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Jan 24, 2025 - New releases

THE PARTY IS THE PROFIT... BUT IT COULD BE BETTER

Pasta on DJing and building the Abuja rave scene

Jan 24, 2025 - New releases

THE PARTY IS THE PROFIT... BUT IT COULD BE BETTER

Pasta on DJing and building the Abuja rave scene

About

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Join Newsletter

Jan 24, 2025 - New releases

THE PARTY IS THE PROFIT... BUT IT COULD BE BETTER

Pasta on DJing and building the Abuja rave scene

Jan 24, 2025 - New releases

THE PARTY IS THE PROFIT... BUT IT COULD BE BETTER

Pasta on DJing and building the Abuja rave scene

Jan 24, 2025 - Written by Israel Ajayi

I met Pasta at a party in late December 2024, just after I moved to Abuja. I had seen a flyer for the event and thought it looked like the perfect usher into the city’s alternative nightlife. The event was MOTION.

Our paths crossed again in April 2025 at House House House, this time the interaction was more intentional and I learnt that he had spent his childhood in Calabar and was from Akwa Ibom State. In December, he played at the second edition of Nocturna Rave and during his stay, with friends, we spent an afternoon location-hopping, explored the bush meat joints at Atimbo, and hosted another party–– BUMPIANA!

On one of those slow days, we sat on boulders just outside his hotel gate watching vehicles speed past and people confused to see us seated by the roadside. We talked.

Jan 24, 2025 - Written by Israel Ajayi

I met Pasta at a party in late December 2024, just after I moved to Abuja. I had seen a flyer for the event and thought it looked like the perfect usher into the city’s alternative nightlife. The event was MOTION.

Our paths crossed again in April 2025 at House House House, this time the interaction was more intentional and I learnt that he had spent his childhood in Calabar and was from Akwa Ibom State. In December, he played at the second edition of Nocturna Rave and during his stay, with friends, we spent an afternoon location-hopping, explored the bush meat joints at Atimbo, and hosted another party–– BUMPIANA!

On one of those slow days, we sat on boulders just outside his hotel gate watching vehicles speed past and people confused to see us seated by the roadside. We talked.

Pasta

Pasta

Pasta

Motion

Motion

You mentioned you started your DJing journey ten years ago with an app called Traktor. How did you go from there to founding MOTION?

I swear to God I really just wanted to DJ. Sure, there were a couple parties but I wanted to curate more of what I wanted to hear. At that time, Abuja nightlife scene wasn’t how it is today and it was just a few of us that started it, creating different platforms for the sounds we wanted to hear.

MOTION was where the cool alt kids would come and dance to house music. Since 2022, we’ve built a community, which is also a big part of why I started it. Community and freedom.

You mentioned you started your DJing journey ten years ago with an app called Traktor. How did you go from there to founding MOTION?

I swear to God I really just wanted to DJ. Sure, there were a couple parties but I wanted to curate more of what I wanted to hear. At that time, Abuja nightlife scene wasn’t how it is today and it was just a few of us that started it, creating different platforms for the sounds we wanted to hear.

MOTION was where the cool alt kids would come and dance to house music. Since 2022, we’ve built a community, which is also a big part of why I started it. Community and freedom.

What has it been like building the EDM scene in Abuja?

It has been very DIY. It started with mostly European expatriates hosting Bush Bar Sessions and early House House House. It was cool to experience a new kind of gathering and over time we needed a vibe that was more authentically ours, so we started MOTION. Initially, our crowd didn’t understand the music but we kept playing until they got used to it.

Electronic Music in abuja really got commercial when we helped build concept fridays with George Younes, Raad Aswani, and Jakpo Ukeku. It was at Jakes, it was free, it was every Friday. This accessibility and frequency helped more people to discover and connect with the electronic sound. Now we have TEMPO and other EDM events reaching the mainstream.

What has it been like building the EDM scene in Abuja?

It has been very DIY. It started with mostly European expatriates hosting Bush Bar Sessions and early House House House. It was cool to experience a new kind of gathering and over time we needed a vibe that was more authentically ours, so we started MOTION. Initially, our crowd didn’t understand the music but we kept playing until they got used to it.

Electronic Music in abuja really got commercial when we helped build concept fridays with George Younes, Raad Aswani, and Jakpo Ukeku. It was at Jakes, it was free, it was every Friday. This accessibility and frequency helped more people to discover and connect with the electronic sound. Now we have TEMPO and other EDM events reaching the mainstream.

I’ve always wondered why Abuja is a nice city compared to the rest of Nigeria but its nightlife and cultural impact does not reflect that. Why do you think that is?

It’s a funding issue. People generally throw crumbs at our initiatives or the money gets misappropriated before it gets here. Corporate sponsors just do not take Abuja as a serious entertainment capital and that’s fine because I think it weeds out those who are not passionate. I want corporate money, don’t get me wrong, but I also think it dilutes the sound and what we have right now is super organic. Whether the money comes or doesn’t, we are going to keep going.

Another factor is that people in Abuja are quite comfortable so there’s barely any hunger. All the creative stuff I’ve done today comes from when I was going through it, working with makeshift equipment. When there’s funding, the people who are hungry will create stuff, right now they are just trying to survive.

