iMullar Sound System successfully made a cultural statement by hosting day parties in Accra- a city whose nightlife reigns above all else. Being the first time the event was a fully ticketed access, there was the looming question of whether people were going to attend. In usual fashion, every DJ had an hour to play their arranged sets. Entering Front/Back on Saturday, you couldn’t help but notice the entire set-up was going to be bigger and better. iMullar had raised their bar.
Araba OA set the mood with nostalgic tunes that got people in their seats grooving to the music. She set a warm pace with old school hip hop and soul fusions, bringing the place to life when old-school songs like Lauryn Hill’s 1998 classic, “Doo Wop (That Thing)” and Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy”.
Araba OA set the bar for the next DJ, and Afrolektra did not disappoint. Now, we’ve been to all 3 Energy Sessions and nobody has given us looks and aesthetics like DJ Afrolektra. Just like the lightning bolts on his jacket, he brought the electricity to the dance floor, dropping back-to-back Afrobeats bangers. From Asake’s “Dull” to Mr. Eazi’s “Patek ” he took us on a journey, taking us into nostalgic Afrobeats territory with Mafikizolo’s “Khona”.
DJ Shagy rode the nostalgic Afrobeats and Azonto wave and had the crowd dancing like it was 2015 high school jams. Looking into the crowd you could see the effort that went into people’s outfits and aesthetics. It was obvious that people were not only here to experience the DJs and their sets but also to express themselves through fashion whilst enjoying the vibes and cocktails with friends and strangers alike. The iMullar Sound System Energy Session is truly an all-around event where you can meet new people and expand your musical palette.
DJ Frvnkie showed us he was a genius when he managed to mix “Last Last” by Burna Boy with Big Sean’s “My Last”. As night drew nearer and the latecomers started trooping in, MC Kojo Manuel announced it as the second to last. At this point, you had to ensure you enjoyed yourself because there was no time to waste.
Fortunately, we had Afro Soul/ Afro Fusion singer T’neeya in the building to serenade us with her lovely voice. This set the tone for Edwvn to begin his set to give the audience a different vibe from what had been happening all day and it worked perfectly. His fusion of genres was unmatched, reviving some timeless classics such as Soul II Soul’s “Back to Life ” and giving it an afro twist with some heavy bounce and bass. It was very easy to appreciate the diversity of styles and genres from all these talented DJs.
Enter DJ Neizer and DJ Juvenile to close the show. There’s nothing else to say here other than it was a party! Their set began with energetic performances from Yung Demz, Larruso, Tripcy, and Kirani Ayat. It was the perfect blend of live music and DJ mixes. The night had fallen, phones were out recording, flashlights beaming, hands in the air, and voices singing along to every song. Everyone would agree that those sets were the climax of the event and it couldn’t have ended any better. Dj Neizer had us partying like we were inside a club at midnight.
Energy Session 003 was genuinely unparalleled. Music, drinks and vibes in this hot Accra?
For a second we all forgot about the economic crisis we were all facing as a country. No day party can compare to this one, because tell me, who parties at 11 am? The iMullar Sound System team that’s who! Catch us on the 24th of December where we’ll have a 12-hour back-to-back DJ set. Until then, follow the iMullar Sound System on Instagram to reminisce on highlights and get plugged into our Apple Music DJ Mixes. See you in December!
Written by Tracy S. Akoto-Sasu, Emmanuel Paapa Quaicoe, and Anabel Rose Kubabom (iMullar Creative Assistants)
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