DJ Hydra Talks 5am in Soho, Suru Records and Global Momentum
After a landmark 2025 full of chart-topping releases, global DJ support, and a new residency in Hong Kong, DJ Hydra reflects on his rapid rise and the Afro House sound that’s taking him worldwide.
In a year marked by momentum and milestone moments, Nigerian DJ Hydra has rapidly positioned himself as one of Afro House’s most compelling new artists.
Yet the realisation that things were shifting in his career came early in 2025, when his debut EP found a home on UK tastemaker label OVAVA Music. “It has to be when OVAVA signed my debut tracks ‘Like House’ and ‘Moyo Wa Upendo’,” Hydra says. “That’s when I realised my career was starting to get some international attention.”
Hydra’s artistry lives at the intersection of African rhythmic heritage and modern electronic design, a contrast he has spent years refining.
“For me, I’m always constantly looking to push the boundaries of dance music,” he explains. “There’s just something really exciting about mixing African rhythms and modern electronic textures. It creates a unique style of music.”
His influences, most notably Keinemusik and Black Coffee, played a formative role in shaping this sonic identity. “Black Coffee and Keinemusik have constantly pushed and evolved the dance music scene,” Hydra says. “They’ve created distinct sounds and it's inspiring to see.”
Released at the start of the year, Moyo Wa Upendo and its B-side Like House quickly resonated with international DJs and audiences. The two tracks, though paired, came from different parts of Hydra’s creative psyche. “‘Like House’ is a cheeky jab at my friends who are not really into house music,” he laughs. “But ‘Moyo Wa Upendo’ was a much more emotional journey.”
As support rolled in from Themba, Paco Osuna, Arthur Baker and many more, Hydra realised his sound was reaching spaces he had only dreamed of. “It’s surreal,” he says. “These are legends in the industry. It truly means a lot to me as an upcoming act.”
Hydra’s next chapter came with the launch of his own imprint, Suru Records. Its first release, “Bamidele,” didn’t just perform well, it exploded! “Watching ‘Bamidele’ take off was absolutely amazing,” he recalls. “It was a sign that I was heading in the right direction, and that I was building and connecting with an audience.”
Although Suru is currently a home for Hydra’s own releases, he sees it evolving. “For now, it’ll mostly be a home for my music,” he says. “But as time goes on, it will eventually become a space for emerging Afro House talents as well.”
Hydra’s most recent single, 5am in Soho, reveals a more introspective facet of his sound, one rooted in melody and emotion. “I’m a melodic guy at heart,” he says openly. “I’ve always loved deeply emotive tracks. ‘5am in Soho’ was my attempt at letting that deeply emotive side show on a song.”
Beyond studio success, 2025 also saw Hydra take up a residency at The Trilogy in Hong Kong, a city whose energy he describes as incomparable. “Hong Kong is an amazing city,” he says. “The crowd is different and unique from anywhere else in the world, and it’s really exciting to see.”
His music has travelled alongside him, landing in sets at Defected Croatia, Burning Man, and across airwaves like London’s Select Radio.
Hydra often talks about wanting to make “timeless music”, a phrase that, for him, carries real weight.
“Timeless music is not just the song of the summer,” he explains. “It’s that track you put on years later, and it still sounds like you heard it for the first time.”
He cites Keinemusik and Black Coffee’s “The Rapture III” as the gold standard of timeless Afro House.
Despite the rapid rise, Hydra keeps his focus grounded in the work itself.
“It’s been an amazing breakout year, but still a lot of work is needed to get to where I want to be,” he says. “I’m constantly showing up and working on my sound—either in the studio on a new track or on the dance floor with an audience.”
And to those coming up behind him?
“That’s the same advice I’d give to other up-and-coming artists,” he adds. “Show up. Keep working.”
2025 marked the beginning of a new chapter not just for Hydra, but for Afro House as a whole. With label signings, a growing global footprint, and a clear identity rooted in emotion and culture, DJ Hydra isn’t just rising, he’s helping shape the future of the genre.
Read the full interview with DJ Hydra at The Night Bazaar HERE.
