DJ Fredy Muks is here to spread the good vibrations from Africa to the rest of the world.

Hailing from Cameroon in Central Africa but moving to the States two decades ago, Fredy Muks is a music producer, songwriter, and DJ, whose specialty lies in his versatility and ability to cross multiple genres. Serving as the Global & African Music Board Chairman at the Recording Academy (Grammys), Fredy has worked and continues to work tirelessly to bring African music, especially Afropop, to the mainstream light. 

And if there’s one thing you can expect from him: “overall vibes.”

To date, Fredy has collaborated with the likes of Afro B, Fatima Altieri, Lil Flip and D’banj, King Kaka and Sauti Sol from Kenya, and more. His signature sound includes mashups of all the biggest hits to date, adding his own spin tailored to audiences of all different backgrounds. 

He’s also an entrepreneur, creating his own company called Muks Entertainment, impacting both the music and tech spaces. 

We spoke with Fredy Muks about how he became a DJ, his setup, opening for British rapper Giggs, and more!

When did you fall in love with music? Was it back home or here?

I started playing piano as a kid back home in Cameroon before moving to the U.S., then went to school for production and engineering.

What made you start DJing?

DJing came naturally after production. My interest grew from watching Jam Master Jay and all those DJs. Just being inspired by the art and how they’re able to take music that’s already been made and make a show out of it. That encouraged and inspired me to try it out. That’s what I did, I started learning by myself before looking into other DJs and their techniques. And I became a DJ.

Did someone teach you?

It started naturally with production of course, understanding the beat machine and stuff like that. Then growing an interest in actually DJing. I never sat in a DJ class to learn how to DJ, but I always reached out to other DJs for inspiration and tips and tricks. I then went into learning different things online and learned from there, but I have a huge network of DJs that have inspired me greatly. From Diplo to all the other DJs.

What do you like about Diplo?

I like his style of production. I like his stage presence and the way he connects with his audience. Tiësto is another one. I got a chance to work with him on his foundation dance4life, and traveled to over 30 countries around the world. 

How was it working with Tiësto? That’s the GOAT!

He’s an amazing talent and a very kind heart. The dance4life foundation he created touched millions of lives around the world and I was very proud and honored to be a part of it.

What’s your niche when it comes to genres that you DJ?

I don’t think I have any boundaries. I produce music for film and TV too, so it depends. My niche would be open format. It depends on the audience, from Afrobeats to hip hop to R&B. I’ve done even heavy metal sets, spreading out quite wide.

What was the first gig you ever did and how much did you get paid?

The first gig I ever did that was paid was in Dallas. It was my uncle’s wedding, and it was a huge risk. They gave me like 50 bucks, something like that. [laughs]

How did you get poppin’?

After graduating from school, I worked in radio as an engineer. Ended up getting on some radio shows and went from there.

What’s your biggest gig you’ve ever done?

I’m very big on impact, so it’d be the show that was more impactful for me. Every time I’ve DJed in any country in Africa, they have always been the biggest shows for me. I’m able to use my craft, not only to make people dance, but also to use my gifts to share with other people and inspire other DJs.

What is your DJ setup?

My setup right now, I have a custom Denon DJ Prime 4+ that allows me to do a bunch of stuff that other systems cannot do. I also have a CDJ-4000. I have a bunch of other controllers, but the Denon Prime 4+ right now is what I use mostly for my gigs.

What is your favorite song to drop in a set?

Anything by Bob Marley. I like to do remixes on the go, so it doesn’t matter where I’m playing. Every time I play a Bob Marley song, I remix it with amapiano, house, or anything, it’s always been a go.

Biggest pet peeve as a DJ?

I think for every DJ, it’s the screaming requests. [laughs] People that will come up to the board, and you can’t hear them but they’re screaming their song. “You should play my song!” It’s not even within the genre you’re spinning that night. That’s my biggest pet peeve. [laughs] “Play my song! Do you have this song?”

Talk about opening for Giggs at El Rey and how that happened.

Before the show, I was a Giggs fan. I got a call from my homie from New York who’s with Def Jam. I worked with him on a tour the year before. They reached out and told me he’s coming to LA and they’d like for me to open for him. It was no question that I was already a fan, so I was quite excited to do that. We had a lot of fun. Giggs is amazing. His whole team, everybody. Everybody on this team is amazing, and I got to meet you. Turnt it up. [laughs]

Do you ever get nervous before you DJ?

I get excited, I won’t say nervous. I’ve already done it. I’ve done it so many times, so many different audience sizes and places. I don’t think it’s nervous. I always take the time to study the audience and find out what they want. I’m playing for them of course, and I make sure I have the right music. I know I deliver on the mix, I just make sure that I get the right music for the audience, and that works. There have been situations where of course, you have some nights that you don’t feel like they’re your best nights. Some days, sometimes you think after the show, “Oh yeah, I could have added this. I could have done this, I could have done all that.” But nervous? No. Excited? Yes. 

Advice for aspiring DJs who want to do what you do?

Rule #1, make sure you get some kind of controller or DJ system. Or whatever you can lay your hands on. You don’t have to get the super expensive stuff or the crazy stuff. Get anything that you can beat match. You could move one song to the next song. Ask as many questions as possible. Go on YouTube, and look up tips and tricks. Another thing is that with technology now, the art of DJing has become quite easy. I encourage other DJs to look into things that separate you from other DJs. Look for that one thing that is your sound, your trick, your technique. And build on it.

Anything else you’re excited for or working on?

We just had a new song that dropped. I’m working with Chechi Sarai from The Voice last year. We just dropped a new single called “That Girl.” We’re working on an album, we’re thinking it’s going to be out by November this year. She has two singles out. I’m also working with another singer from Australia, Grace Tibbles. We’re also working on a project. 

But right now, the project with Chechi Sarai is what’s out. Check out the new song for “That Girl.” 

Read more interviews by Shirley Ju.

About the Writer

Shirley Ju is a Los Angeles-based journalist and on-camera host with her own show called Shirley’s Temple (with a focus on mental health). She lives, breathes, and sleeps music, and if there’s a show in LA, you can find her there. Born in the Bay Area, the Hyphy movement is in her blood. Shirley contributes to several publications and also books for B-Real’s podcast. Follow her at @shirju on both Instagram and Twitter.