With credits including Wizkid and Yemi Alade, and as a Red Bull Music Academy class of London 2010 alumnus,I am one of Nigeria's most critically acclaimed producers.
Nigerian composer, music producer and sound designer Clement " DJ Klem" Kponu is known for his scores with his professional career spanning two decades.
He is one of only two Nigerians to be of an alumnus of the Red Bull Music Academy class of London 2010 and
His 15 years of experience of rich musicality is evident in how he creates innovative fitting sonic backdrops that elevates visual experiences as he brings a completely new definition to the AFROBEATS sound that cannot be boxed, whether it’s crossings over into dubstep and electronica, or channeling tropical vibes, he is comfortable exploring wherever his creativity takes him.
Klem has production credits on chart-topping songs featuring Wizkid, Yemi alade and many more.
He has worked on scores for local blockbusters, 'Picture Perfect', 'Couple of Days "', 'Something Wicked', and critically acclaimed short films "Oga John " and "Fishbone ".
Dj Klem recently worked on 'Lady Buckit & The Motley Mopsters', the first Feature-Length animated movie in West Africa. The film won 'Best Animation' at Africa Movie Academy Awards.
As a composer and sound designer, Dj Klem has worked on several award-winning movies and also worked on brand commercials like MTN('Awuf4u' campaign, Chipper Cash('Bank On It'), Flutterwave, and many more.
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Interview with DJ Klem
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That it's easy.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Try to communicate what exactly you're looking for and be sure the producer can deliver it.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Native instrument's Komplete Ultimate, A Gibson Les Paul, BeyerDynamic DT770's, A macbook pro and a Novation Impulse.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started making music on keyboards in 1998 and quickly graduated to computers a few years after that. I got my first placement on radio in 2003 and I haven't looked back since.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Eclectic with African roots.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Chris Brown. He's a consummate performer
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Always tune your drums to the key of the song - especially the kick drum.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I make a lot of pop and Afrobeats but I'm a soulful person at heart - it always finds a way into my music. No matter how groovy, the music is, there's always some soul in there.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Versatility.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Experience and a truly global but afro-centric perspective.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I'm a very musical, melodic person so I tend to try and get the melodies flowing as quickly as possible. I spend 70-80% of my time working on the tonal elements.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I run a simple studio setup - A windows Laptop, Cubae Elements, an Audient iD4, Audio-technica AT4050
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I'm a big fan of Sarz. Early influences were Timbaland, Darkchild and The Neptunes.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Mostly I get called to write music. A lot of times that also involves writing lyrics as well as producing beats.
