A pioneering force in House, Amapiano, Afro‑House and UK Funky, UK artist Supa D has built an unstoppable momentum that resonates across London, Europe, and beyond.
To celebrate his new remix ‘Mama’ on Idris Elba’s 7Wallace, we sit down with the London based talent to find out more about the man behind the music, his musical journey, his Housupa imprint and more…
WWD: Your new remix ‘Mama’ is dropping this month, what inspired you creatively when flipping Konstance & Seal’s original into your own deep afro-house interpretation?
The inspiration came from the actual original version which is very spiritual and true to the Motherland and myself and Maestro wanted to keep close to that vibe that can also crossover to mainstream.
WWD: How did the collaboration with Maestro UK come about, and what was the creative process like between you two?
I have a record label Housupa Records and Maestro was introduced to me with potential tracks that would go out on my label. Over a duration of time I noticed the quality was getting better and knew it would be good to collaborate with him. The creative process just gelled as we both think on the same wavelength and were musically educated.
WWD: Idris Elba’s 7Wallace label is known for boundary-pushing music, how did you feel about releasing this on that platform?
It’s an honour to be putting a remix out on this label as I feel they understand the direction and it has the resources to make the correct noise.
WWD: You started DJing as a teenager and eventually became a leading figure in house and underground dance culture, what early moment do you credit for hooking you on DJing?
My father had a sound system and is a DJ also who is very passionate about it so growing up it was all I knew so it was destined to happen.
WWD: Having grown up through jungle, garage, UK funky, and house, how do you think those early genres still influence your DJ sets today?
They still influence me because of the high energy and those genres being the anchor for the London Underground scene, so a lot of the classics are now being remixed.
WWD: Who were the DJs or producers that inspired you the most when you were first coming up?
The DJs that influenced me coming up would have to be DJ Brockie and DJ EZ, and as for key producers I loved I’d definitely say Shy FX and Wookie.
WWD: How has the London underground scene changed since you first started playing?
A lot has changed such as the closing of record shops which is major when it comes to quality control and the separation of DJs. Also loads of clubs have closed down so now you end up in the same venues at least a couple of times a month. Due to being in the scene for over 2 decades I’ve seen the new generation of ravers and DJs and how technology and social media have shaped them which has its pros and cons.
WWD: How much of your DJing informs your production, and vice versa?
When producing I always think about if I didn’t make it would I even play it. And even down to a layout of a track, it needs to be inline with how a dj would like it with drops, breakdowns, bridges etc.
WWD: You’ve also built the Housupa label/brand, what’s the vision behind that, and how do you balance label work with your solo artistry?
The vision was always to have something homegrown that made an impact on the scene, not just London and to showcase the unrecognised talent. It does take up a lot time and hard work but is still a working process and eventually I’ll have a team working with me to build and expand.
WWD: Are there any emerging artists on Housupa that you’re particularly excited about right now?
There are loads of talented producers around me such as Maestro UK, Scotti Dee, and Anthony Ranz to name a few that keep on evolving and stay consistent, so they are definitely ones to watch out for.
WWD: What’s your take on the way Afro-house and Amapiano have evolved internationally in recent years, especially in the UK?
I like that the genre has blown up worldwide but I would say how I understand Afro house to be from earlier years has definitely changed and lost some of its identity and authenticity. I think there should have been another sub genre like amapiano/ 3step, but on the whole it’s good to see the term/genre Afro house to be recognised and respected.
WWD: What’s been one of your most memorable international DJ moments to date?
There’s been quite a few memorable moments, one that stood out is when I played at a festival in Rotterdam in 2000. I was playing UK garage at the time for an Amsterdam promotion called Need for Speed and the arena had over 5000 ravers. It was nerve racking because they took a more established DJ off early to put me on, and I was 18 at the time, but I played a smashing set and got the crowd rocking so it was definitely one for the books.
WWD: Anything else coming up you’d like to share with our readers?
I have loads of projects coming up and major events, so it’s best to follow me on my socials!
Supa D: Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple music.
Also look out for my new mix series launching on Apple Music very soon 🙂
WWD: Will do! Thanks for the chat 🙂
Thanks!
‘Mama’ is available here