This is a transcript of the Beyond the Decks Podcast 004 with Razaq El Toro. The timestamps in the transcript are clickable links that take you directly to that point in the main video. Please note that the transcript is machine generated, and may have errors. Here are some useful links:
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Table of Contents
00:00:00 – Razaq’s Early Life
00:01:41 – Musical Influences in Nigeria
00:03:08 – Early Music Production Experiences
00:07:12 – Transition to Hip Hop Production
00:09:08 – Exposure to Electronic Music
00:15:00 – First DJing Experience
00:22:11 – Building Unique Events
00:24:33 – Origin of Afrique Like Me
00:27:23 – Cultural Integration in Sets
00:32:48 – Afrique Like Me, Community and Belonging
00:38:09 – Advice For How Emerging DJs Can Stand Out
00:42:28 – Niche vs. Open Format
00:44:56 – Building an Identity
00:49:03 – Razaq El Toro Selects
Razaq’s Early Life
(00:00:00)
Robert Simoes
Welcome everybody to the Beyond the Decks podcast, your guide to mastering the art and business of the electronic, dance and DJ music industry. I’m your host, Robert Simoes here with learning to DJ. Com and as you can see, we have escaped the metaverse, the internet. We’re actually recording live here at Secret Weapon Sound downtown here in Toronto. And I’m really thrilled to be speaking with this gentleman here today. Razaq Onakoya. Or as he’s better known by his stage name, Razaq El Toro. And Razaq was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria and ventured into Canada when he was in his teens. If I’m not mistaken, late teens.
(00:00:47)
Razaq El Toro
I was a week from turning 20.
(00:00:49)
Robert Simoes
And you worked your way up through, you know, all aspects of like the nightlife industry to become a very like, well known, you know, very present act in the competitive world of Toronto’s electronic music scene. not only that, Razaq is also one third of the African electronic dance music experience.
(00:01:09)
Robert Simoes
Afrique Like Me with Sonic Griot. And Martin Ses, yes, but you’re also, you know, one of these pioneers of this genre, eco electronic as well, if I’m not mistaken, which is like Lagos electronic Afrobeats meets electronic music. Yeah. so like I said, I’m super thrilled to be chatting with you today and, welcome to the show. Yeah.
(00:01:29)
Razaq El Toro
Thank you. I was I was quite the intro. Thanks a lot, man. Thank you, thank you. This guy’s done his research. Hahahahahahahaha. Yeah. That’s awesome. Thank you, thank you. Appreciate it. Yeah. Thank you.
Musical Influences in Nigeria
(00:01:41)
Robert Simoes
Can we talk a little bit about your your background? You know, like I said, you sort of came to Canada with this background, like in your 20s, coming to this whole new culture, this whole new world. But obviously, you probably left this whole other culture behind in Nigeria with its own musical influence. So what kind of, you know, musical influences and things.
(00:01:58)
Robert Simoes
Where were you surrounded with back home before coming to Canada?
(00:02:04)
Razaq El Toro
So I would say it’s, it’s kind of crazy because I feel like growing up a lot of well, first off, like, I was exposed to a lot of a lot of music, like, really diverse music growing up in Nigeria. I think the cool thing about that is, you know, you know, if you had cable, you had access to American music, you know, like what was like popping in the States. But you also got a lot of like European things. So we grew up with a lot of, you know, yet the American influence. But, you know, we we had access to a lot of, you know, really dope European music that I feel like, you know, the average person in, in the States wasn’t really checking for, you know, so, yeah, growing up in Nigeria, you kind of get like that world influence, you know, and obviously they played a lot of like African music.
(00:02:56)
Razaq El Toro
On like the TV and the radio and stuff. But yeah, you know, it was a blessing because we were definitely exposed to to a diverse, range of music.
Early Music Production Experiences
(00:03:08)
Robert Simoes
And so when you were in, you know, coming up as a teenager, if I’m not mistaken, you were already experimenting with like some form of music production, like different kinds of things.
(00:03:18)
Razaq El Toro
Not not necessarily. you know, like, I like I have, I have four older brothers, you know, I’m like the last kid, you know, like, our house was also like, a lot of a lot of people came to party at our house, you know what I mean? So, also, growing up, you know, like my parents, you know, like, like, my dad was like a party person. Like, he was always, like, entertaining people. You know, we’re like a very like, you know, you know, like, we like having fun in our family. so I feel I feel like, you know, like, from.
(00:03:55)
Razaq El Toro
Yeah. Since I was a kid. You know, I’ve always taken note of of music. Like, I feel like music was always something I really enjoyed. Not from, you know, I think I took, like, a few music classes ever, and I just, I was just like, oh, this kind of. It’s not for me, to be honest, like the theory aspect of it. but yeah, I’ve always just loved, love, like, curating and taking in music without. I didn’t even know the curating meant at the time, but I guess I was doing it my entire life because, yeah, I was one of those dudes that, you know, like, I’ll stay up late, you know, as a kid to record from the radio onto cassette tapes, you know, because I had to be that guy. If there was, like, a school dance happening or whatever, because usually the way it works in Nigeria at the end of the school year, there’s always like a bit of like, kind of like a one week break where you still go to school, but you’re kind of like not doing anything.
(00:04:52)
Razaq El Toro
It’s usually that week when, like, the teachers are like marking your exams and all that stuff. I know that’s that’s like the real fing party, you know, because, you know, exams are done. You know, the holidays are about to start. So you kind of like just go to school, you play fing ping pong, play soccer and like, you know, you you play music. So I was like, you know, I was always that dude that, you know, had like the mixtapes. And I didn’t even I didn’t even know I was making mixtapes at the time. I was just basically recording the hottest songs from the radio that I could find onto these cassette tapes and, you know, trying to like, sequence them. Right. but yeah, I feel like that that was just always me. I always enjoyed a good party. Like I said, I had like, I had like, four older brothers, you know, we threw a lot of house parties at home.
