Following the Paris edition of the ỌLÁNREWÁJÚ Experience during Paris Men’s Fashion Week, Nigerian-American afro-fusion artist AQT speaks with FAB L’Style about merging music and fashion, representing Africa on a global stage, and why his vision extends far beyond the stage.
FAB: Paris Fashion Week has become a meeting point for music, fashion and culture. What made it the right place to bring the ỌLÁNREWÁJÚ Experience next?
AQT: Paris felt like the right place because ỌLÁNREWÁJÚ is not just music—it is lifestyle, culture and identity. Fashion Week already brings the world together, so it made sense to bring my experience into that space. I wanted people to feel the sound, the story and the energy around AQT in a global setting.
FAB: You’ve now taken the ỌLÁNREWÁJÚ Experience to London, Lagos, Houston and Paris. How does each city shape the energy of the event, and what did Paris bring that surprised you?
AQT: Every city gives the experience a different spirit. London brought the diaspora energy, Lagos brought the homecoming energy, Houston brought my foundation, and Paris brought that luxury global energy. What surprised me was how naturally people connected with it, even hearing unreleased records for the first time. It showed me the message is travelling.
FAB: You performed unreleased music from ỌLÁNREWÁJÚ II. What was it like watching people connect with songs they were hearing for the very first time?
AQT: That was one of the best feelings. When you perform unreleased music and people react like they already know the record, that tells you something real is happening. It gave me confirmation that ỌLÁNREWÁJÚ II is going to connect on a different level.
FAB: The event happened after the runway shows, bringing together creatives from different industries. Was that crossover between music and fashion something you intentionally wanted to create?
AQT: Definitely. I have always seen music and fashion as part of the same language. The way you sound, the way you dress, the way you move—it all tells the story. With the OLÁNREWÀJÚ Experience, I’m building a space where artists, designers, tastemakers and culture movers can connect naturally.
FAB: Your work draws from both Houston and Lagos. How do those two worlds continue to influence the sound and identity of ỌLÁNREWÁJÚ II?
AQT: Houston gave me the grit, the confidence and the trap influence. Lagos gave me the rhythm, the spirituality and the cultural foundation, and I also draw from Middle Eastern sounds and spiritual elements that add another layer to the music. ỌLÁNREWÁJÚ II is where all these worlds meet. It is African; it is American; it is global, but it is still very personal to me.
FAB: During the week you connected with artists like Wizkid and Future while also meeting creatives across fashion and entertainment. Were there any conversations or moments that left a lasting impression?
AQT: Being around artists like Wizkid and Future during that week was powerful because they represent two worlds that shaped me musically. Wizkid represents African music at a global level, and Future represents that trap and lifestyle influence I grew up around. Being in those rooms reminded me that AQT is positioned to represent Africa globally while still carrying my American upbringing.
FAB: Fashion seems to play an important role in how you present your music. How would you describe your relationship with style, and has it evolved alongside your career?
AQT: Style is part of my language. Before people hear the music, they see the presence. As I’ve grown, my style has become more intentional, more elevated, and more connected to the world I’m building. I see fashion as another way to communicate the AQT story.
FAB: The ỌLÁNREWÁJÚ Experience feels like more than a performance, it’s becoming a cultural platform. When you first imagined it, did you always see it growing into an international series?
AQT: Yes, I always saw it bigger than one stage. ‘ỌLÁNREWÁJÚ’ means progression, so the experience was always meant to travel and grow. London, Lagos, Houston and Paris are just the beginning. The goal is to keep taking it to more cities around the world and make it a true cultural platform.
FAB: Your next single, Story For The Gods II, arrives soon. Without giving too much away, what chapter of your story does this record represent?
AQT: Story For The Gods II represents reflection, growth and real life. It speaks to where I come from, what I’ve been through, and the spiritual foundation behind the journey. It is not just a record—it is another chapter in the story of becoming.
FAB: As someone building bridges between African culture and global audiences, what does success look like for you over the next few years? Is it chart positions, sold-out experiences, cultural impact—or something else entirely?
AQT: Success is all of it, but the biggest thing is impact. Of course I want the charts, the sold-out experiences and the global recognition, but more than anything I want to build something that lasts. I want AQT to be remembered as an artist and cultural bridge who helped take African creativity into new global spaces.
