From his studio in the United States, something keeps drawing his attention to the African continent. It is the hit songs coming out of Nigeria. Meet Chris Partlow, an American music producer, also called DJ 456.
Most Nigerians may not appreciate their own or the talent in the Nigerian music industry but Chris Partlow popularly known as DJ456, an American disk jockey and professional music producer who specialises in hip/hop, soul, RnB and Jazz music does. He has featured various artists in USA, Europe and now, he is looking forward to working with artists in Nigeria.
He is mostly passionate about Nigeria’s upcoming artists.
DJ456 is a music artist who started dreaming and working towards being a musician at the age of 10. “I have been interested in music since I was like 10 years old, I would listen to my mom and dad’s old rock, soul and pop records. I’m sure I danced to Michael Jackson once or twice. Hip hop is my favourite music, but I appreciate all genres of music and artistry. I have a varied amount of Vinyl records mainly jazz, soul, hip hop, rock etc. I grew up listening to hip hop, the first song I ever heard was LL Cool J ‘Around the way girl’ and was hooked ever since.
Chris Partlow was arrested by his love for music and describes himself as a great fan of music. His passion for music made him strive to be a musician as he started singing and following musicians whose musical arts and talent impress greatly on him. He realised that there are a lot of w a y s to express oneself in music using different aspects of sounds production. He realised a great world in the haven of digital production of sounds and became a DJ at about the time he was either 15 or 16 years old. “I got into music production 5 years ago and started learning the ropes in audio/sound engineering”. Though Chris Partlow was born and raised in Nottingham, England, he followed his passion to Ipswich, outside London when he was 16 and that’s when he started to get deep into hispassion as a hip hop music DJ.
Describing his exploits and experiences as a DJ, Chris Partlow explained that: “ I became a music DJ when I moved to Ipswich in 1996 through a friend and it went from there. I brought my own turntables and would mix my parents old records on them. Then I started to practice as a DJ at house parties and got paid for my performances later on. I ended up doing late night radio on ICR 107.5 FM in Ipswich for about four years which was a great experience and fun. Now I’m more into producing, mixing and mastering. I just released and produced an EP with a rapper from New Jersey, USA. Asked about his love and interest in African musicians especially Nigerian artistes, he responded thus:“I love Nigeria music, I have listened to Nikki Laoye, Ice Prince, Jessie Jagz, D Banj songs and so many others and I’m also hoping to work with African artistes in the future especially, artistes from Nigeria”. He also signified interest in working with Nigerians arts saying that he believes so much in their brand of music. He disclosed that the most interesting part of his career is his discovery that music creates a forum for him to meet new people from around the globe, definitely being able to create new sounds, the opportunity to be diverse and creative. “But the most interesting part to me is that I get to go at my own pace and get to put my own unique stamp on my brand of music.I open to work with anyone including artistes in Nigeria, it means making great music and reaching out to more people. I intend to look for more upcoming artistes who I can work with, because everyone deserves a chance to do what they love. I really love to see upcoming artistes who are determined and ready to work. If I have ever have the opportunity to visit any country as soon as possible even if it wasn’t isn’t about music, that country will definitely be Nigeria and South Africa”.
Though DJ456 is always busy with music, he is also a sports person and loves football, golf and going to gym. He believes that all work and no play makes DJ456 a dull boy and often escapes from his music passion to engage in sports in order to be mentally and physically fit.
DJ456 loves and admires other artistes and he is inspired by them and conspicuously among them are Nigerian artists Nikki Laoye, Ice Prince, Jessie Jagz, D Banj. His best hip hop vocalist artiste is Kurt Elling and also enjoys hip hop artists like Nas. He describes his best song lyricist to be LL Cool J “Around the way girl”.
Chris Partlow has worked with Mo the General, Halo (UK), Lifetime, Phoenix da Icefire (uk), Ricta (UK), Empuls, Domingo and Fressstyle Professors. He has plans to work with a group in South Africa on an upcoming project and also, members of the Wu Tang Clan in their upcoming music production.
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