(00:05:44)
Razaq El Toro
I have, like, a lot of, like, like really, really cool cousins that were so, like in the same head space. And, you know, they always had parties. yeah. Music was just always a big thing I didn’t dabble into. Like a friend of mine showed me Fruity Loops when I was like, when I was like 16 or 15 in Nigeria. And I think that was the first time where I was like, whoa, hold up. What do you mean you can make a beat from your frickin computer, you know? because the whole time, you know, the idea of making a beat, you know, you meant you had to be in a place like this. Yeah. You know, go there. I tried I did not know what it took to make a beat, you know? But, I remember when my friend did, wallaby. He showed me Fruity Loops, and I was just like, holy. I’m like, okay, cool, cool cool cool cool cool.
(00:06:38)
Razaq El Toro
So I kind of, like, just kept that in the back of my head. And, so it wasn’t until I came to this part of the world, you know, my first dollar I earned above, actually, I probably did not buy it. I probably pirated it But, you know, I got for the loop still. I think the first thing I bought was samurai X, the DVD on eBay. But yeah.
(00:07:01)
Robert Simoes
So did did deejaying come first for you then or, you know, so it was it was you started with Fruity Loops. You started making these beats and then were you making, you know, House or anything at the time or what were you doing.
Transition to Hip Hop Production
(00:07:12)
Razaq El Toro
No. So like, I started, started making hip hop, I started making hip hop. I was attempting to make hip hop beats, with Fruity Loops, and that was my thing, you know, essentially just making, like, a bunch of, like, you know, beat loops. That sounded good. And, I was doing that for a while.
(00:07:33)
Razaq El Toro
Yeah. Like, just basically trying to make a beat a day, you know, like, whenever I have, like, some free time, just trying to learn the program, the workarounds, you know, bear in mind, while I was while I started making beats, I couldn’t tell you the difference between, f***ing BPM and like, two bars? You know, like, all all that lingo was new to me, so I was kind of, like, learning on the fly. And, you know, for you kids out there, this is before YouTube, before it could be like, oh, how do you make a trap beat with progressive House? And there’s 40 tutorials for that. This was this was I actually remember when YouTube first came out, this was before YouTube. So there was I had like a I ended up buying Fruity Loops because I needed the manual. and I kept on like trying to, like, learn through the manual and like, I had like this massive book I’ll try and read.
(00:08:28)
Razaq El Toro
So yeah, that’s how I started. I started making beats. yeah. And just, you know, fun fact, I also used to rap a little bit. Okay. Trying to, like, complement the beats. You know, I get my boy Kenny, who was a dope rapper at the time to rap. yeah, man. Like, yeah, we like. Yeah. We just kind of like playing around still. Yeah, yeah.
(00:08:59)
Robert Simoes
So then where did. So you started with, you know, rapping. You started with a little bit of hip hop and then where did I guess the deejaying aspect come in for you?
Exposure to Electronic Music
(00:09:08)
Razaq El Toro
The deejaying aspect? Yeah, because I was making I was making a lot of like, I was making a lot of beats. Then I actually started slowly getting into house making, like, electronic beats, you know, because, yeah, like in Nigeria, like, you know, you know, like, I, we got exposed to a lot of, like the classics, like, you know, like, you know, Mojo – Lady, you know, so it was like massive, like a lot of, like the UK house, like the Fatboy Slim songs.
(00:09:41)
Razaq El Toro
We’re big on FIFA growing up, like like yo, like like trust me, like our block. It’s like we had so many homes we had. We had five boys in my house. For some reason there was the least like I knew, like at least five other families that had five boys in that little place we lived. So it was on, you know what I mean? So FIFA was a way of life, you know? But, one thing I’ll credit FIFA for, they always had like, such amazing soundtracks. And, like, for instance, the first time I heard, like, the streets, for instance, the UK guy, you know, like, I was from FIFA, you know, just like a lot of, like, really dope electronic soundtracks. But anyways, fast forward to, you know, after I saw, like, sort of get my, my way around making a hip hop beats, I’m like, you know what? I’m going to start, you know, you know, experimenting with electronic music because I’ve always just had this thing about, you know, trying to, you know, have my own lane, you know, and, so I started playing with that.
(00:10:42)
Razaq El Toro
I remember I got, like, a Korg synthesizer. I have this thing where I just sort of, like, go into things without like having an idea of what to do with them. It just sounded. I made some pretty cool sounds off it, but I wasn’t utilizing it. And so anyways, at the time, you know, I started making like, house beats or whatever. Then I actually used to work at this bar on the downforce, kind of like a really cool, like resto lounge, you know, like as a bar back there and, you know, it was cool. you know, like, you know, it was like a proper club on Fridays and Saturdays and, you know, this bringing, like, amazing DJs and, you know, the stuff. But I guess just because of how the club was laid out, like, I just kind of felt like, yo, like, you know, like, I guess cause I worked there, I was like, man, I hear the same song literally every week, like, I could, I could look at the time and I could tell what, like what song was going to come on and then, like, a jukebox, you know what I mean? Yeah, but you know, it’s like at the end of the day, I know the DJs, you know, they are like the Doom Patrol service in this place, you know? People want to hear certain things that are familiar with and all that.
(00:11:57)
Razaq El Toro
But I remember just being like yo, like man, like this guy’s kind of like playing the same stuff. Oh fantastic DJs. But I’m like, you know, it falls to deejay, you know. probably switch it up a little bit more, you know. And I think that’s when it kind of like hit me. I was like, Like, you know, maybe I should start DJ because I had like, you know, at this point I was like, like, you know, like four years deep and like, just making beats and all that stuff, right? So just like, yeah, you know, like, like I’ll start playing around with this. So I got, like, a Hercules controller. Yes. It’s the silver one. The silver Hercules controller, bro. Yeah. Oh, man. It was like the little.
(00:12:39)
Robert Simoes
Like, little indent on the jog wheel, right? Was it one.
(00:12:41)
Razaq El Toro
Of those ones? I can’t remember, bro. It was, it was, it was.
