Unleashed with DJ A-Tech

They obviously haven’t been to any of the raves masterminded by DJ A-Tech. 

On the evening of 21, November 2021, the Succoth Garden in Oko erin, Ilorin in Kwara state came alive for the much-awaited return of a local crowd favorite, Tymout with DJ A-Tech 3.0. 

Dubbed The Unleashed, this high wattage celebration of music and culture was a partygoer’s dream, delivering both a solid time on the dance floor and a welcoming opportunity for networking among the city’s increasing upwardly mobile class. In keeping with the title and energy of this third iteration of what has now become a community staple, the forces of entertainment were unleashed on a city- and people- still recovering from the isolating effects of the Covid pandemic.

Tymout with DJ A-Tech is the signature event of DJ A-Tech (born Ayomide Omonira,) the popular disc jockey, music producer and events promoter. Put together by DJ A-Tech’s LMC Entertainment outfit, Tymout is a synthesis of his influences and experiences playing at major events across the country. 

The debut edition took place in 2018 and instantly made a mark on Ilorin’s social scene, what with its innovative celebration of community and focus on uniting people through music, culture, games and networking. Where else is one likely to find Arabian dancers shimmying alongside fearless firebreathers, backed by a live band and supported by some of the finest DJs in the game?

The people wanted more and the following year, Tymout with DJ A-Tech returned for a sophomore edition, this one bigger and splashier, headlined by DJ Kaywise who months later, landed a major hit alongside local rapper, Phyno with High Way.

While music has taken him to stages and turntables across the country, DJ A-Tech maintains a love for the city in which he earned his first degree in Mathematics.  This focus on building and sustaining thriving suburbs across local cities and venues has never been more important, particularly as the biggest popstars find themselves neglecting local audiences in a bid to attract global audiences. “Afrobeats to the world” sounds nice and catchy but is the movement even sustainable if local audiences who formed the bedrock of the sound find themselves priced out of meaningful experiences? Having worked in the city’s radio scene as a program curator, DJ A-Tech claims more than a tangible connection to the city. 

Returning from a covid-mandated hiatus in 2020, Tymout with DJ A-Tech 3.0 was another sterling entry. A solid comeback for a show that has brought color to its home city. The event space was tight but wired, transformed into an urban jungle with dancers and revelers mixing and sharing good vibes. Neon strips licked the ceiling with hazy LED lights cutting through the thick anticipation. The artists who performed represented a carefully curated a mix of what’s hot and who’s next in the Afrobeats scene. Naturally, Amapiano mixes were a hot item, but also plenty of log drums and heavy bass. There was also no shortage of talented lyricists and performers who matched their indigenous flow with loads of confidence. 

And as for DJ A-Tech? With his talent and blazing setlist, he proved why his name is likely to become a household one in the nearest future. Dressed like a rockstar with the confidence of someone who’s stared down silence and turned it into sound, his set was less a warm-up, and more like a thunderous main event. The setlist housed a who is who of contemporary Afrobeats names. Everyone and their hits were represented, from the “Big 3”- Davido, Burna Boy and Wizkid to the next wave of superstars like Fireboy DML, Ruger and Rema. The hits kept pouring out, a reflection on the still healthy state of the industry, despite the challenges of covid and chronic infrastructure issues.

Throughout the night, DJ A-Tech was in control of the curated narrative unspooling on the dancefloor. Far from the regular uninspired playlist comprising chart friendly hits, DJ A-Tech proved to be an apt student of local and global music history. From TikTok-friendly hits to the deep cuts from yesteryears. It was a curated narrative. DJ A-Tech worked the crowd to a relentless frenzy, evoking joyous rhythm, welcome nostalgia and a complete release. Classics made famous by Fela Kuti were recycled and updated by DJ A-Tech’s inventive mashing with more current drill and hip hop beats.

Whether your choice of groove was Afropiano by way of Niniola, or the more experimental Alte melodies of Odunsi the Engine, there was something for you contained within the set. A particularly memorable moment was his deconstructed version of Davido’s 2017 hit Fia which was reimagined with minimalist house percussion and a slowed-down synth loop that turned the chorus into a near-hypnotic chant. A slowed-down Afro-house take on Ayra Starr’s Bloody Samaritan incorporated the live band as the keyboardist riffed a joyous call-and-response segment over A-Tech’s break beat edits. Naturally, the crowd was screaming for more.

Tymout with DJ A-Tech takes quite seriously its role as a place of discovery, where upcoming acts can get the spot to showcase their talent and skillset not just for revelers but for industry executives looking out for new fresh voices. As such, exciting local acts bubbling under the mainstream also got their time in the spotlight. 

DJ A-Tech gave a lesson in crowd control, holding the appreciative audience captive. For the duration of the set, he was able to work the mood up to a frenzy before cooling it down when things were about to reach breaking point. This kind of deft crowd control work can only come from the experience of going on the road and studying the needs of the people. 

The technical side of the show was far from perfect though. Time management could have been more efficient and perhaps some transitions could have used more finesse. But what the show lacks in budget, it makes up for with passion and a raw energy that is almost infectious. More intentionally curated gigs like Tymout with DJ A-Tech could transform Ilorin’s youthful scene and Nigeria at large into a cultural hub that can attract the biggest players. 

With consistent curation like Tymout 3.0, it is a matter of time before everyone knows exactly what goes down in Ilorin.

By Wilfred Okiche

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