Nigerian music is at an interesting time of its evolution. More personalities, other than artists, are becoming more relevant throughout the industry for their prowess in creating premium entertainment experiences for everyone. DJs and producers have always been an indispensable stitch in the fabric of our soundscape and they will continue to be for the foreseeable future. More of them are stepping out from the shadows into the limelight, some of whom blend the crafts of production and DJing into one. To operate at that level takes a lot of skill and technique, and for DJ Medlan, this comes easy to him.
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DJ Medlan, born Olarenwaju Taiwo, has enjoyed an inspiring journey leading up to this point in his career. After spending time honing his skills as a DJ and producer earlier in his life when the stakes were lower, he has built up his stature and morphed into the version of himself that he always knew he could be. His impact has opened him up to more possibilities as a producer/dj and allows him to make music with a plethora of promising talents who are ready to make their mark. He teams up with Eniola Havoc for Foreign, a roof raising record that accurately captures the allure of the hedonism of night life. DJ Medlan crafts a compelling tune that invites you to experience his music while leaving you curious about the range of his ability.

Foreign is your typical club banger. It’s fast paced, it’s loud, it gets your blood pumping. But it’s also crafted with delicate precision to give these exact feelings. The drum pattern is arranged to be cohesive but possesses a chaos factor that many Afrobeats bangers have had in the past. This has proven to be part of the essence of Afrobeats in the past, as we are known to find freedom in the sound of our banging percussion. As the heavy kicks land, you’re inspired to move your body in accordance to its rhythm. DJ Medlan constructs this record to tap into the sensibilities that influence our likeness for Afrobeats, which he does to good effect.

As a DJ, Medlan certainly understands the art of crowd control with music. This would influence the kind of approach that his collaborator would take when laying his vocals on the song. Eniola Havoc is prolific on Foreign, tapping into the energy required to keep a record like this pumping. He fits into the environment that DJ Medlan creates for him with ease and proceeds to craft melodies that intoxicate the listener with feelings of euphoria. The best way to leave your mark on a record is to find a balance between steering the course and injecting your own energy into the song, and Eniola Havoc finds this balance to good effect.

The blend of their talents makes Foreign a sure-fire party starter. DJ Medlan, with his skill, continues to craft records in a manner that showcases his mastery over two closely related aspects of his craft. With more songs like this, he will quickly become an indispensable part of any DJ’s rotation.