(00:12:46)
Razaq El Toro
Yeah. It Yeah. It looked like the Silver Surfer took a piss on a fin record box. Many thing. It was glazed. It was glazed in silver. Yeah. It was. Yeah, it was, it was. Yeah, it got the job done because, you know, like, I was able to understand the basics of it. And my roommate at the time, KB shout out KB, his little brother was visiting from Botswana and yeah, this kid was like fing like maybe 13 years old. But you know, if you know anything about like, South Africa and Botswana, you know, they love their house music. So homeboy was, you know, like learning to DJ at the time and funny enough, like just watching him kind of like there’s like a 13 year old kid, kind of like f*** around. I was like, Like, because once again, this was, you know, at the start of YouTube ish. So there wasn’t like a lot of like tutorials per se.
(00:13:40)
Razaq El Toro
You know, Learning to DJ was not around then. You know what I mean This is free. Yeah this is pre learning to DJ for YouTube. So we didn’t have this help. So guys subscribe cause he’s got you. You don’t have to go through the same path I went through. He would do it for you. No problem. but but yeah no like so I couldn’t find a lot of information on how to, like, teach myself how to deejay. And, Yeah, I couldn’t pay someone, so. yeah. I remember, like, just, you know, like, just jamming with, you know, CB’s little brother,
(00:14:25)
Razaq El Toro
And just throwing tracks in.
(00:14:27)
Robert Simoes
And you sort of like you’re like, oh, I kind of pulled this EQ. Yeah. I was like.
(00:14:30)
Razaq El Toro
Yeah, yeah, I think so, to be honest, like I remember, I think like it was like watching him, you know, like baseline and sh** like that.
(00:14:38)
Razaq El Toro
All right. Cool cool cool cool cool. You know that I was just like, yeah, like, that’s how that works. It’s kind of.
(00:14:43)
Robert Simoes
Crazy when you don’t even have that vocabulary. Yeah, like and you’re just like, okay, this is doing something to the track.
(00:14:50)
Razaq El Toro
100%.
(00:14:52)
Robert Simoes
I can’t tell you what’s happening. Yeah.
(00:14:54)
Razaq El Toro
Yeah. So so that’s kind of cool. And, yeah, I think,
First DJing Experience
(00:15:00)
Robert Simoes
At this bar then if I remember correctly, we kind of talked a little bit about this at some point and there was like a mishap or something. The deejay couldn’t make it. And then you had been, I guess, practicing some deejaying at the time when they were like, hey, Razaq, do you want to play? Do you want to substitute for this?
(00:15:14)
Razaq El Toro
No, no, I wish it was as cool as the story is that. But no, I wish, I wish the guy didn’t show up and there’s like, oh my God is going to save the day.
(00:15:24)
Razaq El Toro
And I pull out two f***ing USBs. I had them link like nunchucks. No, that’s not what happened. I wish, but but yeah, no. Like the guys that work with, shout out to Angelo, Tim and Dave the chef. the chef at the time was like, because, again, you know, starting to get into DJing and it’s like, dude, wow. Like, like just start throwing your own parties, man. Like, you don’t have to necessarily wait for, you know, like to, to join a club like this or whatever. Oh okay. That started like so like looking for places I could probably do, just probably only DJing for, you know, I was practicing for like maybe six months at the time right. Yeah I started practicing around December. This was like, you know, June or so and but I might asked I was looking for spots around, I guess maybe like the, like, Tim Eye boy, who was also the manager at the time, like, spoke to the owner and they were just like, yo, like, we just give you a Thursday night, like, if you wanna, if you want to play, play with this.
(00:16:32)
Razaq El Toro
I’m like, all right, cool. You know,
(00:16:35)
Robert Simoes
Your concept for the night or.
(00:16:36)
Razaq El Toro
Anything, just like, no, it’s just like, literally like, I think, oh. So I think I had made, like a mixtape, CD or something like that, and I coded like a, like a mixtape or CD release party or something. Something like that. Okay. and yeah, living on down for a fan. Yeah. It was just like telling everyone to come through, you know? It was pretty dope. It was pretty dope, actually. Like, what were you doing?
(00:16:59)
Robert Simoes
You like phoning people up or you’re texting? No, no.
(00:17:01)
Razaq El Toro
Like no. Well, I was also like, honestly, from my house to local, the name of the spot was local. Local on the dance floor. Shout out to local. That place was legendary. from my house on Danforth and Logan to, to local, which was like, Danforth and Carlaw, which is close, like just past paid the amount of people that I’ll see that that came to local every weekend.
(00:17:27)
Razaq El Toro
Like I’ll literally see everyone, you know. So I just tell everyone I’m like, doing a party next week. During the party next week, I went to the gym that was next door to my house. No, no party next week. So yeah. and people pulled up man, Like, you know, we just had like the main level, but like, yeah, it was was was pretty busy, you know. And like I just got like f***ing house. It was a little bit on the cheesier side, but it was still, you know, it was, it was at least it was a different sound than what was playing on, you know, the Fridays and Saturdays. And yeah. It was such a good time man. It was a good time. Like you know I had literally every song and the times of the transitions written down on a piece of paper. Really. Yeah. Dog. Like. Yeah. I was like planned out the whole set and I remember if I missed, the timing, I’m like, book.
(00:18:23)
Razaq El Toro
Yeah. So. Yeah, man, it’s like I didn’t want to f* it up. And, but I also, I think that day I also realized, I also realized, Yeah, like, it’s okay to f* around a little bit. I think at one point my, my laptop Crashed during that night. During that night, like it said. And of course, my boy Tony. f***ing asshole. It goes boom! but you need people like that in your life. Yeah. yes. It was, it was good. It was good. And, Yeah. Like, I just had, like, all my friends down, you know, like. Yeah, friends. Supporters, like. Yeah, people. People came through for me that night. Like. And like they actually vibed out. They had a good time. one of the.
(00:19:14)
Robert Simoes
Things we like I talked about actually in one of my courses is like because I think especially here in Toronto, right. Like it’s when you’re in a major city like this trying to throw an event and like having pull is, is difficult because there’s so many different options.
