tech
‘In prison, I made a little studio in my head. It kept me sane’: Ibrahim Alfa Jr, British techno’s great survivor
He moved from Nigeria to middle England and was swept up into the rave scene – then battled through incarceration and near-death illness. After making 500 tracks while living on porridge and lettuce, he explains how he kept going
TL;DR
- Ibrahim Alfa Jr experienced severe health problems, including anaphylaxis and multiple heart attacks, which drastically altered his life and diet.
- He produced approximately 500 tracks during his isolation, viewing the music creation as an 'audio diary' that helped him cope with his illness.
- Alfa Jr's past includes a complex upbringing, a period of criminality leading to prison, and a burgeoning career in the underground techno scene.
- In prison, he developed a mental 'studio' and visualized music, which he credits with helping him endure his sentence.
- Post-release, he has continued to create music, releasing new albums and finding a renewed sense of purpose and appreciation for his artistic process.