SONOS CLUB : JIMIDEK

INTERVIEW

JimiDek is a Nigerian-born, London-based Producer and DJ whose sets pulse with soulful house grooves, low fidelity textures, and dynamic rhythms. Blending warm sounds with captivating beats, his performances radiate an explosive energy that transforms venues into euphoric celebrations.

As the inaugural artist-in-resident at Abuja's House House House, he's currently crafting his first house music project while making waves in London's electronic scene. He has performed at venues like Cafe1001 and Jumbi Peckham, and recently organized his first event, Good Tymz at Club Makossa in March 2025.

Drawing from his journey through various music genres, JimiDek creates spaces where electronic music thrives in its most authentic form - as a celebration of rhythm, community, and pure dancefloor joy.

Can you tell us about your musical journey and how your cultural background has influenced your sound?

JIMIDEK: Given my foundation with piano, guitar and african drums, the context of being a creator of music has been instilled in me from young. However, my producer journey started in Lofi Hip-Hop. I created a track called “Fietsen in Brooklyn” that got good feedback (was a finalist in a competition) and showed that I had something going on for me musically. The exploration of lofi hiphop led me to lofi house, which was my proper introduction to house. While I had an EDM phase before this where I listened to a lot of Progressive House from people like Seven Lions and Swedish House Mafia, I had not intimated myself with House Music culture. So Lofi House helped to open these floodgates, leading me to explore more of house music culture through documentaries, podcasts, learning to dj and eventually getting affiliated with the Abuja Electronic Music scene after some time in the US, before coming to London and getting more familiar with the scene here as well. My culture (yoruba culture) is all about the drums, so interesting rhythms and percussion are staple features in my sound.

What are some early memories of music from your upbringing that shaped your taste today?

JIMIDEK: There was so much music of all types all the time. Hip-hop/rnb/pop music everywhere,especially on tv (growing up in Nigeria, I watched a lot of Channel O and MTV Base lol), fuji when my dad was driving, Nigerian pop music on the streets, at home, parties and radio…to even video games! We had this game on PS2 it was called “Singstar”. My dad got it for us on a trip from Germany. So apart from guessing what the instructions meant, there was also exposure to some pop music from Germany, the UK and older eras that I believe was instrumental to opening my mind and tastes as a music appreciator. I grew up playing classical music on piano, started at about 6 but would later stop at about 10 and pick it back up briefly at 18. We also had talking drum lessons which, looking back, was a cool way to get us in touch with our culture. I was also in the school band in Primary School and played the bass drum, I was also one of the few people that could carry it by myself at the time, I was a strong young boy lol. There’s probably a correlation between that and my current affinity to House Music. Additionally, my mum worked at MUSON Centre in Lagos when I was young. It’s a place where a lot of concerts and operas took place in Lagos. So, believe it or not, as a kid I went to the opera sometimes. It was funny because, sometimes me or my brothers had to use the toilet in the middle of the show, and we would not be allowed back in until intermission. Good times. There was a lot of exposure to all types of music growing up, so I naturally gravitated to wide array of music as time went, from pop punk to modern classical music to dutch hip hop to grime to electronic music. Music serves as an avenue for wonder for me, so making it or being an audience to it brings me joy.

How do you integrate your heritage or identity into your DJ sets or productions?

JIMIDEK: I am a very big fan of rhythm/percussion and how it can spice up a track. A lot of Nigerian, specifically Yoruba, music is percussive, so percussive that the rhythm sometimes takes on a melodic dimension (like with talking drums). Consequently, these rhythmic sensibilities inform music that I produce and play. You will find that sets I play have infectious rhythmic grooves. I also like to play some afrohouse and throwback Nigerian songs that have “housey” elements in them like “Imagine That” by Styl Plus or “Its My Life” by Dr. Alban. Playing tracks of nigerian/african heritage that I feel are “housey” feel like a natural way to incorporate my love for house with my ethnic identity. Are there any specific artists or genres from your background that have been particularly influential to your craft? I am inspired by black artists in electronic music. The whole movement that led to the creation of house music in Chicago inspires me and specifically shows how black people interacted with “rejected technology” to create a movement that was so resonant, it continues to form the backbone of electronic music till today. With regards to artists that inspire me, I am very much in awe with what Salute is doing. I think that how they are currently killing it in the electronic music space will serve as an inspiration for young black kids around the world for years to come. Additionally, an artist that has been directly influential in my craft and currently trajectory is G.rizo, she’s the Founder of House House House, an organization championing electronic music in Abuja, Nigeria. Aside from serving as a direct mentor and guiding me through my musical journey, the work that she is doing, building and spreading electronic music culture in Abuja, Nigeria continues to inspire me as a creative professional. As important as it is to create music, it is extremely important to build a platform that will allow you to take ownership of the music and culture that it propagates. This is a lesson that I have learnt from G.rizo through the work she is doing.