(00:19:26)
Robert Simoes
And so we talk about like trying to start an event, I guess, like how did you handle that internally? Like was there a little bit of fear, like when people show up or. Yeah.
(00:19:35)
Razaq El Toro
There’s there’s always there’s always fear for that. but, I think now the best way to this also like this is, this is my first event. so this was my first event. I was, you know, people would just come to support me, you know, it’s like, whatever. You know, it was like they, you know, they’re happy to encourage me to start this thing, right? and these are people that I’ve known and seen for, like, you know, a few years at this point. Right. so there was like, you know, there was like, trusting there whether, like, you know, going to help this guy, we’re going to support him, we’re going to make sure it’s tonight is good and all that. I think now, you know, there’s two ways to go about it.
(00:20:27)
Razaq El Toro
You know, if, you know, there’s a lot of people that can just say, oh, I’m doing an events, you know, and they can literally just call up folks, you know like, yo, I’m doing a party or the text people and they’re like, oh, I’m there, you know? But I feel like, you know, the people that can do that. I feel like you have to be a certain level of extrovert, and you also have to be just good at communication and keeping keeping relationships very well, but to the point where it’s kind of like easy for you. It’s not too stressful. Some people can do that where, you know, I know people that, you know, like they can call you up no problem. Just like, yo, how you doing, man? You’re good, you’re good. You’re where you’re at tonight. They’ll pull up to where you’re at. You know, they’re just so great at showing up for for other people, you know.
(00:21:19)
Razaq El Toro
And I feel like those are the people that do really well in this space when they do decide to, you know, become like entertainers or DJs, you know, because, you know, they’ve shown up so many times for the people, you know, they maintain good friendships. They have, like the crew or whatever, even if it’s not like straight up friendships. But they’ve, you know, they’ve they’ve maintained a level of connection, connection and assurance to, you know, to many individuals that, you know, when they, you know, when, when, when, when they put on shows, people are inclined to show up because they’re like, yo, this guy showed up for me, like, you know, good amount of times, right? And and they’ll pull up and, you know, when those people show up and the event is quality and well done, then that’s it. You know, they’re hooked. You know, it’s like, because this guy’s a lot of my guys.
Building Unique Events
(00:22:11)
Razaq El Toro
Guy’s a good person. Can throw in a good event. You know it’s like so so that’s one way. Another way is just, you know, trying to come out. You got to come up with something very unique, you know, in a way where, you know, you know, you really you so like cut out the your competition. You know, you present something unique. You have to look at it from, from, you know, from the aspect of, you know, why would you know, a stranger want to come to this event, you know? has to be, has to be like, like a fresh sound, something, you know, gotta take the risk. You know, you have to build that. You have to. You have to build your lane. You have to build that thing for them to be like, yo, you know, this is something I would rock with, you know, like, there’s something I want to go to. I may not know what it is or, you know, I know what it is.
(00:23:05)
Razaq El Toro
And I feel like there isn’t much of this in this city right now. but I feel like the, you know, when you build something unique, people will come for sure. You know, it might take a while, you know, to get it going, but, as long as you do it right, you know, just, you know, don’t don’t don’t screw yourself over. Always start small. You know, if you’re doing the first event, don’t go book out a 400 person capacity venue. Because when those 30 people show up, you’re going to be left up. It’s really empty, you know. Book yourself a f***ing, you know, 60 person venue. You know, when the 30, 40 people show up, you’re like, oh, you know, it’ll look super full, bro. Like, yo, you’ll be crowd surfing on people.
(00:23:56)
Robert Simoes
So that actually leads really well into Afrique Like Me. Yeah. Right. So this is a very I mean, this is a very unique concept for this city
(00:24:05)
Robert Simoes
And, you know, Afro House has been afrihost. Afro tech has been on such an ascendancy for the past couple of years. But, you know, coming to your events, I definitely noticed it’s a unique thing because, like, you know, there was a bunch of these other subgenres like Gome or oh my gosh. Well, there’s some piano sometimes like amapiano, but can you, can you elaborate a little bit on where did a freak what is Afrique Like Me? Okay, where did it come from? And and. Yeah. What’s the origin story there.
Origin of Afrique Like Me
(00:24:33)
Razaq El Toro
Well, Afrique Like Me is, is an African electronic dance party and collective based out of Toronto. the right now it’s me, Martin Ses, and Sonny Griot. That’s Martin and Anowa. The concept actually started. We’re about to do our five year anniversary for the party series in November. the concept actually started honestly, like 8 or 9 years ago. I would say about, like, nine years ago. I put out like this, I put out, like, this mixtape and, I called it Afrique Like Me.
(00:25:20)
Razaq El Toro
And the reason why I did that is, you know, sort of like, has, like, a double meaning, you know, obviously, you know, like to be a freak, you know, like, you know, you know, freak at night, you know what I mean, but. But, but, also it’s sort of like, you know, being like the outcast slash, you know, outsider in the sense, you know, like slash, you know, like, you know, that kind of like in high school have, like, the Freaks and Geeks in a sense. because I’ve always enjoyed being like and in my own lane, you know, like I never really cared too much to fit in, you know, like. Yeah. Since. Yeah, I’ve always enjoyed just being in my space, you know, like, I remember there was one time I was in high school in Nigeria and we had this house party and, you know, I don’t forget, it was like, you know, like everyone from my high school, so, like, outside and like all the older dudes, even younger dudes.
(00:26:21)
Razaq El Toro
So the guys were just chilling outside and everyone was smoking, and, I remember this girl was like, walking by and she looks at me, she’s like, oh, you don’t smoke? I was like, nah, I don’t smoke, and I just kind of like that feeling that, you know, I kind of stood out by not smoking. And to to this day, I never smoked, you know, like cigarettes. You know, the devil’s lettuce is another thing. but, I also don’t smoke that that often, but, but, so I was like, you know, like, I’ve always enjoyed just sort of like having, like, my own, like, niche taste and sound and just whatever your identity. Identity. Yeah. That’s what identity. so that’s where freak Like Me comes from. Because at the time, like nine years ago or. Yeah, about nine years ago, there wasn’t I full House was and I didn’t know it wasn’t like necessarily Afro house. Afrobeats was just starting to, you know, here and there.
