“Let your instinct lead the process,” says dancer-turned-producer DJ KarabaDJ Karaba’s route into dance music was not straightforward. The Montreal-based DJ/producer was once a dancer for the likes of Drake, Camilla Cabello and Selena Gomez. She pivoted to becoming a DJ in 2016, then a producer in 2020, with her acute sense of rhythm helping shape a blend of afrobeat, UK funky and house that draws on her Congolese roots.

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Her EP Souvenirs, released in August 2023, brings summer to an end in style, boasting four springy dance jams with influences spanning jazz, soul, reggae, and more.
We speak with DJ Karaba about her background and transition from dancer to DJ/producer, her influences from her multicultural heritage on her music, recommended Congolese artists for music enthusiasts, and her music production process favourite gear.
Souvenirs by Dj Karaba
Coming from a dance background, when did you switch to being a DJ/producer, and how does your dance experience help you as a musician/DJ?
I started pivoting in 2016. I was on tour as a dancer, and that tour was suddenly cancelled. It got me thinking about my plan B after dancing or if I would ever get injured. I sat down with a friend of mine, and we talked about the possibility of becoming a DJ. I enrolled in one semester at the DJ Scratch Academy in Los Angeles to learn the basics. Then, I bought my first controller, the Pioneer DDJ SX20.
I started producing four years later, during the pandemic in 2020. I wanted to make sure I felt very comfortable with DJ skills before starting to produce. That time during the pandemic was the best time to do it because there were no more gigs for DJs. I got introduced to my mentor, Stephen Ramsay (Young Galaxy), and he helped me with everything related to Ableton Live.
I definitely think that being a dancer has helped me with my music and DJ sets. My approach always has one goal: to make people move. So when I create, I always look at the rhythm of things and make sure it makes me want to move. If it does, then I know I’m on the right track.
DJ Karaba in her studio. Image: Courtesy of DJ Karaba
Your sound is a mashup of different genres. Who inspires you across different music genres that influence your sound?
That’s a great question because that’s exactly what I want people to say about my sound. First of all, being of mixed Congolese/French & Italian heritage has had a huge impact on the music I listened to as a kid. My dad would always play ndombolo, Congolese rumba, soukous, etc. My mom was a huge fan of Motown music (Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Barry White, etc.). So that alone has shaped the way I look at music, and there is definitely an influence of all those genres in my music. Also, when I was a teenager, I was really inspired by French house with Daft Punk, Cassius, Justice & Bob Sinclar. So I believe my music is inspired by this background of being a music lover of many genres.

Can you recommend artists from your Congolese heritage that music enthusiasts should listen to?
Definitely the two leading Congolese artists I grew up listening to would be Papa Wemba & Koffi Olomide. Also, another one from my generation is Fally Ipupa. I would also recommend this specific album called Racines by the group Bisso Na Bisso. This album is a masterpiece and was released in 1999, but I still go back to it.
Any recent track that’s been a hit with your fans?
Yewena by Afro Exotiq. No lyrics, just straight amazing production skills and an insane groove.

Where and when do you find inspiration for creating music?
I mostly make my music in my home studio in Los Angeles. I’d say I am most inspired when I’m in a mood, to be honest – most likely annoyed by something or someone or when I feel super vulnerable.
How does percussion factor into your music?
I believe it’s the essence of my music. I always start my production with percussion because, for me, I’ve got to have a groove before anything else. So percussion plays a huge role in my music. It’s definitely the leading element.
What’s your top production advice?
Don’t go into a production session with too much expectation. For me, I don’t want to restrain myself, and because I’m such a music lover of all genres, I prefer to lead the process with a feeling or emotion. Therefore, I just ask myself, “How do I feel today and how can I translate that into music?” From that point, I think that’s when you get the best results because you really let your instinct lead the process – that’s what music is all about.
Liking what you’re hearing? Keep up to date with all things DJ Karaba via djkaraba.com.
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Talkdesk conducts third round of layoffs in less than 14 monthsTalkdesk, a company once valued at $10 billion that sells software to help large corporations improve customer service, has laid off more employees — the third round of cuts in less than 14 months. A Talkdesk spokesperson confirmed Tuesday via email that it had made “limited headcount reductions in a few areas.” She declined to […]

Guy and Ian Charbonneau Record Eric Clapton's "Crossroads Festival" 2023Father and son recording engineers Guy and Ian Charbonneau recorded audio for Eric Clapton’s 2023 “Crossroads Festival” in downtown Los Angeles on September 23-24 at Crypto Center, utilizing the renowned Le Mobile recording truck. Guy recorded Side A of the main revolving stage aboard Le Mobile and Ian recorded Side B using the M&B Audio truck.

Pictured are (L-R) Ian and Guy Charbonneau with Le Mobile truck.

