Get ready to dance all night long to the sounds of African dance music at the “Rhythm of Afrika” event Thursday night in Ridgewood, hosted by STA7CK & Friends.
STA7CK (pronounced Starck) is a New York City-based DJ, producer and label owner. He has always had a love of African music, dating back to his time spent with his family in West Africa.
“[I was inspired by] being a [person of] Franco-African descent who spent some of his childhood years in West Africa with a family who really loved music and dancing,” STA7CK said. “One of my uncles owned a record shop and on the weekends the place would be buzzing with amazing dance music and love songs from all over the world. I guess I grew up picking up that vibe.”
STA7CK took his love of African music and made it his job by managing acts and having other various responsibilities. In 2015 he decided to utilize his talents and become a DJ. He held the first Rhythm of Afrika event on Jan. 30.
“It went pretty great. I was surprised to see people from all racial background dancing to African music and doing modern African dance on the dance floor,” STA7CK said of the event. “After so many requests I gave in and I opened my AfroBeat set … the dance floor went crazy. I really wasn’t expecting that. I honestly thought the crowd would freak since it’s not a genre you hear on Western radio. The Internet is really doing a great job at bringing us all together. It’s showing a different side of Africa that you never see in Western media.”
Rhythm of Afrika will be blasting the beats starting at 11 p.m. on March 10 at Trans-Pecos, located at 915 Wyckoff Ave.
“As a music lover I felt there was a need for this event so I gave it a go,” STA7CK said. “If you love African music, African dance, African art and African culture you belong at this event; if you are curious you should come anyways.”
Tickets can be purchased online for $10 or at the door, $5 before midnight and $10 after.