Cultural Integration in Sets
(00:27:23)
Razaq El Toro
Crossover. It wasn’t I crossed over, it was, you know, starting to cross over a tiny little bit, obviously, like House music was the main thing. And I started playing house music when I first started deejaying. but, you know, I felt the need to, you know, incorporate like my culture and a lot of these sets, you know, as much as possible, you know, just, you know, to, to have, like, more of, like, my identity. And, at the time when I recorded that mixtape, you know, that’s where my head was at, you know, like, I kind of felt, you know, like I was very much in the house scene. I remember I played at coda already. Then this is when coda first opened it to, you know, doing like a starting to build, like a small name and like the house music scene, you know, like I play a parlor, you know, like, you know, I play a lot of my friends, like Peter and Nick.
(00:28:14)
Razaq El Toro
Like, you know, those there’s something nice bubbling, right? But, like, I just felt like I didn’t necessarily quite have my identity. So that mixtape was, you know, me just, you know, just trying, like, you know Put like a different, like a new sound and a new, like paint.
(00:28:35)
Robert Simoes
New color.
(00:28:35)
Razaq El Toro
Yeah, exactly. You know, so that’s where that came from. And, yeah, from then I was like, you know, like, this is a this is something I want to build on further. But like, I knew I couldn’t do it by myself, like straight up, you know, so I was like, you know, just kind of, like, patiently waiting, you know, to find the right time. You know, I feel like, you know, over the first little bit, like, kind of like, you know, it’s kind of like scan the room. I, I don’t think I quite I might have floated it here and there, you know, like very loosely, but like, I never like, acted on it, you know what I mean? then there was, those a summer like, I guess like five years ago now.
(00:29:23)
Razaq El Toro
Probably exactly around five years ago, actually. Yeah, probably exactly five years ago now. I, I met, I was DJing this park party. 20 of the event series was called Afro House. so, Sarah used to run a series like OG, like, you know, dope music events curator in the scene, and, you know, so I was like, you know, let’s play my sound there, you know? And it was such a really it was a really cool day, like beautiful summer day. you know, and I was playing like this, you know, this aqua electronic sound, which, you know, is very much like, my remix. I was playing like some of my Burna Boy remixes and all that stuff. And, Martin was there, you know, and, Martin was like, oh, sh**. Like, you know, that’s the first time I met Martin. I was like, man, this is like, you know exactly what I want to do, you know? And, I thought, I think I thought he was deejaying ING already, but like he just corrected me recently, if he was here right now, he’d be like, nope.
(00:30:32)
Razaq El Toro
It’s like, that’s not when it’s like, that’s not when I said I wanted to play that sound. Just like that’s the moment I actually said I was going to start DJ. I played that and, you know, sort of like have like that, that style, you know. Yeah. And and so he had invited me to like an event he was doing. He sent me a mix. But, you know, it’s like sometimes you don’t get to, like, group mixes or whatever. Like, I just figured, yeah, it’s probably good. so anyway, so I was doing this events, on, like, a Friday night or so or Saturday night. Turns out I was off, which is weird. It just happened. Like I’d screwed up with schedule, so that. All right? Dope, you know? Perfect. I’ll go check out this show. And I went, and, I was I was thoroughly impressed, you know, it was like. It was like a music and fashion show, but sound was like dark, like Afro tech.
(00:31:31)
Razaq El Toro
But it was also mixing like, you know, like the the Afrobeat sound. Yeah. I was like, all right. I was like, let’s go, you know? And I was, I was thoroughly impressed. And, that night I told him I’m like, yo. Like, yeah. And he talked to you about something, you know? yeah. I’m like, I need to talk to you about something like, let’s meet up next week. And it’s like, say less. And, we met up the next week, and I basically pitched them the Afrique Like Me thing. It’s just like, bro. It’s like. It’s basically like, why are you even still talking, bro? Let’s do this. Yeah. You know, and, yeah, man. Like he’s you met him and he’s such a f***ing gold guy, you know what I mean? It’s like. And, Yeah, man, we.
(00:32:18)
Robert Simoes
Yeah. I mean, you guys have grown so much. Oh, yeah.
(00:32:21)
Robert Simoes
As a just as a brand. Right? It’s and it’s it’s fascinating how I guess you integrate all three of your different styles into that brand, and then you deliver that into that kind of unique experience as a party. And it’s like it is a differentiating because, you know, when there isn’t Afrique Like Me party happening in the city, it’s. And I’ve been to a few. Right. It’s it is a different experience. Right. Everybody is having a great time and everybody knows each other in some way to has that aspect of community.
Afrique Like Me, Community and Belonging
(00:32:48)
Razaq El Toro
Yeah, that’s what that was. That’s what we strive for. You know, like our main thing is, you know, no judgment. Come as you are. You know, we try our best to maintain that feeling because that is a feeling where, you know, you come in, you know, that especially in the city, like Toronto and like that sense of belonging is very crucial, you know, and, you know, we also just want people to be able to come to our parties alone, you know what I mean? I feel safe and comfortable enough to be there and just dance, you know, experience me People just chill, vibe out, you know what I mean? It’s like, I feel like that’s a big thing without it seeming like clicky or whatever.
(00:33:32)
Razaq El Toro
Like, I want it to feel more like like a village, you know, like a community.
(00:33:36)
Robert Simoes
Like a house party.
(00:33:36)
Razaq El Toro
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
(00:33:37)
Robert Simoes
Which is, I mean, that’s that is the origin of a lot of house music and a lot of like, is these little tight communities, right? They just showed up. They showed up every week. They should have every two weeks. Right. And then everybody just kind of got together and like you said, I mean, going out there is a kind of like an inhibition sometimes that people just going out to events by themselves. Yeah. because it’s like, oh, I don’t know if I’m going to be, but but if everybody’s just having a good time and everybody’s open. Yeah. And you curate those spaces and places for containers to be open, right. That’s I mean, it’s just a critical service.
