Today we’d like to introduce you to Nimi Ajayi.
Hi Nimi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Nigeria, where I first fell in love with music. I took piano lessons for a few years in junior high and high school. Shortly after college I also taught myself how to play the saxophone which is how my DJ name was coined. Music is a language that everyone loves and understands regardless of race, socioeconomic background, gender, age, location, etc. It is the perfect tool to bring people together. In times of celebration or in times of despair. That is why I got into DJing. I love bringing people together to create moments and share experiences.
Since moving to the United States, I have lived in predominantly white cities and it had always been a struggle for minority professionals to find spaces to let their hair down and express themselves. While I enjoy DJing and have DJed for several kinds of audiences, I particularly love providing young minority professionals with events curated for them and to give them that outlet. Nashville is very much a space needing more of these spaces, which is why I started Afrosphere, a monthly event that brings diverse professionals from all walks of life together to enjoy good food, drinks, music, and culture. I also do weddings and private parties as well.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Like I mentioned earlier, I have lived in 3 different cities Minneapolis, Cleveland, and now Nashville over the last few years for several reasons including work and school. As a DJ you work to build connections in your community and create a steady base of support. People that love you craft and how you do what you do. When you move to a city you have to somewhat start all over and build that from scratch. It has been both a blessing and a challenge because now I get to be a well-known DJ in 3 different cities, but the build period sucks sometimes.
The pandemic was also really hard on my DJ business with social gatherings being limited, but it was alright – the world was focused on beating the virus, healing from the loss, and building back. Since the restrictions have been lifted, people have a renewed appreciation for connecting, gathering, and socializing so that has definitely been great.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a DJ who loves to blend sounds from all over the world (especially Afrobeats) to give people a unique and fun experience whenever I am on the turntables. I love bringing people together to connect in a time where it’s very easy to get followers but hard to find true connection. People have come up to me that they met their significant others or closest friends at my events. That is a real thing of joy for me. Some people have also said that I have made their private events I DJ-ed at moments that they will never forget because of how happy they felt when I played. What sets me apart, I think is my background and experience across different countries and states. DJing requires being able to anticipate what someone might want to hear at any given time to create a specific feeling – it could be nostalgia, excitement, love, etc. I am also a working professional with 2 master’s degrees in business outside of DJing so I am able to really do the work of understanding different target markets and how to appeal to them and to also create a seamless experience for my clients and partners that I work with.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my story and background with you and look forward to connecting with you on social media and in-person if you are ever at an event that I am DJing at. Please come say hi!
Contact Info:
- Email: djgoldsax@gmail.com
- Website: djgoldsax.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/djgoldsax/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/djgoldsax
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/djgoldsax
Image Credits
Aisha
Skigbo
Kunle Mumuni
