Singing Success and Fashion Forward: DADJU's Journey through Sound and Style

How important is fashion as an artist to your career?

As an artist, you're constantly in the spotlight, so image is very important. When you're selling a musical project, it's not just about the music; you're also selling a visual project. We create a visual identity for each project. For example, when shooting a video clip, the AD is mainly based on the proposed clothing style. So it's important for me to come up with looks that will make a lasting impression, and beyond that, I love fashion; it's a world that inspires me a lot. I'm Congolese, and Congolese people love fashion, dressing well and wearing original pieces. It's in our genes and part of our culture.  

Brands or designers that inspire you?

I really like Lanvin; I find that with each collection, they manage to renew themselves in a way that's quite inspiring, whether it's with fabrics or shapes. They perfectly combine elegance with simplicity and modernity. What I also really like is that they offer both modern, up-to-the-minute looks and more chic, sophisticated pieces. It's a brand I really like and wear a lot (my after-party outfit for my last concert was Lanvin). Another fashion house whose work I really appreciate is Songzio, a Korean designer. I'm passionate about Asian culture, so I'm very interested in this universe. I really like Songzio because every piece is original and creative, which is very inspiring. They offer very stylish cuts, oversized garments, and destructured garments, and they combine this with materials and colours that make each piece unique. What's interesting today is to see fashion houses teaming up more and more with artists. Lanvin called on Future to imagine a collection, and Pharell Williams became the artistic director of Louis Vuitton Homme. I think it's really interesting because these two fields are ultimately linked. As I was saying earlier, an artist's image and style of dress are, by and large, part of the brand's identity.
For accessories, I love Messika, with which I am collaborating a lot, and we have so many exciting projects very soon, a surprise!

What's the project or achievement you're most proud of?

The accomplishment I'm most proud of is opening my association, Give Back Charity. I've always been interested in helping and supporting others. I was helped a lot as a child, so it made sense for me to give back. The first cause we supported, which was particularly close to my heart, was helping women who are victims of sexual violence in the Congo. Horrible things are happening in the Congo, particularly in the east of the DRC, and it was important for me to raise awareness of this cause. So we teamed up with Dr Denis Mukwege, who is doing a remarkable job of rebuilding these women. The aim was to help these women regain their dignity and give them the means to rebuild their lives and look forward to a brighter future. But I didn't just want to give them financial support; it was important for me to show them that I was there for them, so my mother and I went to meet them in Kivu. It's all very well to help them financially, but going and meeting them and hearing their stories is what touched them the most. They told me that they rarely felt listened to, and it moved me deeply and made me proud to see the joy on their faces.

What inspires you in your career, and where do you find your inspiration?

Women inspire me a lot in my life and career. I've always been surrounded by women; I was raised by my mother, and my aunts often looked after me when I was a child, so women have a very important place in my life. A woman is a queen, and those who know me already know that I put women on a pedestal, so it's important for me to honour them. I see it in my mother and my wife; they have a strength of character and a determination that amazes me and will always surprise me; they are very inspiring. So I try to give as much back to them as possible through my songs, through my lyrics and also by collaborating with female artists.

Tell us about your brand:

Username is a clothing brand I created in 2020. I surrounded myself with stylists, including a designer from Maison Margiela, to come up with a high-end mixed collection aimed at everyone. I based the collection on what I like: oversized cuts and loose-fitting garments, so you can find wardrobe essentials like T-shirts and sweatshirts, as well as more unusual pieces like long jackets, cardigans, and shirts. I opened my first pop-up at Galeries Lafayette on the Champs-Elysées, which was a great success, and I'm planning to launch new items in the near future. My passion for fashion is growing all the time, so I'm keen to get more involved in this field. I have a clear vision for Username, and I can't wait to develop it.