(00:34:10)
Razaq El Toro
Appreciate it, man. Yeah.
(00:34:12)
Robert Simoes
So but you know, actually.
(00:34:13)
Razaq El Toro
So going back to how it started to include, so that first event, so I’ve known Anowa for a while and I actually met Anowa about ten years ago at Electric Island. You know, so full circle moment. We played together at Electric Island this summer. So that’s kind of cool. but Anowa was there that night. I was, I remember, like, messaging her to, like, come, you know, like like I’m sleeping, you know? But she’s. I’m sleeping. She got up and she came through and, like, it was a big vibe. And, And I think after that, we did something in Lagos. Equal electronic. And, by the time we came back, Covid happened then. So the technically the next, the next freak like me event we had, but we had one online, then the next in person. One was like a renegade party at the park. And we just kind of like, did that afterward for York, which is sick. Then, Anowa hosted that one and, got the show hosted that.
(00:35:19)
Razaq El Toro
I was like, f, man. Like, you know like it just. It just seemed dope, like it seemed organic. It was easy. Super easy to work with. I’ve known her for a while, and she has, like, an interesting taste in music. I know she wanted to deejay. she had, like, you know, like a vision, you know? So I asked Martin I’m like, yo, like, what do you think about her? Like, you know, be a part of the crew, you know, like, you know, I just like, say, less, you know? And, Yeah, we asked her and, Yeah, she was she was super down. And since, man, I couldn’t ask for a better two people to be doing this sh** with because. Yeah, for everything I lacking, which is kind of a lot. yeah, they, they just, they just fing, they bang things out. So,
(00:36:06)
Robert Simoes
I guess that’s one of the differences, you know, because deejaying often is like, it is more of, like an individual pursuit, right? Yeah.
(00:36:12)
Robert Simoes
I mean, now we have a little bit more DJ groups and like, these kind of, collectives. Right. But when you are kind of like, if you start a business or something, right? And you have a like a business partner. They fill in your gaps, they fill in those weaknesses. And, you know, especially in like a competitive scene like Toronto, right, where you kind of have to hit all those markers, right? Unique concept, good marketing, pulling crowd. Right. Which usually everybody has like maybe one thing that they’re good at. Right. So being able to have I guess 3 or 4 people on that team kind of helps in that.
(00:36:43)
Razaq El Toro
100%, 100%. Like it’s, such a game changer. Like, yeah, especially when we’re like, you know, on the same page with things. and yeah, like, everyone is just sort of like doing something real, working simultaneously on different things. It’s, it helps big time. Like, there’s a lot of things, you know, like, I’m good at that, you know, just let me handle a lot of things they handle, you know, I just.
(00:37:10)
Razaq El Toro
I just act like I don’t like, you know what I mean? It’s like, it’s it’s it’s it works, you know? But, I think it’s important to, to work with I, we lucked out because, you know, we I feel like we all have like, you know, we have like, the same vision, same goal, but we all have like, different personalities and strengths, you know, and then we try to just play off those strengths. Yeah.
(00:37:32)
Robert Simoes
So looking at a scene like Toronto, which as I mentioned is very competitive. Right. And for a variety of different reasons, technology has obviously increased the number of DJs available and maybe the number of venues available is either static or decreasing. what would your advice be to people in, you know, a major city like Toronto? if they were just starting out DJing and they’re, you know, they know their way around, like maybe a controller or cdjs or whatever, and they’re looking to find gigs. What would you recommend?
Advice For How Emerging DJs Can Stand Out
(00:38:09)
Razaq El Toro
Oh, I probably have a couple of pointers.
(00:38:13)
Razaq El Toro
First, it’s like if you’re just getting started, it’s like how diverse is your music library? You know, it’s like, are you trying to focus on a specific niche or are you just trying to get deejay work? You know, you know, if you’re just trying to like, you know, get DJ work and like, make money or whatever, that’s fine. It’s easy. Just just just be, you know, be comfortable enough mixing different genres. You know, it’s usually like whatever, like just hits or whatnot. If, if you can, you know, bring in some of your personality into that, you know, by like, just playing, you know, like, you know, I always say, like, for every, like, you know, if you’re playing like, open format, you know, you regardless of where it is, you know, like, I feel like, you know, you should be a good DJ will be able to play like those B-sides that would hit, you know what I mean? Like that eclectic vibe.
(00:39:13)
Razaq El Toro
Like, you should be able to pull something out of left field that everyone’s like oh, that’s kind of crazy. You know? That’s what makes you a DJ, you know what I mean? in any, in any aspect, you know, I can’t stand when they just so, like, rinse, like, but whatever. I also have this thing where I feel like the open format DJ in like, five years would be the new underground DJs. Yeah, yeah, because a lot of DJs coming in now, they can only play one genre. Yeah.
(00:39:43)
Robert Simoes
Like tech house?
(00:39:44)
Razaq El Toro
You know what I mean? The only play, one sound and one thing and they’re getting booked because you know, they have like a few TikToks with it. Like and people are like, yo, this guy’s sick. And yeah, you hear that? Just like, okay, like, what else? You know what I mean? Like, no, no shade. But like, that’s just what it is, right? so I feel like, yeah, in this day and age where, you know, the, the, the barrier to, like, getting into DJing is like, low, you know, what’s gonna What makes you like an actual memorable DJ is the things you can pull out of left field.
(00:40:23)
Razaq El Toro
And, just basically pulling things to, like, fit the vibe. That’s what makes you that person. you know, and I say, like, you know, the open format DJs would be the underground DJs and like five years because a lot of the new DJs I know right now that are coming in, you know, a lot of them are dope and all that, but they can’t necessarily play, and they don’t care to, they don’t want to play, and that’s fine, you know. which is why I feel like the more the more like this goes, you know, the deeper we go. In five years, you know, she’ll walk into a party and start playing Miley Cyrus party in the USA. Black hole.
(00:41:11)
Robert Simoes
It’s like a pendulum. It’s like.