Are there any specific artists or genres from your background that have been particularly influential to your craft?

JIMIDEK: I am inspired by black artists in electronic music. The whole movement that led to the creation of house music in Chicago inspires me and specifically shows how black people interacted with “rejected technology” to create a movement that was so resonant, it continues to form the backbone of electronic music till today. With regards to artists that inspire me, I am very much in awe with what Salute is doing. I think that how they are currently killing it in the electronic music space will serve as an inspiration for young black kids around the world for years to come. Additionally, an artist that has been directly influential in my craft and currently trajectory is G.rizo, she’s the Founder of House House House, an organization championing electronic music in Abuja, Nigeria. Aside from serving as a direct mentor and guiding me through my musical journey, the work that she is doing, building and spreading electronic music culture in Abuja, Nigeria continues to inspire me as a creative professional. As important as it is to create music, it is extremely important to build a platform that will allow you to take ownership of the music and culture that it propagates. This is a lesson that I have learnt from G.rizo through the work she is doing.

When you’re crafting a DJ set, do you have a particular story or vibe you aim to convey? How do you build it?

JIMIDEK: You know, a lot of the time I just want people to feel euphoria. I generally like to build my sets from a point of lower energy to higher energy, making sure to keep the sounds interesting, the crowd engaged and most importantly making sure that I am entertained and having a good time. Other times, especially when I am playing recorded sets or for radio, I come in with a specific theme in mind e.g. love, warmth and build my sets from there. All in all, aim to have the audience feel like they are in a special blissful space where cool things happen.

What’s your process for discovering and selecting new music? Any go-to sources or methods?

JIMIDEK: I can be very picky with the music I play, gravitating toward tracks that feel interesting either rhythmically, melodically, or with an emotive core. Since a lot of tracks don’t meet this mark, I’m deliberate about discovery. I dig through mixes, albums, and playlists from labels and artists I appreciate, and I also use the ‘radio’ feature on streaming platforms for tracks I already enjoy. This helps me find similar vibes that I can then filter through to uncover hidden gems that actually hit the standard I’m looking for. The aim is to play music that is not basic.

How do you balance between your roots and staying fresh with modern trends in your sets?

JIMIDEK: The key to finding this balance is making sure that you constantly maintain context between your roots and modern trends. If you are in touch with your culture, even if its in a minimal form like memes or tv shows and are a participant in the wider cultures, you will naturally see overlaps, and it is in this intersection that balance resides. However, I do not actively try to chase modern trends or worry too much about incorporating my roots in my sets because I am a participant in the world and a participant of my culture, so instead I focus on expressing myself as authentically as possible and the right balance between these worlds naturally comes out.

Can you talk about a track or mix you’ve created that holds a special meaning to you? What’s the story behind it?

JIMIDEK:The first time I ever played at a party. It was with House House House in Abuja, Nigeria. The year was 2023 and I had just started djing and was receiving a lot of good feedback so it was time to test this theory with a big crowd. I was excited to share some of the music I was listening to at the time, as well as play some original productions and mashups and it went so well, it was crazy. This was my first baby set and I was rocking the dancefloor. From that set, I knew that DJing was something that I wanted to pursue in more detail. It holds a special place for me because it was such an innocent moment, and one of those times that showed that I could create amazing moments not just for myself but for other people, based off of things I like. It is also special because at the time, after many years in the US, due to visa issues I had to move back home to Nigeria and start again. DJing was one of the ways I built myself back up and it was nice to see that something I build up from a place of nothing created opportunities for bliss.

As a DJ from a BIPOC background, what are some challenges you’ve faced in the industry, and how have you overcome them?

JIMIDEK: Personally, given that I am still early in my journey in the industry, I have not faced a lot of industry-specific challenges. I do understand that there are systemic challenges that probably affect me by virtue of my race and nationality either in the form of direct/covert racism or reduced global mobility due to my Nigerian citizenship but I have not been directly affected by these yet. However, by virtue of being Nigerian, I have actually faced some cultural challenges with trying to embrace my artistry and getting support/understanding from people, especially family. We all know the stereotypes that Nigerians have 3 jobs – Doctor, Lawyer or Engineer (which I technically am, I have an electrical engineering degree), but there is some truth to this stereotype. Creative careers are frowned upon. Some of my family members do not understand what I am doing with music and think I am wasting my time which has sometimes brought enormous stress to my life. However, this is the reality that I live and have to accept. In terms of overcoming it, I find that it is best to be authentic to myself as a creative and connect with other likeminded individuals, which has helped me come across creative opportunities as well as gain some acceptance from family. However, in the cases where the acceptance has not come, the peace of being authentic to myself helps me endure some of the storms that come my way.