Performers this year included Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Marcus King, H.E.R., Taj Mahal, John Mayer Trio, John McLaughlin, Keb’ Mo’, Santana, Stephen Stills, Molly Tuttle, ZZ Top and many others. In addition to Le Mobile and M&B activity, Ian’s new company The Recording Project recorded the two foreground C and D satellite stages with his custom remote recording system. While the revolving stage full bands were setting up, short solo performances took place with Sheryl Crow, Eric Gales and Gary Clark Jr. In addition to recording the entire event, mixing was also done for live pay-per-view broadcast streaming in support of the Crossroads Centre Antigua Addiction Recovery Center. 

Having worked for 30+ years with his father Guy and Le Mobile remote recording truck, Ian recently founded The Recording Project and created his unique fly-pack portable recording system, which can be loaded into a few cases and checked as baggage on any airline. With his new mobile system, Ian has already recorded concerts with Imagine Dragons, Melissa Etheridge, Macklemore, Dua Lipa, Khalid, and Jack Harlow, to name a few.

Pictured is Ian Charbonneau with his remote mobile fly-pack recording system.

Ian explains, “My new system consists of a DirectOut Technologies, MC Prodigy modular audio converter loaded with 64-channels of high quality MicHD preamps packaged in a custom rack with all inputs on the back side. It allows for 48 or 96K recording. The converter / preamp connects via Fiber cable to (2) Avid Madi Pro Tools system for redundancy.”

For 50 years, Guy Charbonneau’s Le Mobile has been recognized as one of the heavyweights in the remote mobile recording industry. At the heart of Le Mobile is a legendary, impeccably maintained, Neve 8058 console.

For more info about The Recording Project visit: therecordingproject.com/about.html

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Eric Clapton performs onstage during Day 1 of Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival at Crypto.com Arena on September 23, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Crossroads Guitar Festival)

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Waves Audio and Black Octopus Sound Offer the MetaFilter ($149 list price, $29 sale price) plugin as a FREE download until September 30, 2023. Waves MetaFilter was offered for free in another limited-time deal in March this year, courtesy of ProducerGrind. This time, Waves Audio teamed up with Black Octopus Sound to provide the plugin [...]
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Live Nation clubs drop merch fees, add $1500 cash in On The Road Again initiativeLive Nation today launched “On The Road Again,” a Willie Nelson-inspired intiative designed to help developing artists with the increasingly high cost of touring. All Live Nation-owned and operated clubs. Continue reading
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Primary Wave strikes ‘multi-million-dollar’ catalog deal with estate of iconic songwriter P.F. SloanPrimary Wave acquire Sloan’s publishing and writer’s share in his works, as well his master royalty income
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How music marketers can adapt to 3-second attention spansConsumers, including once loyal fans, are getting harder and harder to reach due to the rise in short-form content, but there are still ways to grab their attention. Let’s dive. Continue reading
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Live Loop Products LiveLoop Pro https://youtu.be/hIqTdQNnFD0 LiveLoop is the new generation music making DAW. Experience new creative ways of composing and experimenting with sound, create live... Read More

What happens when a musician dies? How to protect your music nowIt’s better to be safe than sorry, so make sure your music rights and assets are all set to go in the right places so your music can live on. Continue reading
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HeadRush release Core pedalboard system HeadRush's new system packs the same processing power as their flagship HeadRush Prime into a more compact chassis.

“You’ve done so many classics”: Pharrell and Timbaland debate who is the better producer in wholesome videoIt’s an age-old argument: who really has produced the best Jay-Z songs? Well, it’s very much still up for debate, it seems. Iconic producers Timbaland and Pharrell Williams have been captured in a video exchange at Swizz Beatz’s birthday party debating over who produced best out of the two.

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The video, originally posted to Instagram by Swizz Beatz, at first seems as though each producer is arguing their case that they themselves are better, while it soon becomes apparent it’s the other way round.
“Don’t do this to me!” Shouts Timbaland in the video.
“Are you done?” asks Pharrell. “Dirt Off Your Shoulder. What are we doing? Dirt Off Your Shoulder. Yeah, exactly.”
“I’m still thinking because you’ve done so many,” responds Timbaland, who himself has worked with Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Drake, Rihanna and Beyoncé.
“Do you know why you stopped?” Pharrell chimes in. “Because you’ve done so many classics, you’re just going through your rolodex right now. The greatest Jay-Z records. Timbaland, the king. Period.” Pharrell says.
“No. Pharrell, the prince.”
“You hear what he said? Do you hear what he said?” Asks Pharell. “He said ‘Pharrell the prince, Timbaland the king’.”

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One comment reads, “Fucking LOVE this!! We need more of THIS & less ego!!” while another fan writes “Two super producers having Black Excellence Dinner Debates over Candlelit Dinners ”. Another writes: “This is the ONLY drunken male back-and-forth, that I am willing to sit and listen to.”
While it’s fair to say Timbaland has slowed down in recent years, 50-year-old Pharrell, besides being appointed as men’s creative director of Louis Vuitton, is apparently making more music as N.E.R.D.
In an interview with Tyler, The Creator for GQ in August, he said on the new material: “They’re big choruses, but you know, out of nowhere, I’ll just come out of nowhere with the three-bar, crazy-nuts chords that go three-bar to four-bar to eight-bar. It’s good bro, it’s good.”
Follow Swizz Beatz on Instagram.
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