Cover Star Interview
British-Ghanaian DJ and producer Juls joins Nandi Madida via FaceTime on Apple Music 1 to talk about his latest single, the Victony collab “Saint Tropez.” He also discusses his new album, ‘Peace & Love,’ how he blends sounds from across the continent, and his new era: “I’m trying to make people dance a lot more.”
This Week’s Hottest New Tracks
Nandi Madida shares the hottest new African tracks of the moment. This week’s selection includes new tracks from Shallipopi & Olamide, De Mthuda, Kabza De Small & Young Stunna feat. Mkeyz, Mckenzie & Mthunzi, Crayon & Young Jonn, Usimamane, and La Même Gang, Friyie, KiddBlack, $pacely & Rjz.
Tune in and listen to the full episode this Friday, November 1st at 8a London / 9a Lagos/Paris / 10a Johannesburg / 1a LA / 4a NYC on Apple Music 1 at apple.co/_AfricaNow and broadcast on YFM Kumasi on Saturdays at 3pm and YFM Takoradi on Saturdays at 6pm ***
Juls Tells Apple Music Why He Released His Album on His Birthday
There’s been a lot going on. I’ve always wanted to celebrate my birthday this way, with music. I’m feeling a lot of love. There’s a lot of work to be done, but I’m grateful to God for making a lot of things happen thus far.
Juls Tells Apple Music About His New Album, ‘Peace & Love’
When I started making the music for the album, a lot of the beats were made in places where I felt at peace. In a serene environment or on the beach. If you listen to the album, you’ll notice a lot of ocean ambience behind most of the songs. From a love aspect, it was what I’ve been trying to depict or give off my whole career. When I was making the music, there was a lot of love from different people. So I decided to make an album that depicts that type of energy, whether in the club or your car or at home or in a lounge. A song that’s going to ooze that feeling of peace, love, luxury, feeling good about yourself. Definitely more about feeling. A lot of the messages are very emotional: it’s happiness, it’s love, it’s lust, it’s also triggering emotionally, in terms of checking your emotions. And it’s a fun record. A lot of the artists on there are my favourite artists right now, the ones that I listen to. And it’s kind of like the end of an era, for the type of music I’ve been making for a long time. Slow, mid-tempo. Towards the second half of the album, I turn the tempo up and I think moving forward, I want to start making Nandi and her friends dance a bit more with more uptempo music.
Juls Tells Apple Music About His Sonic Choices for His New Era
I feel like this is the beginning of this new era that I’m trying to do, which is make people dance a lot more. I’m inspired by your fellow countryman Black Coffee; I’m inspired by Shimza. I see how all these guys are doing amazing things around the world and just making people dance. I like to put my spin on these things.
Juls Tells Apple Music About His Track, the Victony collab, “Saint Tropez”
When I was making the beat in the studio, I said to myself I was going to add elements of amapiano and highlife. But then I wanted it to have a Latin feel. In terms of the percussion, I wanted to mix it with Afro-Brazilian, some sort of Congolese style, some Nigerian style. Literally just a pot, making stew and dumping all the spices there and then mixing it, just to see what it was going to taste like. I put a bit of Victony in it. He has this very unique voice where he floats on literally anything and everything. I think this type of record will make people see him in a different light. A lot of the records he makes are still groovy, but they’re not as hard-knocking. With this one, I’d love to hear it in the club more. I wanted “Saint Tropez” to be the lead record because it’s such a crazy blend of African elements.
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