This interview features Giwa Babatunde David (Crayvelli), a multidisciplinary creative who seamlessly navigates the worlds of DJing, fashion, and digital illustration. Throughout the conversation, Crayvelli shares insights into how these creative disciplines intersect in his work and personal expression.
Crayvelli describes his breakthrough moment in the music scene after persistently pursuing opportunities to perform at Mainland Block Party's Secret Garden venue in 2019. His journey from making mixes for friends to professional DJing illustrates his determination and authentic approach to art.
DEEDS MAGAZINE: Your journey spans multiple creative disciplines - from digital illustration to fashion and DJing. How do these different art forms intersect and influence each other in your personal creative process?
CRAYVELLI: As a DJ, I think of music the same way I think of style—it's about curation, blending elements, and creating a vibe that speaks to people. Everything that I do influences the other either directly or indirectly because in retrospect, every music genre has a fashion and visual aesthetics.For me, fashion, music and DJing are all interconnected—they feed into each other and shape my identity.
DEEDS MAGAZINE: As a DJ, what was the defining moment that transformed music from a hobby to a professional passion? Can you share the story behind your first significant breakthrough in the music scene?
CRAYVELLI: Considering that I’ve had my DJing skills since I was a teenager, I just made mixes and post them online whenever I could and my friends would download the mixes. I was really just having fun with it until I attended a Mainland Block Party in 2019, As soon as I set foot in Secret Garden, I knew wanted to DJ there so I spent the next couple of months trying to get on, submitting mixes, and reaching out, but I kept getting ignored. After months of shooting my shot, I decided to take a different approach by I tweeting at Alhaji Popping, letting him know I had been trying to get a set. That tweet got his attention, and I was put in a poll alongside other DJs. I ended up winning, and that was my official entry into the music scene.
DEEDS MAGAZINE: Your background in digital illustration seems unique for a DJ. How does your visual artistic perspective inform your musical selections and mixing style?
CRAYVELLI: Honestly, I just think of myself as a creative and all I have been doing is expressing myself unapologetically. However at the core, It’s all about storytelling and how I make people feel when I DJ
DEEDS MAGAZINE: Digital platforms have dramatically changed how DJs discover, share, and perform music. How has technology transformed your approach to DJing compared to when you first started?
CRAYVELLI: Yes definitely! When I started learning to DJ, laptops weren’t popular, I was mixing on USB Scratch CD Players which means that’s music had to be burned into CDs or downloading songs on flash drives which can be really tedious but now, there’re bunch of platforms, softwares and gears that simplified DJing and made sharing music accessible. I’ll say my approach didn’t really change rather, it evolved as I learnt to use these new tools however, reading the crowd, selecting and mixing the right tracks, and curating the vibe will always be at the core.
DEEDS MAGAZINE: You've built a reputation in both the fashion and music worlds. How do you navigate these interconnected creative industries, and what challenges have you encountered in maintaining your authenticity?
CRAYVELLI: Like I stated earlier that everything I do is a form of self expression, Music, Fashion feed off each other and I focus on creating what feels true to me because that’s what keeps people connected to my work at the end of the day. I’d say my biggest challenge so far is the pressure to follow what is trendy because both industries move fast.
DEEDS MAGAZINE: Walk us through your process for curating a setlist. Do you approach a club gig differently than a Festival?
CRAYVELLI: Honestly, I don’t necessarily curate a setlist, I just listen to a lot of music, make remixes and playlists for different vibes and genres while also paying attention to music people are enjoying in general as well, that way, I show up at gigs and we all have fun together because it’s all about having fun for me, I don’t like to overthink it.
DEEDS MAGAZINE: What’s the most unexpected hurdle you’ve faced as a Dj, and how did you adapt to overcome it?
CRAYVELLI: There’re lots of challenges actually but I’ll say some of the prominent ones are terrible song requests and technical issues. DJing has helped improve my problem-solving skills because you learn to troubleshoot and make things work on the spot.
DEEDS MAGAZINE: Beyond the technical skills, what do you believe is the most important emotional or intuitive element of being a great DJ?
CRAYVELLI: Reading the energy of the room, that helps you connect to the crowd and you get to give people what they need without them realizing it.
DEEDS MAGAZINE: Looking ahead, what are your most ambitious goals? Are there any uncharted territories in music, fashion, or digital art that you're eager to explore?
CRAYVELLI: There’re a lot actually but I’ll really like to travel the world while DJing and also curate experience that blurs the lines between these art forms. I would like to merge the experience into something immersive.
DEEDS MAGAZINE: What’s next for Crayvelli? Any dream collaborations or projects? Lastly, what advice would you give aspiring Djs trying to carve their own path?
CRAYVELLI: Currently my primary focus is curating these experiences that I highlighted earlier because I don’t believe in limits. Some of my dream collaborations would be with Nike, Rema, Skepta and ASAP Rocky. My advice to Djs is to stay true to themselves, believe in your own sauce and listen to a lot of music.
