·E11

Nigerian House Music, Amapiano, & Minneapolis DJ Scene with Abel Johnson

September 4

44 mins

Episode Description

📺 Watch the Video on Spotify & YouTube

“You can't pay me enough money to walk on a frozen lake. That's where I draw my line,” laughs Abel, Minneapolis DJ and house music mainstay, as he joins Behind the Decks MPLS to share his journey from Nigeria to the heart of the Midwest dance scene. In this episode, Abel opens up about the cold shock of immigrating to Minnesota, discovering his love of music through Michael Jackson VHS tapes, and the thrill of crate-digging for electronic gems at Scottish car boot sales.

Abel reveals how his creative energy and love of storytelling drive his DJ sets, why knowing your music “front to back, back to front” is the secret to standout performances, and how his Nigerian heritage and lifelong curiosity for new sounds shaped his eclectic, soulful style. He discusses the evolution of Afrobeats, the challenges facing today’s club programming, and why giving DJs space to craft long, narrative sets creates genuine magic on the dancefloor. Abel’s infectious passion for musical exploration and community—and his humility about his influence in the scene—make this a must-listen for anyone interested in the true spirit of house music.

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5 Key Takeaways

Know your music inside-out—study every track, every sound, and every transition to truly command your craft.
Explore beyond your comfort zone—experiment with genres, eras, and cultures to expand your sound and inspire new creative directions.
Prioritize storytelling and programming—curate thoughtful, dynamic sets that take listeners on a journey, not just a rapid-fire of hits.
Build genuine connections—get out, meet people, play diverse venues, and value every opportunity to share your music and learn from others.
Stay a lifelong student—embrace curiosity, remain humble, and always be eager to listen, learn, and evolve as an artist.

Memorable Quotes

"I will do a lot of crazy things, but I will not walk on a frozen lake. You can't pay me enough money to walk on a frozen lake. That’s where I draw my line."

"I find DJing has been really such a blessing, a really accessible way for me to take all of that angst and put it out. When I play music, when I'm DJing, there is a story that I'm telling—even if people dancing don’t necessarily know what I’m saying, I know."

"Know your music front to back, back to front, sideways, upside down, in any way or form. When you know it that well, you're not just standing there waving at the crowd, you're actually working, you're telling stories, you're creating new textures."

Connect with Abel

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abeljohnson/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abel_mpls/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abel.ayobola.johnson

Resources Mentioned

Traktor DJ software - https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/traktor/

Energy Radio (Energy 87.9) - https://energy879.com/

W Hotels (Living Room, Foshay Tower) - https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mspph-w-minneapolis-the-foshay

Dance Church - https://go.dancechurch.com/

Amapiano (music genre resource) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amapiano

Connect with Us

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkPG6MJDADxPDad9Dkzg2ewN4Ry7BOnnL