Your set at the last Raving in Johannesburg event was full of high energy and unique track selections. How do you go about curating your music for a performance?
Curating my DJ set for Raving in Johannesburg was fun, as it involved a combination of preparation, understanding the audience, and reading the setting of the venue. I enjoyed building up the set, as I structured it to have calm and peaks with an unpredictable climax building up high and intense energy moments. My sets always include deep house, house, dance, and 3-step music.
What has been your most memorable experience performing?
My most memorable experiences performing as a DJ are always exhilarating, but the one that stands out to me as an opening DJ is when I see the crowd building up as I mix the tracks perfectly complementing the mood and seeing the crowd grow as the dance floor gets smaller and smaller, completely in tune with the energy of the crowd and room.
When preparing my sets, I always make sure that I have a non-conventional approach, which includes me being unique and authentic and always staying true to myself and sound regardless of who’s on the line-up. Preparing the best sets and offering new music at all costs. I think it’s important to have a tunnel-vision perspective when building something for yourself. This separates you from the bunch.
What inspired you to start DJing, and how did you get involved in the Johannesburg music scene?
What inspired me to start DJing was my love and passion for music and meeting new people. My DJing journey and participation in the Johannesburg music scene can be derived from a few inspirations:
My love and passion for music is a deep-rooted thing, as music has always been a major driving force in my life, inherited from my father and the rest of my family. Growing up, I was exposed to various music genres. The power of music and connecting people evoked and fascinated me always. Watching people get together and dance with joy inspired me to want to create and curate music, make people dance, and take them on a musical journey. Musicians and DJs inspired me a lot, their ability to produce music, read the crowd, and create unique sounds was mesmerising to me.
My involvement in the Johannesburg music scene started in Soweto as a young lad. The city's rich musical heritage, ranging from kwaito to jazz to house music, played a crucial role in sparking my interest in music. I started by attending local gigs and then gradually attended concerts and music events to immerse myself in the scene. This allowed me to meet other DJs, producers, and music enthusiasts, building valuable connections. I ended up obsessing with learning the craft of DJing, understanding music as a whole, and studying crowd dynamics. This helped me gain experience and build a reputation within the local scene. Through doing music and networking, this helped me gain experience and build a reputation within the local scene in Johannesburg. Collaborating with other artists and producers was essential. It provided opportunities to learn, experiment with new sounds, and reach broader audiences.
Leveraging social media platforms to share my music, mix, promote events, and connect with people was crucial. It helped in building an online presence and reaching a wider audience. Securing local and small gigs also helped me establish myself, spread my name out there, and conquer the Johannesburg music scene. By combining passion, continuous learning, networking, and actively participating in the local music culture, I am able to carve out a place for myself as a DJ in Johannesburg.
My most memorable moments and beginnings as a DJ or musician would be my first gig in 2014/15. I think I was 14 or 15 years old. I had done a song with 6ixty Jonas and Whoisphiiwe and performed it at our event, Art Riot, and the whole party raged along to it, which ended up with us breaking the stage.
What inspired you to start DJing, and how did you get involved in the Johannesburg music scene?
What inspired me to start DJing was my love and passion for music and meeting new people. My DJing journey and participation in the Johannesburg music scene can be derived from a few inspirations:
My love and passion for music is a deep-rooted thing, as music has always been a major driving force in my life, inherited from my father and the rest of my family. Growing up, I was exposed to various music genres. The power of music and connecting people evoked and fascinated me always. Watching people get together and dance with joy inspired me to want to create and curate music, make people dance, and take them on a musical journey. Musicians and DJs inspired me a lot, their ability to produce music, read the crowd, and create unique sounds was mesmerising to me.
My involvement in the Johannesburg music scene started in Soweto as a young lad. The city's rich musical heritage, ranging from kwaito to jazz to house music, played a crucial role in sparking my interest in music. I started by attending local gigs and then gradually attended concerts and music events to immerse myself in the scene. This allowed me to meet other DJs, producers, and music enthusiasts, building valuable connections. I ended up obsessing with learning the craft of DJing, understanding music as a whole, and studying crowd dynamics. This helped me gain experience and build a reputation within the local scene. Through doing music and networking, this helped me gain experience and build a reputation within the local scene in Johannesburg. Collaborating with other artists and producers was essential. It provided opportunities to learn, experiment with new sounds, and reach broader audiences.
Leveraging social media platforms to share my music, mix, promote events, and connect with people was crucial. It helped in building an online presence and reaching a wider audience. Securing local and small gigs also helped me establish myself, spread my name out there, and conquer the Johannesburg music scene. By combining passion, continuous learning, networking, and actively participating in the local music culture, I am able to carve out a place for myself as a DJ in Johannesburg.
My most memorable moments and beginnings as a DJ or musician would be my first gig in 2014/15. I think I was 14 or 15 years old. I had done a song with 6ixty Jonas and Whoisphiiwe and performed it at our event, Art Riot, and the whole party raged along to it, which ended up with us breaking the stage.
IN CONVERSATION W/DJ2WNTY
How do you see the future of the rave scene in Johannesburg, and what role do you think events like ours play in its evolution?
I see the future of the rave scene in Johannesburg as more vibrant and dynamic, reflecting the city's diverse cultural landscape and the ever-evolving tastes of its inhabitants. Bringing more people like myself from Soweto to experience rave. As with any underground cultural movement, the rave scene in Johannesburg will continue to adapt and grow, influenced by changes in music, technology, and social trends.
Events like yours play a crucial role in shaping the evolution of the rave scene. They serve as platforms for both established and emerging artists to showcase their talents, introduce new sounds and styles to audiences, and foster a sense of community among electronic music enthusiasts. So, by curating unique experiences and pushing artistic boundaries, events like yours contribute to the cultural richness of Johannesburg's nightlife and help keep the rave scene fresh and exciting.
Moreover, these events often serve as catalysts for broader social and cultural change. They bring together people from diverse backgrounds, fostering connections and breaking down barriers in the process. Through their inclusive and celebratory atmosphere, rave events can promote values of acceptance, creativity, and freedom of expression, which are essential for building a vibrant and inclusive city culture.
In the local electronic music sense, I see growth and more clubs and promoters growing the scene, with more artists emerging in the electronic scene.
