ENTERTAINMENT
Inside Aprtment Life: The London-born music collective redefining creative community
What began as a casual gathering of friends has evolved into a vibrant music collective shaped by creativity, collaboration, and an unwavering love for global sounds.
Noluthando Buthelezi
Picture this: a warm, intimate London apartment bathed in the soft glow of sunset. Outside, the sky melts into night; inside, conversation flows easily among friends and creatives.
A glass of gin in hand, you move to an eclectic mix of Baile Funk, Afrobeats, Amapiano, and back-to-back R&B and Hip-Hop classics. It is an escape from the relentless churn of hustle culture—a sanctuary where music is the only prerequisite for entry.
Welcome to Aprtment Life.
From Lockdown Escape to Cultural Movement
At the height of the pandemic, when isolation weighed heavily, three friends—Dean MF Johnson, Shea Soul, and Parismatiq—began inviting fellow creatives into their apartment to cope, collaborate, and connect. Those intimate gatherings, rooted in shared playlists and themed outfits, quickly took on a life of their own.
The addition of DJ Miamor transformed the trio into a full-fledged collective. Before long, the apartment was no longer just a living space—it had become a creative hub pulsing with energy, cultural exchange, and spontaneous artistry.
Each month, their "Welcome to the Apartment" sessions lit up the dance floor with curated mixes, guest DJs, and live performances. What started as a passion project quietly matured into a global movement.
Skyla Tylaa teams up with Solaariss on Aprtment Life, blending Amapiano, Afrohouse, and 3 Step to showcase the latest trends in contemporary African music.
A Soundtrack That Travels the World
Apartment Life's signature formula—a fusion of diasporic and global rhythms—has resonated far beyond London. Their exclusive rooftop sessions, club residencies, and live recordings on YouTube and SoundCloud have built a loyal following across continents.
The collective has already made its mark in major U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, and Orlando, expanding its community of music lovers one event at a time.
In 2024, they took their aesthetic to East Africa, recording a special edition of their YouTube series in Nairobi, Kenya. The "Safari Life" event not only showcased their signature soulful dancefloor atmosphere but also highlighted rising Kenyan DJs, anchoring Apartment Life firmly within Africa's creative scene.
A Growing Wave of Communal Listening Experiences
Aprtment Life is part of a wider movement reimagining how people gather around music. Another rising platform is Cultur FM, an international collective featuring DJs from Lagos, Paris, Houston, and beyond. Their soundscape spans Afrobeats, Amapiano, alté, UK rap, and more, reflecting the diverse tastes of the African diaspora and its global community.
Live Afrobeats 2025: P Smoov on 035 Culture FM
Both collectives exemplify a cultural shift toward intimate, shared listening experiences that bridge continents and identities. They are proof that music's power lies not just in sound, but in the connections it inspires.
Music as a Universal Language
From a London apartment to stages across Africa and the United States, Apartment Life demonstrates how creativity thrives in community. Alongside collectives like Cultur FM, they are shaping a new era of global music appreciation—one dance floor at a time.
If the world needed another reminder that music is universal, these rising movements deliver it effortlessly.
