering Djs of the ‘Naija Pop culture’ did you ever think that the music will soar to this kind of heights?
I really don’t think the Nigerian Music industry has reached its full potential just yet- Trust me- the best is yet to come. I hope that the Nigerian Government can form a body that will protect the
interests of all Performing Artists and tackle the issue of piracy and intellectual property head on-That seems to be one of the challenges the Nigerian Music business seems to be faced with.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
Every single part of it-if given the chance I would not change any part of it.
What in your opinion makes a good DJ?
A good DJ in my opinion is one that knows his/her music and knows how to play to a sequence (i.e. ascending order) that will create the right atmosphere.
Who is your favourite Nigerian Dj?
OOhhh…. I have quite a few favourites I have to say- The first Dj I really ever admired was a guy called Ebuks, he is an amazing Dj and he always started his mixtapes with ‘Ebuks in the mix (branding)’-never met him, but was an admirer of his work.
Another Dj that was skilful when it came to precision was a man called Kola Baiye (of former Ace Club; Lagos) - he is one of a kind.
When I returned to London back in the early 90s I met KC and Omo Whyte- I realised that these Djs were not djs by popular demand, they knew the art and craft that went into Djiing. Then you have Djs like Whateva who are just simply phenomenal-these are just some of my favourite Djs
Who is your all time favourite Artist?
My favourite all time Artist has to be Michael Jackson.
Will we ever see you return to our screens?
As we speak I am at the final stages of talks in putting together a new and exciting TV programme which will see a bit of everything from music to fashion. For me appearing on TV has to be more than making a name for one’s self, everything has to be right i.e. the right sponsorship, right content and right time.
As one of the pioneering Djs of the ‘Naija Pop culture’ did you ever think that the music will soar to this kind of heights?
I really don’t think the Nigerian Music industry has reached its full potential just yet- Trust me- the best is yet to come. I hope that the Nigerian Government can form a body that will protect the
interests of all Performing Artists and tackle the issue of piracy and intellectual property head on-That seems to be one of the challenges the Nigerian Music business seems to be faced with.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
Every single part of it-if given the chance I would not change any part of it.
What in your opinion makes a good DJ?
A good DJ in my opinion is one that knows his/her music and knows how to play to a sequence (i.e. ascending order) that will create the right atmosphere.
Who is your favourite Nigerian Dj?
OOhhh…. I have quite a few favourites I have to say- The first Dj I really ever admired was a guy called Ebuks, he is an amazing Dj and he always started his mixtapes with ‘Ebuks in the mix (branding)’-never met him, but was an admirer of his work.
Another Dj that was skilful when it came to precision was a man called Kola Baiye (of former Ace Club; Lagos) - he is one of a kind.
When I returned to London back in the early 90s I met KC and Omo Whyte- I realised that these Djs were not djs by popular demand, they knew the art and craft that went into Djiing. Then you have Djs like Whateva who are just simply phenomenal-these are just some of my favourite Djs
Who is your all time favourite Artist?
My favourite all time Artist has to be Michael Jackson.
Will we ever see you return to our screens?
As we speak I am at the final stages of talks in putting together a new and exciting TV programme which will see a bit of everything from music to fashion. For me appearing on TV has to be more than making a name for one’s self, everything has to be right i.e. the right sponsorship, right content and right time.
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