The ‘Aprtment Life’ Experience, That I Never Knew I Needed

Shifa Ligero (Jersey Club, Baile Funk, Amapiano)

As a lover of Urban Music, I love receiving new songs, curated playlists, and DJ sets from artists and groups, that I may not be as familiar with yet.

My wife sent me Aprtment Life YouTube channel last Wednesday, and it undeniably Blessed my entire week. 

Music fans spend an immense amount of time appreciating and analyzing our favorite wordsmiths and vocalists, but DJs are often left out of those conversations and undervalued. Especially considering, they're the ones who often introduce us to the music we end up loving.

5 minutes into watching my first Aprtment Life set,  I turned to my Wife and said ‘I pray we get to see something like this in person soon.’ And 10 minutes in,  I turned to her again and said, ‘And how much better would our quality of  life be, if we have a crew of DJing friends to invite us over to their apartment, and vibe out like this?’

Aprtment Life, is an intimate and interactive DJ space that came to life in London during Lockdown. Over the past 3 years, interest and engagement have increased, and now lovers of masterfully blended music outside of the United Kingdom, have become supporters. 

It was started by Producer Dean M.F Johnson, Vocalist Shea Soul, and DJ Paris. 

If "Soulection" and "Everyday People" had a baby, Aprtment Life is what I imagine it would sound and feel like. 

And as someone who is an unwavering fan of Urban Music, but has in many ways outgrown the club scene, I appreciate intimate music-sharing experiences of this caliber immensely.

As a fan of many recorded DJ set channels on YouTube, what I appreciate most about Aprtment Life is that instead of simply watching the DJ spin records for an allotted amount of time, we get to witness real-time reactions from friends behind the DJ. It is a beautiful second-hand experience, so one can only imagine how this felt for everyone present. 

Watching Aprtment Life sets on YouTube, feels like watching footage of the best party you have ever been invited to, with the most skilled Dj and your best friends in attendance, vibing collectively. It sounds like music heaven, but feels like home to watch. 

The cool cream and brown tones of all members' clothing are aesthetically appealing and the simplicity of the apartment, with no wall decorations, countertop accessories, floor rugs, and bright colors, mitigates all distractions. The simplicity of the apartment setup and all participants’ wardrobes allow viewers to focus solely on the music and the member's response to the music. No unnecessary distractions, just skillfully blended music and unforgettable vibes. 

I have only watched 2 episodes thus far, but my favorite was the Aprtment Life set by DJ Shifa Ligero (Jersey club, Baile funk, Amapiano) published on September 8, 2023.  Her skills are unparalleled,  and her blends sound like whipped butter. Her transitions were effortlessly executed and the song selections on her playlist had impressive range.  The playlist was representative of all urban music markets, an accurate reflection of London’s ethnically diverse population.

One of the highlights of her show was at the 5:50 minute mark, a Sisqo ‘Thong Song’ mashup that has since gone viral on TikTok. Another highlight was the Nelly 'Dilemma’ mashup at the 24-minute mark. As a St. Louis native, I appreciated her paying homage to a hometown hero, in a way I’d never heard before. 

Lastly, at the 31-minute mark, watching the Black Men behind her go into full secular praise with their hands up during the Keyshia Cole ‘Love’ mashup and witnessing the excitement in their eyes, was a moment I could have held on to longer.  Watching their spirits fill the room, created a mental picture that will last a lifetime. 

Highlights aside, the entire set is sonically sickening. 

Aprtment Life is forcing music lovers to reframe our idea of what it means to be a skilled Disc Jockey and curate a high-level experience among all listeners/attendees. Many music lovers' perceptions of what makes a good DJ are framed by the DJs we often experience in club settings who primarily play Billboard hits and don't require master mixing, beatmatching, or equalization skills at all. 

London-based Apartment Life is also a friendly reminder to many American music fans just how narrow our music market is, as their set forces you to appreciate a mashup of multiple genres, not just Hip-Hop and R&B. 

The Aprtment Life YouTube Channel and Soundcloud Channel, Blessed my life this week and if this ever turns into a ticketed event in London or any other city, I would gladly pay whatever amount tickets are priced at, to be in attendance and show my full support.

Easy Listening, The Urban Music Enthusiast.