Dadju: "My passion for fashion is only growing"

The music is not enough for him.Dadju, crowned best French -speaking artist of the year at the NRJ Music Awards, launched in September 2020 in fashion with Username.At first sold at the Galeries Lafayette des Champs-Elysées in Paris, the brand will now be present in four new French cities: Bordeaux, Nice, Strasbourg and Marseille.Paris Match met the 30 -year -old artist for the occasion.

Paris Match.A little over a year ago, you launched your Username brand... Quel est le bilan de cette première année ?Dadju.It was a very rich year in experience!Fashion is a whole new adventure for me, there are lots of things that I discover and that I learn, I have lots of new ideas for the future ... The health context when we launched the collection wasNot ideal but I think that is what will make me stronger and more lively for the next collections.

Your clothes will be sold in four new cities in France. Ont-elles été choisies par hasard ou ce sont des villes de cœur pour vous ?La France est un pays de cœur pour moi.My goal is to be present everywhere in France.We then start each point of sale and each city are important.I try to combine my life with this collection, my work with the collection so that everything can match and that everything goes in the same direction.

"I am a relentless, I will not stop"

Comment s’est passée la rencontre avec votre public des Galeries Lafayette à Bordeaux ?Ça c’est super bien passé.I was happy to see so many people again, it's been really a very long time ... the same evening, I resumed my tour.So before finding my fans thanks to my music, I found them with Username.

Où trouvez-vous l’inspiration pour imaginer ces vêtements ? Comment transmettez-vous vos inspirations au designer ?C’est un travail d’équipe.I worked with the designers of Maison Margiela who helped me a lot.I base myself on what I like, the Oversize forms.I draw inspiration from what I see, my last trip to the Congo, manga ... The way a person is wearing a garment will inspire me.The same outfit, carried by different people, is not the same depending on the one who wears it.Burna Boy, for example, has a very unique way to wear clothes.

Comment arrivez-vous à concilier la musique et la mode ? Avez-vous le temps de vous investir à fond dans la marque ?Ma passion pour la mode ne fait que grandir.This year went so well that I would like to be able to get even more involved.As long as there is music, I can't be 100% but I can try to be 80-90%.I really want to take username as far as possible.I am a relentless, I will not stop.

If you don't assume your garment, it's not going to go

Les vêtements ont-ils toujours été importants pour vous ?Je suis Congolais et au Congo, les sapologues ne rigolent pas avec les vêtements ! Quand j’étais petit, ma mère m'habillait, me coiffait pour les anniversaires...Its very important.The clothes I wear on a daily basis are a reflection of what I really.They can be offered very beautiful pieces but if I don't feel good in it, I will not wear them.If you don't assume your garment, it's not going to go.But if you assume, everything can go.

Les accessoires aussi ?Oui, j’aime beaucoup les diamants.I find it fascinating.My next album will have a relationship with that ... but I can't give the title yet!

Quelle a été votre réaction quand vous avez été sacré meilleur artiste francophone de l'année aux NRJ Music Awards ?J’étais vraiment très content.This is the biggest category of the ceremony.There were the greatest French artists so going out winning it is as if I won the Champions League!I was doubly proud because it was the public who voted and who chose me.

Alors que peut-on vous souhaiter pour la suite ?Que du bon pour mon prochain album et pour ma tournée.I also hope that Username will have the same success as Dadju.I will be playing with a feature film shot in Congo last September.I hope he will please my fans.I co-realize it with Nils Tavernier.It's fiction but I play my own role.What I like is to leave doubt.I want people to think everything is true ... but everything is not true!

Dadju will be at the Galeries Lafayette in Nice on December 2, in Marseille on December 4 and in Strasbourg on February 4, 2022.