I’ve always wondered why Abuja is a nice city compared to the rest of Nigeria but its nightlife and cultural impact does not reflect that. Why do you think that is?

It’s a funding issue. People generally throw crumbs at our initiatives or the money gets misappropriated before it gets here. Corporate sponsors just do not take Abuja as a serious entertainment capital and that’s fine because I think it weeds out those who are not passionate. I want corporate money, don’t get me wrong, but I also think it dilutes the sound and what we have right now is super organic. Whether the money comes or doesn’t, we are going to keep going.

Another factor is that people in Abuja are quite comfortable so there’s barely any hunger. All the creative stuff I’ve done today comes from when I was going through it, working with makeshift equipment. When there’s funding, the people who are hungry will create stuff, right now they are just trying to survive.

​​What’s do you find the most challenging with DJing and running your own show?

I don’t find DJing challenging at all. It’s actually a lot of fun. As for running my own shows, the challenges are structural. For example, we do not have proper venues out here and when you try to book the ones available, they approach the negotiation as if we are a regular club party that has ballers and all that. The structures here are not built to accommodate the habits we have as ravers. While we make it work because we are passionate, I’d rather the process not be so hard. But as they say, “The profit is the party and the party has to keep going.”

​​What’s do you find the most challenging with DJing and running your own show?

I don’t find DJing challenging at all. It’s actually a lot of fun. As for running my own shows, the challenges are structural. For example, we do not have proper venues out here and when you try to book the ones available, they approach the negotiation as if we are a regular club party that has ballers and all that. The structures here are not built to accommodate the habits we have as ravers. While we make it work because we are passionate, I’d rather the process not be so hard. But as they say, “The profit is the party and the party has to keep going.”

If someone says they want to begin DJing, how would you advise them?

I’d first ask why they want to DJ. If they want to DJ just to come across as cool, I’d advise that they forget it. Well, they can still play… But to DJ you need to have a solid vision. Don’t compare yourself to other DJs, don’t put limits on your expression, you’d just end up losing yourself.

If someone says they want to begin DJing, how would you advise them?

I’d first ask why they want to DJ. If they want to DJ just to come across as cool, I’d advise that they forget it. Well, they can still play… But to DJ you need to have a solid vision. Don’t compare yourself to other DJs, don’t put limits on your expression, you’d just end up losing yourself.

Is this your overall creative philosophy?

Sort of. At its core I just believe in originality… unhingeness. I believe in giving myself room to discover. That’s why I’m not a big fan of plans because I feel like if I overplan it it won’t go well because I get anxious. I also do not like repetition.

Is this your overall creative philosophy?

Sort of. At its core I just believe in originality… unhingeness. I believe in giving myself room to discover. That’s why I’m not a big fan of plans because I feel like if I overplan it it won’t go well because I get anxious. I also do not like repetition.

Motion

Motion

Do you have creative targets for 2026?

Yea, for sure. I took time off from producing to promote shows. This year, I’m getting back in the studio. I really want to make and release solo and collaborative tracks with artists and DJs. More focus on original content this year.

Do you have creative targets for 2026?

Yea, for sure. I took time off from producing to promote shows. This year, I’m getting back in the studio. I really want to make and release solo and collaborative tracks with artists and DJs. More focus on original content this year.

What trends do you expect on the dance floor?

Let’s use Boiler Room as an example, or maybe it was NTS, some years back that were the first to shine light on Mara. That seems like the most Nigerian EDM sound on the scene right now and I believe this year, it’s going to skyrocket. I also think people are going to create other distinct sounds because loads of rave DJs are shifting from trying to build the scene and going back to producing.

What trends do you expect on the dance floor?

Let’s use Boiler Room as an example, or maybe it was NTS, some years back that were the first to shine light on Mara. That seems like the most Nigerian EDM sound on the scene right now and I believe this year, it’s going to skyrocket. I also think people are going to create other distinct sounds because loads of rave DJs are shifting from trying to build the scene and going back to producing.

It’s been such an interesting conversation. I’d be surprised if readers do not make it this far. Let’s conclude with the kind of sounds you’ve been recently looping.

I have been into global club sounds like Brazilian phonk and bouyon lately from a listening and raving perspective. Honestly heard so much of the regular afrohouse, 3-step, and gqom. I like them, but I’m exploring future sounds. You can hear from the soundscape of my party BUMPIANA! The sounds are more experimental, cunty, and playful and for real I LOVE TO HAVE FUN while working.

It’s been such an interesting conversation. I’d be surprised if readers do not make it this far. Let’s conclude with the kind of sounds you’ve been recently looping.

I have been into global club sounds like Brazilian phonk and bouyon lately from a listening and raving perspective. Honestly heard so much of the regular afrohouse, 3-step, and gqom. I like them, but I’m exploring future sounds. You can hear from the soundscape of my party BUMPIANA! The sounds are more experimental, cunty, and playful and for real I LOVE TO HAVE FUN while working.

Black Noise Mag

Black Noise Mag

Black Noise Mag

Pasta