By Christy Anyanwu
Oluseye Desmond Sodamola, globally acclaimed Afrobeats DJ, popularly known as Spinall, is in the news again as Coachella has announced him as the first Afrobeat DJ to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival 2024, coming up in California, United States of America, in April.
Spinall’s trailblazing journey has continued to achieve recognition as the first Nigerian and Afrobeats DJ featured in the esteemed British electronic dance and clubbing magazine Mixmag’s list of the top 25 DJs who defined the year 2023.
Additionally, he holds the distinction of being the first Nigerian to captivate the audience at the illustrious Glastonbury Festival in the UK, following in the footsteps of Afrobeats legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
Spinall spoke with Sunday Sun about himself, life as a DJ, Coachella and lots more.
On your first day on stage as a DJ, what was the experience like?
My first day was exciting. It was a church performance, yet I was so nervous, but I didn’t let fear to hold me back and it ended up being amazing.
As an international DJ from Africa, what is your experience with culture shock when performing abroad? How would you rate the world’s reception of Afrobeats, do you think it has had a significant impact on your acceptance?
Music is a universal language. The world is not deaf. Our music is amazing. The world is familiar with our sounds; we just need to go harder and say yes to more collaborations.
I have put out six studio albums featuring everyone who cares to listen to the vision. Grateful to each one of them. My forever goal is to preach the gospel of Afrobeats through DJ-ing and discover and nurture new talents through my record label, TheCAPMusic.
What is the typical genre on your playlist, and what are the inspirations behind creating your playlists for performances?
I am an open-format DJ/producer. There are no rules with me. My name is Spinall, basically, playing everything! I am also not a robot nor a juke box. So, I read the room and apply pressure.
Seeing how you have paved the way for others as an international artiste/DJ, what are your current short-term and long-term goals?
Spinall is the current goal… long-term goals will be my record label, TheCAPMusic. The world we live in at the moment is different from what it was a few years ago. I am living and learning. The goals will align at the right time.
Who and what do you consider as the greatest influence in your life?
God, good music and good people.
What projects are you working on currently? And what should fans expect from your Coachella performance?
Currently working on my seventh studio album. We will be releasing new singles to build up to the album soon. My Coachella performance will be one for the books. We are no strangers to big stages. And since this is the first time a DJ/producer from Afrobeats will be performing on that massive stage, I’ve got to add extra spice to it. We are working on this round the clock. May God help me because the festival will witness Spinall’s electrifying performances across two consecutive weekends.
What should the audience expect at the forthcoming festival?
For me, this is a monumental moment for Afrobeats. As our distinctive genre continues to captivate global audiences. Stages like Coachella provide a platform to celebrate our growth and inspire us further to showcase our art and culture to the world. This monumental announcement marks a significant milestone for DJs, producers, and artistes hailing from Nigeria.
How do you handle stardom?
One rule I learnt from my parents, in all situations, stay calm!