(00:41:12)
Razaq El Toro
You know what I mean? Yeah. So I feel like. Yeah, like, those would be like the new cool old black days, and, like, yeah, I can play Britney.
(00:41:26)
Razaq El Toro
I’ve come full circle. You know what I mean? So.
(00:41:28)
Razaq El Toro
But, yeah, I have a feeling like, you know, we’re gonna reach a certain level. Level underground in that, in that space. But. Yeah. And it was back to your question. for newcomer DJs. Yeah, I would say, you know, obviously, like, you know, to, to build a name for yourself, you know, you can either go that route of being like this open format DJ, but you have to be dope in that, that takes skill, you know, so you can you can go the, you know, the the proper route or like, you know, the proper route, but like the traditional route and, you know, try and build your skill of like mixing and, you know, mixing, you know, involves mixing songs with like, you know, pretty wide range of BPMs and Genres. but, you know, the good thing about starting that way is if you’re dope, you’re dope. Like, straight up, you know what I mean? And I guess just work on, like, your selection, go out, you know, soak up the vibes, soak up the energy, see what people respond to.
Niche vs. Open Format
(00:42:28)
Razaq El Toro
You have to go out like you cannot be a bedroom DJ. and expect to show up to a party. I’m like, yo, it’s just gonna slap. You’ll be surprised. It’s like your your favorite song is gonna clear out the dance floor, no problem, you know? So, so you have to go out, see what people respond to and just, you know, use that as an inspiration when you’re curating your set. Yeah. now, if you know, you want to focus on a niche, that’s also fine. That’s that in my opinion, is, you know, if done well, it’s probably the easier, easier route. and also like the more artsy route you know, because you have like your identity, you know, you know, like you have your identity. It’s like people know. Yes, this you know, you know, I’m playing this sound, you know. and you can, you know, you can as long as you play like the vibes, well you can layer things on top of it.
(00:43:35)
Razaq El Toro
I think you’ll be fine. So I think focusing on a niche is, is where it’s at. in this day and age, I think, you know. Yeah. But I think just going out also to a lot of events, meeting people, meeting promoters, I don’t think there’s a lot of promoters now, but, you know, just basically meeting organizers or, you know, people in this space. try your best to be to be available to like, come through for, for like other people within the community at this scene. you know, show up to just just show support. You know, people people tend to support people that support them. And yeah, like just, you know, just try and build yourself a brand. You know, the one thing I, I know helps to you know, and it’s tough to do this, but, you know, like try to be yourself first off first, like, being yourself is, is the main thing. but it helps when you can sort of, like, build, like, you know, I’m not big on using the word brand.
Building an Identity
(00:44:56)
Razaq El Toro
You know, because you know, it feels kind of corporate and whatever. But you know I feel like when you build like you know you know you use the word identity I like that a lot more. You know try and build like an identity around yourself, like when you’re out and about, you know, and try and keep it consistent, you know, because at the end of the day, it’s like, you know, everyone sees, like, you know, a thousand faces a day. You want to be like, yo, you know, just from like your, your silhouette. You know, you want people to be like, oh, that’s Rob. You know.
(00:45:29)
Razaq El Toro
Authentic. You know what I mean?
(00:45:30)
Robert Simoes
That people will recognize you for just showing up at the party. Just showing that you are. Yeah.
(00:45:35)
Razaq El Toro
But you know, but, you know, to to take it further, like, you know, I’m not saying wear the same clothes every day you know what I mean? But, Yeah.
(00:45:47)
Razaq El Toro
Like you’d be surprised. Things like that. Like, set you, like, you know, at least when you starting to, like, you know, get your name out there, it just it gets you, makes you more recognizable, like, ten times faster. you know, than than if, you know, you, you know, you wear my hair down. I put on this like you’re like. Like the dad showed up to one of my gigs with my hair down at the Beanie Bro. No one recognize me, but it’s like, who’s this guy?
(00:46:17)
Robert Simoes
Where’s Razaq?
(00:46:19)
Razaq El Toro
Like, because it was funny. Because I put, like, my, like, I was, I was going to have like, a bite before and I, you know, I was so like having like small talk with the bartender who sees me and you know, she kind of like was she was giving me like, the courtesy laugh like, you know, I don’t get that. Strange.
(00:46:35)
Razaq El Toro
I see a server that I talk to every week. I go up to. I’m like, yo, man, what’s going on, man? It’s like, yo, what up? I’m like, yeah, tell me, how’s the week? Like, my week was great. It’s like, I’m Tyler and I’m like, I thought it was joking around because there was, another server. There I go. I’m like, haha. You know, I was like, oh sh**. Yeah, yeah. Well, yo, it’s like because I didn’t have my glasses on. My hair was down. No one recognized me. So I’m just like, holy crap. Like small.
(00:47:07)
Robert Simoes
Things.
(00:47:07)
Razaq El Toro
Like that And and that really stuck in my head because I’m like, these people have seen me just like on the weekends, at night only they’ve only see me with my shades on. They’ve never taken in my like, my actual like face without my shades. My hair is always up, you know, they in their mind, you know, like they’re like, oh, that’s relaxed haircut, like white locks.
(00:47:30)
Razaq El Toro
Yeah. So it’s like that really stuck out because I’m like, like like that’s crazy. And if you know, for some that’s starting to that’s looking to get into DJing, most of the people you’re going to be seeing are usually like at night too, right? At the clubs or whatever. There’s limited light, limited time. No one is like talking to you and like looking in your eyes, you know what I mean? Yeah. It’s like you’re not, like, soaking in all the features. They’re not like, you know what I mean?
(00:48:01)
Robert Simoes
It’s like staring at the booth, like.
(00:48:03)
Razaq El Toro
Like legit. They’re just like this. It’s like, oh, yeah, that’s him. You know So, I think if you’re trying to be, you know, a little bit more memorable and, recognizable, trying like, you know, you know, it wouldn’t hurt to figure out, like, you know, like an aesthetic that you’re comfortable with that you want to go with and maybe try and be consistent with it at the parties you like.
