Fans know him as DJ SmithBeatz but his parents named him Ifediora Chukwudi Christopher. DJ SmithBeatz in this exclusive interview with ZagaEmpire tells us about how it all began for him as a DJ and Music Producer, his background and a whole lot more.
ZagaEmpire – Can we meet you?
DJ SmithBeatz – Yea sure my name is Ifediora Chukwudi Christopher but I’m known as DjSmithBeatz, I’m a DJ and a Music Producer… Everything that concerns sounds anyways
ZagaEmpire – Why the name change from DJ Smith to DjSmithBeatz?
DJ SmithBeatz – It’s almost the same thing. I only wanted to stand unique.
ZagaEmpire – What was growing up like?
DJ SmithBeatz – Growing up was fun just like everyone would say. I was born into a music family so I spent most time going to choir rehearsals even though I was too playful
ZagaEmpire – How did your interest in music production come about?
DJ SmithBeatz – Well it came when my elder brother introduced me to a DJ Software (Virtual DJ) it was the 3rd version. I just started playing around the software and learning how to mix 2 songs together. With the help of the YouTube I mastered it in no time and started going for local events in my hood. It went further to always use my phone to record vocals and then bring it into Virtual DJ and sync it with an instrumental. I never knew what I was doing. I was just catching fun with it. As time goes on it came to me that I can actually create a beat instead of using an existing beat and then my brother introduced me to another software (Fruity Loops) then it was FL Studio 6. Then I went to the internet again and started to mess around with the software and getting better as time passes.
ZagaEmpire – Before you became a music producer what other activities do you do?
DJ SmithBeatz – Lol I was a professional in-line skater and I was very good at it and other skaters gave me the name “Skate Guru” I’ve also won so many medals and set records in the game. Skating in Nigeria wasn’t appreciated so I guess I lost interest.
ZagaEmpire – You have lot of beats trending nationwide to your credit, how do you feel about that ?
DJ SmithBeatz – I feel so good about it but I must say it wasn’t easy to get my beats to this extent. I only kept on dishing out beats and made sure I was consistent.
ZagaEmpire – What inspires you to remake beat ?
DJ SmithBeatz – Hahaha. Many things can inspire me to remake beats. I have the gift of ears and I can tell what sound I hear and how that particular sound was made. I also remake beats so that up and coming artists can do covers. I get emails of covers anytime I drop a remake.
ZagaEmpire – How do you intend to reach the level of bigger music producers like Don Jazzy, Sarz, Shizzi amongst others ?
DJ SmithBeatz – Well I can’t really say. Some of them are my friends too. I’m just doing my best and leaving the rest to God and I’m in no competition with anyone.
ZagaEmpire – Which music producer would you say inspired you in Nigeria?
DJ SmithBeatz – A lot of producer inspire me even some producers that I don’t know can inspire me. Just be listening to a beat. Zaytoven is one of them, London on The Track too lol oh yes I love heavy kicks and London gets me with that. Sarz is another producer that inspires me. I love his unique sounds and styles. Killertunes too, he kills me when he uses his signature to play around his beat.
ZagaEmpire – How do you feel about musicians getting all the credits?
DJ SmithBeatz – We are in Nigeria where everything happens so I’m not surprised. I spend time and resources to make beats and then put it out there for free of charge and I don’t get credits for it. As a matter of fact some artists record and send me to mix and master for them all in the name of “Free of Charge” it’s so funny that sometimes people record with my remakes and then give the original performer all the credit and leave me out. If I had not remade that beat they wouldn’t have even made that cover but what else will I do? I just keep doing what I’m doing.
ZagaEmpire – Your EDM remix of Burna boy’s Killin Dem Ft. Zlatan went viral. What can you say about it?
DJ SmithBeatz – It was like a magic. I wanted to try out a new thing so I decided to use that song. I Isolated the vocals from the beat and made a new beat then mixed it in and changed the overall structure of the song. It was sounding nice to me and I decided to dish it out. It didn’t take up to 3 hours when I heard it on the radio that evening. And after then heard it all over the place. It was just like a magic lol.
ZagaEmpire – What are some of the challenges you’ve faced along the way to be where you are today?
DJ SmithBeatz – Everything in the world has challenges. Becoming a music producer or a DJ is no different. Getting tools is a big challenge in music production and DJing. Our equipments, softwares and plug-ins can be extremely expensive and sometimes it’s not encouraging. Some artists and singers too can be a challenge, they don’t just want to pay for beats. Sometimes they even request for free beats. There are lots of other challenges which I believe to be normal in life
ZagaEmpire – Talking about free beats, how many have you dished out so far?
DJ SmithBeatz – Wow!!! This one is loud o lol… Well I really cannot mention a figure but to estimate I have up to 500 free beats out there.
ZagaEmpire – Being a music producer is a fairly expensive occupation, how did you fund yourself at the beginning, securing equipments needed?
DJ SmithBeatz – Everything in life is stage by stage. I started up from buying a laptop and a good headphone and then I make beats just on my bed and started selling beats for artists. I also get invited to other studios to produce music and all that generates funds for me to handle my bills
ZagaEmpire – Do you have any projects coming up soon?
DJ SmithBeatz – Oh yes. My second instrumental album is coming very soon. I can’t give a date for that though but it should be ready before this year runs out
ZagaEmpire – Give a shoutout to you fans .
DJ SmithBeatz – My first shoutout goes to my big bro Nesta thanks for the support. Shout out to bloggers for the honor of posting my works, radio stations, TV stations and all my fans out there!!!
We at ZagaEmpire are saying a very big thank you to you DJ SmithBeatz for taking your time to answer our questions joyfully and granting this interview.
You can follow/contact DJ SmithBeatz for booking and enquiry via:
Instagram: @djsmithbeatz
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