How important is representation and visibility for you in the electronic music scene?

JIMIDEK: It is so important for black kids around the world to see someone that looks like them excelling in electronic music. I especially believe this because house music (which is the backbone of a lot of electronic music genres) is originally a black innovation, however, due to a lack of representation over the years, it has come to be known as “white people music” with a lot of black populations. That is not cool. Electronic Music is your birthright, claim it! So, to ensure that black kids around the world can fully claim their legacy in electronic music, it is highly important that they see themselves within the music. This is, in part, what I hope to achieve through my artistry.

Have there been moments where you’ve felt your identity helped you stand out or connect with your audience in unexpected ways?

JIMIDEK: Yes, all the time! I am an electronic music artist in London that represents Abuja, Nigeria. That makes me stand out on multiple levels. First of all, I am an electronic music artist from Nigeria. Nigeria is not typically known for electronic music, so that helps me standout. Secondly, I represent Abuja and not Lagos. People that are aware of activities in Nigerian entertainment tend to focus on Lagos, so even if they are aware of the electronic music movement in Nigeria, they think of Lagos first, so representing a city that is not Lagos tends to intrigue people. 

Combining these two elements, I tend to standout within the populated London scene because what I embody and represent is a new concept to a lot of people.

What are some emerging trends in electronic or experimental music that excite you right now?

JIMIDEK: The electronic music scene in Nigeria is going crazy right now, and as someone that is a part of this it is exciting. It eerily reminds me of what I hear about Chicago in the early days of House Music. Looking forward to what our fully developed electronic sounds and culture will feature.

IHow do you envision your music evolving in the next few years? Are there new sounds or ideas you want to explore?

JIMIDEK: Oh man. I’m not even sure I can answer this question, because my music tastes have historically evolved in such a random manner, who knew I was going to get into dutch hiphop (that sounds like afrobeats) or produce lofi hip hop?? So I can’t predict for sure.

At the moment and for the foreseeable future, I am a primarily a house music artist, however, in the event that changes I will always maintain a principle of embracing chill, soulful, rhythmically interesting music and sounds regardless of the package/genres that it comes in. Additionally, I believe that there are so many possibilities for musical exploration within space and time (the domain that rhythm occupies) and I’m excited to see what my music will sound like at a more mature stage of rhythm exploration. This desire has recently led me towards Groove Techno - the percussion and groove hits in such a powerful way it gets me going, so JimiDek in the future might also be a Techno guy, who knows.

If you could curate a dream lineup for an event, which artists would you include and why?

JIMIDEK: I would invite DJ Houseplants and sunflwr because of the infectious cheerful energy they spread through their sets. Seeing them play live was one of the closest things to childhood joy I have experienced in adult life. 

Skpeta and Mas Tiempo would be essential because of what they're doing with house music - it's almost like they're on a mission to spread it to black/urban youth especially in the UK. Their sound is deeply rhythmic, almost tribal, but with this subtle darkness reminiscent of grime that absolutely gets the party going.

Kapote and the Toytonics crew are must-haves - they throw the best parties! Their music has this organic, natural quality that promotes good vibes throughout the whole experience.

And of course, G.rizo and the House House House crew bringing that Abuja energy to certify the set. Couldn't be a dream lineup without them.

What advice would you give to up-and-coming DJs and producers from underrepresented communities?

JIMIDEK: Go out and build community. Literally show up. Not in a flowery way that sounds like your presence is so important/ephemeral, but in the simple way of just being around within your local scene. This is how you build community. I understand that a lot of producers/djs, especially from underrepresented communities could be shy or feel like they do not belong in a scene. But honestly, just go where people are, say hi and be a cool guy/gal. Do this consistently and you will build community, the kind of community that will prop you up and support you.

How do you stay motivated and keep your creativity flowing, especially during challenging times?

JIMIDEK: You gotta remember why you are being creative. You have to remember why you set out on this path and take stock of your victories along the way. Having a strong “why” and reminding yourself of it will keep you going through tough times. However, in more practical terms, it is important to step outside of yourself during tough times when creativity is not flowing. This might be as simple as interacting with loved ones or interacting with a piece of media that excites you or undertaking a project/experience that brings about wonder. E.g. I once learnt dutch through exposure to dutch music during a challenging time and that helped to bring some colour back into my life.

What’s one message you hope people take away when they listen to your sets or mixes?

JIMIDEK: Dare to dream. Allow yourself to lean into wonder and play.

SONOS CLUB is an initiative from Sounds of Craft Records, designed to highlight the eclectic electronic music scene through the perspectives of the BIPOC diaspora and marginalized communities, while being open to all.