(00:48:26)
Razaq El Toro
You know, like there’s certain there’s a guy like, you know, for a while now. Now, I’ve said, no, him is super cool. But for a while, like, if I see him at the party, I’m like, I think that’s him. Then it takes the shirt off. I’m like, that’s him. It’s a shirt off, dude, a real thing. I love it, you know? But when I see him, the shirt, I’m just like, I don’t know that guy. you know. So. Yeah, that’s a good point, though. Yeah, man. It’s like having, like, that consistent look, it just makes you. It makes you recognize recognizable. And it creates like that familiarity. Right? You know.
Razaq El Toro Selects
(00:49:03)
Robert Simoes
As we wrap here, I’ve got one last set of questions. I think I did prep you with them, but three tracks on repeat, Under the Radar and your guilty pleasure. Razaq. So three tracks, one on repeat.
(00:49:19)
Robert Simoes
On repeat. One is under the radar and one is your guilty pleasure.
(00:49:23)
Razaq El Toro
I guess I’ll give you some, some brand new ones. I’ll give you what I’ve been listening to a lot. Actually, what I’ve been listening to a lot this week. that just covered a couple of days ago is, it’s a remake of the weekend’s The Morning, which is, like, off, like his first, like, mixtape. Yeah. by DJ houseplants. Oh, yeah. Interesting. Yeah. Featuring, this girl hoochie. I don’t know what country she’s from. but, she like anyways? DJ houseplants featuring Uchi the morning. It’s like a sick, like, chill, Lo-Fi House version of that song and that the mornings week, the weekends, the morning, the weekends, the morning, afternoon. But yeah, saying that out loud, I’m just like, what the hell? But anyways, the weekends. The morning is one of my favorite songs of all time, and they did justice to this little fight House remix.
(00:50:34)
Razaq El Toro
It’s like such a vibe, such a vibe. So I have that on repeat right now. Next one is under the radar.
(00:50:48)
Robert Simoes
It’s a bit like it’s sort of one of those tracks that you just is like, not you’re not hearing it as much as it deserves to be heard.
(00:50:55)
Razaq El Toro
Okay. and, under the radar, what song have I been playing? Quite a bit. That is super under the radar. Actually, let me give you my guilty pleasure first. My guilty pleasure has to be. So another song that just came out is Jessie Reyez and Lil Wayne. Okay. First off, like during my rap era, you’re Lil Wayne is literally the greatest of all time rapper. Like, I’ve been listening to Lil Wayne people. People say, oh, Drake has a crazy one right now. But now that I think about it, I’ve been listening to Lil Wayne since I was like 12. And the crazy thing is, Lil Wayne was probably 13 when I was listening to him and was already putting out gangsta rap.
(00:51:48)
Razaq El Toro
I didn’t realize it at the time. It was like, yo, this guy’s from New Orleans, the craziest. Like I was a kid in Nigeria. I thought it was so much older than me. The hot boys. Yeah, but you know, Lil Wayne is only like a couple years older than me. I was like, anyways, I’ve been listening to Lil Wayne since I was that young and, To to to hear him still like rapping like with the same style and just as his crazy metaphors. but yeah, he has a new Jessie Reyez features him on a new song. The song is called riding. it’s it’s it’s very like, like pop ish. You know, it’s fun. It doesn’t even sound like. Even though she’s, like, amazing, like R&B singer or whatever, to me. Doesn’t sound like an R&B song. Sounds like a proper, like, sick pop song, you know? And the lyrics are like, so dope, you know what I mean? It’s, my Lil Wayne’s verse on it is fantastic.
(00:52:46)
Razaq El Toro
The whole singing on that track is just beautiful. It’s like so that’s, you know, I don’t do karaoke, but if, if, if you, if you guys see me at the next karaoke, I won’t be singing that out like big time. I’m a I’m a big Jesse and Lil Wayne in the same spot. Now I’m now under the radar. and it has to be a.
(00:53:12)
Robert Simoes
It can also just be a track, you know, from the, from old school track that like, you know, is in your crate and you’re just like this is you know, this is the, the youngins haven’t heard this out of the club and and they need to hear this.
(00:53:25)
Razaq El Toro
Under the Radar. That’s a tough one man. Because I do like a lot of Okay I’ll give you. Okay. You know what I’ll say. Like my under the radar song has to be you know, would be the song called B side by Tanner Ross. Okay. And that song was, I should probably, like, find out exactly what Tanner Ross is.
(00:53:55)
Razaq El Toro
I feel like he might be Canadian, dude, but it was under the label, number 19, which is run by Nitin, who’s like a Toronto legend. So shout out to boss man Nitin. He’s sick like our department and all those guys were under that label, or they were sorry they released on that label. but yeah, it said like, my under-the-radar song has to be b side by Tanner Ross because I’ve never heard. I’ve never heard anyone play it out. You know, and, it’s just such a, you know, the BPM is like like 116, 117, but the bass line is just doom doom doom doom doom doom doom doom doom doom. So crazy. And there’s just, like, wild, like flute that comes on that I swear to God. Like, you know, if a snake charmer was here and, like, the snake would come out with a crazy vibe, the snake would come out, a snake would come out of the keyhole. Let’s just put it that way.
(00:55:05)
Razaq El Toro
The song is so crazy, man. It’s such a vibe. I’ve never heard a DJ play it out. Never a night. I’ve never heard the DJ play it out. You know, I’ve dropped it a few times, but it’s just such a beautiful track. But yeah. So that’s like my under-the-radar track. I love it. Yeah, yeah.
(00:55:25)
Robert Simoes
Sweet, sweet.
(00:55:26)
Robert Simoes
Yeah. Well, man, thank you so much for coming on and having this conversation, sharing some of this experience and wisdom. And we’ll put all these, you know, different tracks into the show notes. And so for now, this has been, you know, beyond the decks. Thank you again for appreciate.
(00:55:40)
Razaq El Toro
Thank you brother.
(00:55:43)
Robert Simoes
And make sure you subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, all the different platforms you know and we’ll catch you next time. Peace.
