Babz

"I got into DJing because I started a fraternity in college. We wanted to make our parties fun so I joined the DJ club to find someone to play music. I ended up learning how to DJ myself."

Moving to LA is what took it further. That's where his sound found a new direction. "That's when I fell in love with global sounds and Amapiano."

The music he plays reflects everywhere he's lived and everything he's absorbed. "I started with house music because it reminds me of the UK. But now I'm really leaning into my African roots. My style has African elements and moves fast with punchy log drums." Artists like Rema, Spinall, and Masego sit in his sets alongside LA underground creatives like Dr Chaii, Bantu, The Pangea Collective, and No Nazar.

The debut EP

This summer Babz is stepping into something new. "I'm working on releasing my debut EP. It's something I've always wanted to do. It's me finally stepping out and becoming an artist."

He's honest about what it actually takes though. "It's easy to learn the basics. But it's hard to master. To make it as a DJ you have to be an amazing marketer."

Behind the lens

Photography started the same accidental way the DJing did. He used to model for friends and one day when nobody would shoot him, he picked up a camera and figured it out himself. "I had a decent camera and when one of my friends wouldn't take photos of me I just started watching YouTube tutorials."

His early work was colorful street fashion portraits. Now he shoots events, capturing people mid-movement, laughing, dancing, performing. "For me it's all about getting the colors right and painting a picture. I'm always drawn to the chaos of the city."

He recently got to shoot Spinall, one of his favorite producers, which felt like a full circle moment. "It felt so good to shoot someone I've been a fan of for so long."

"Always carry your camera. Take pictures of your friends. You really have the power to make someone feel beautiful."

Follow Babz

IG: @babzaf

Website: babzafolabi.myportfolio.com

Off Record Magazine

Digging deeper, looking sideways, always underground.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwhtssiPNHc