The Set Magazine

View and download our digital issue at www.thesetmagazin e.co.za

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EDITOR’S NOTE

If you grew up in a township like I did, I’m sure you would agree that house music is more than just that- it is a big part of our lives. But of course house music in SA transcends just beyond townships. South Africa is globally recognised for its immense talent when it comes to this genre of music and that is what makes it very special.

It was exactly a year ago when the idea of starting this magazine surfaced and since then, The Set Magazine has been what is always on top of our minds, giving us sleepless nights of visualizing the dreams and aspirations that we have for it. We went from being Politics, IT, Multimedia and BCom students to having to learn all there is to about the publishing and media industry in SA. What started out as our love for house music led us to establishing this magazine, with the dream and intention to fill a

gap in the market that is of a lack of a nationally recognised house music magazine despite this genre being one of the most predominant genres of music in our country.

We are not there yet but if you are reading this, I hope that you will live testament to see that happening one day, hopefully much sooner than expected.

It is then with great pleasure that we present you with the first issue of The Set Magazine! It’s been an interesting and enthusiastic three months of putting this issue together and we are glad that it is finally here.

In this issue we sat down with popular house music duo Black Motion to have a chat. We are most definitely honoured to have them as our cover stars for this first issue. Read their interview from pg 9. We also caught up with Metro FM Award winner Chymamusique, DJ Mlungu, DJ Thabi Thabs and rising star of house music DJ Perfecto. We also bring you a list of local house music albums to expect in 2015 as well as a guide on how to market yourself as a musician.

We’d like to get feedback from you regarding what you think about the magazine so feel free to interact with us on any of our social media platforms. I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to The Set Magazine team for putting so much effort into this issue. I hope that you as the reader will enjoy the fruits of their labour. Until next time...

Editor Molebogeng Mangoale Managing Director Marvin Straight Creative Director Augustine Simetsi Web editor & Layout artist Thabang Letageng Graphic Designer Phindile Kganyago Copy editor Puseletso Ramontsha Make-up artist Koketso KC Kekana Fashion stylist Palesa Magoro Social Media Manager Vincent Tsediso Ramatsebe

Yours In House Music,

Molebogeng

*We’d like to send a special shout-out to Mr Julius Kyakuwa, a lecturer from the music department at the University of Pretoria for providing us with a studio space and the necessary musical instruments for our cover shoot!”

Editor’s Playlist Mobi Dixon ft M.Que- City Rains Chymamusique- No Prison Zano ft Thiwe- Oceans Apart Oral Deep- Everest Dario D’Attis ft Lisa Shaw- All Over (Rocco Deep Mix) 2 | DESIGN MGZ 6

THE TEAM

Contributors Jeanette Ramolula Oreneile Tshetlo Phindile Kganyago DJ Simtronic Vincent Tsediso Rmatsebe Photographers Praise Magidi Anele Mkungela

CONTENT

05 OUT & ABOUT

SPOTLIGHT:

08 WHAT’S NEW? WHAT’S HOT?

Go Deep or Go Home with Chymamusique

09 COVER FEATURE Black Motion: The Sons of Culture. The Sons of House Music 16 POSTER 18 LADIES OF HOUSE *Top 5 Female House Music Vocalists in SA *Meet Move-Shaker DJ Thabi Thabs 20 UP &COMING *DJ Perfecto: From Humble Beginnings to Hypnotic House Music *Q &A with DJ Mlungu 23 GET IN THE SET How To Market Yourself As A Musician 24 FEATURES

15

*Five Inspiring and Uplifting House Songs *SA House Albums To Expect In 2015 26 REVIEWS & MUSIC 28 FASHION Autumn In Fashion

Cover design: Phindile Kganyago Make up : Koketso KC Kekakana Photographers: Praise Magidi

Anele Mkungela

30 SIMTRONICS’S CORNER Software, Hardware and Gear Reviews 32 LEGEND DJ Christos DESIGN MGZ 6 | 3

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Out & About

What Went Down: Raise The Roof Event

By Tsediso Vincent Ramatsebe As many South Africans enjoyed their Sunday like any other on 26 April, music fans gathered at Truth in Midrand to experience what was going to be a sonic affair of music and entertainment. ‘Raise the Roof’ brought together South African music fans alike and it boasted four massive stages hosted by arguably the biggest music labels in the country, mainly; Soul Candi Live & Soulistic Music (main stage), House Afrika, Cashtime Life, Afrotainment and Avant Garde Vintage .

Like every other big event, there was a delay that lasted about an hour which resulted in artists such as Cuebur being cut out of the line-up. But no complaints reached the organisers, as normal party goers arrived two hours after the planned time of the start of the event.

hip hop stage but for some, it was a difficult choice to make as to which of the stages was perfect to spend the night at.

Artists on the line-up included Afrotainment boss Dj Tira, Soulistic Music head honcho Black Coffee, House Afrika veteransVinni Da Vinci, DJ Christos and Ralf Gum and SAMA award winner K.O amongst others.

The marvellous first lady of hip hop, MS Cosmo, was also in attendance.

Everything ran smoothly and as far as we know, no violent activities occurred at the event. Alcohol and beverages were also reasonably priced, security was perfect and of course, the party environment was amazing.

Raise the Roof will be an annual event from henceforth so look out for it next year!

Images: Sihle Oliphant

Both House Heads and HipHop Heads were spoiled for a choice between either one of the house music stages or the

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Out & About

House Heads Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Campus House Invasion

By Jeanette Ramolula As the rest of the world was spending time with their loved ones on Valentine’s day, house music lovers gathered at the National Botanical Garden in Pretoria where one of the biggest house music concerts, Campus House Tour, was taking place.

The event was kick-started by DJ Skeelo who welcomed people as they walked in with his music. He was then followed by a young lady by the name of Holly who got everybody on their feet with her dancing. 19 year old Holly stated that she started singing at the age of 13 and she has since fell in love with house music.

Crazy White Boy were also among the headliners for the night and they played one of their classic songs ‘Love you better’ that had the crowd dance and sing along, resonating well with the special day for lovers.

Crazy White Boy was then followed by one of the legends of house/kwaito music Oskido. Oskido, founder of Kalawa Jazmee, has played a very instrumental role in the careers of numerous artists such as Bongo Maffin, Mafikizolo, Black Motion and Uhuru just to mention a few. Oskido is currently working with the first ever South African X factor winners, Four, and when asked when going to release he uttered one word with a smile, “soon”.

DJ Shimza was followed by the ‘god of house’ as one student referred to him, Black Coffee. Upon his arrival, there was a loud response from the crowd and a sense of relief after they had waited long in anticipation for his performance. Even though he did not play for long, the crowd was satisfied with the bit they got. One lady who had missed the Campus House Tour in Durban and had subsequently traveled all the way to Pretoria, described Black Coffee as a pure genius that has outdone South Africa in terms of his music.

As the saying goes, all good things come to an end.

House music is one of the biggest music genres in South Africa and we are truly grateful for it. What better way is there to spend Valentine’s Day than a sonic night of house music with the likes of Shimza and Black Coffee? This was definitely a day well spent for all the house music lovers.

When DJ Shimza got on stage, a new atmosphere in the crowd was felt. This was an appreciative mood of his music as he also played one of the biggest hit songs in December, Koze Kuse by DJ Merlon.

Images: Sihle Oliphant

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Out & About

Tuk sR AG Af te r p ar t y Images: Praise Magidi

On the 31st of January we headed to the RAG farm at the University of Pretoria for the TuksRAG afterparty. The event kick started at 12pm and the line-up included DJ Fresh, Euphonik, TheJosh DJ and others.

Despite the low-attendance as compared to previous years, the vibe was okay and the sets of the DJswere quite spectacular as well. The Josh DJ sure knows how to turn a party upside down. He kept music lovers up on their feet with his house, kwaito and hip hop mix.

When we caught up with DJ Fresh backstage, he revealed that Club Culture will be making its way back on our television screens soon and after that, we can expect an F.eu project. Euphonik also revealed that he is currently in studio working with DJ Kent on another Kentphonik album.

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What’s New? What’s Hot?

In our latest House music news, it seems like all of our favourite artists are out there grinding and hustling to make 2015 the best it can be for their careers. In this feature, we provide you a low-down on all the latest entertainment news in the world of house and dance music.

Is He South Africa’s or the World’s Youngest DJ? If you haven’t heard about DJ Arch Junior well, then you better know that he could be South Africa’s next deejay sensation!

Arch Junior is only two years old but already he’s received a bursary to study the Soul Candi 101 course at Boston Media House. Trust us, by the age of eight we bet this kid will already be producing music! DJ Arch Junior is entertaining and he’s a pleasure to watch. For a two year old, his rhythm is just remarkable and his skills on the 1s and 2s are absolutely impressive. If you’d like to catch a glimpse of him in action, watch his videos on YouTube.

Da Capo and Chymamusique Shine Bright Congratulations to two of Limpopo’s finest DJs Chymamusique and Da Capo for being nominated for the F.A.M.E (Film, Arts, Music & Entertainment) Awards. The F.A.M.E Awards are the first annual entertainment awards in Limpopo that aim to honour artists from the province. The two have been nominated for the Best Male and Best Dance Artists categories. In addition to this, Chymamusique won a Metro Fm Award for Best Newcomer this year and Da Capo was also nominated for the Best Dance category in the SAMAs 2015, although Black Motion won the award. The F.A.M.E Awards will take place on 9 May at the University of Limpopo’s Multi Purpose Centre.

DJ Sbu Expands His Entrepreneurial Ventures Big things are also happening for DJ Sbu but we are not surprised because the 37 year old is a hustler of note for sure! Not only has he been promoting his new locally produced energy drink MoFaya over the past couple of months but DJ Sbu is venturing into other entrepreneurial opportunities that will see him introduce a local bread called Nzo and toilet papers called Ntonfontofo soon. Rumours are that he is also busy with an entrepreneurship televison show. Sbu also recently released his album called Mo Faya. We like the Tembisa born DJ for his entrepreneurial flair and we hope many young people out there will be inspired by his ambition to succeed and also his commitment to changing the lives of others.

TV Show 1s and 2s About To Make A Comeback SABC 1’s talent deejay search competition is about to make a comeback on our TV screens soon with auditions gaving been held in April. DJ Mshega won the competition last year. The show is once again set to discover young deejays that not only show talent and skills on the turntables but also on production as well.

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Cover Story

“WE DO MUSIC LIKE WE LIVE. WE WANT OUR MUSIC TO PROJECT LIFE”

- BLACK MOTION Image: Anele Mkungela DESIGN MGZ 6 | 9

Cover Story

Black Motion: The Sons of Culture.

The Sons of House Music

Rob ‘DJ Murdah’Mahosana & Thabo ‘Smol’Mabogwane of Black Motion.

Following the success of their debut album Talking to the Drums in 2011, Black Motion has raised its own standards with their recent gold-selling and SAMA Award winning album titled Fortune Teller. Their execution of the use of African instruments to create an enchanting tribal sound is synonymous to their custom sound and is what has always set them apart. Although they have only been in the industry for five years, Black Motion has given us so much music that it would be appropriate to call them legends-in-the-making, writes Molebogeng Mangoale.

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Cover Story

For any house music fan, they would agree that Black Motion is one of the biggest house music acts in the country and hence, I wasn’t surprised when excitement ran high in my team with the anticipated one-on-one interview with the impeccable talent and respected house music duo that is Black Motion.

There’s absolutely no doubt that these guys are good at what they do. From the time they broke into the music industry with their timeless smash hit ‘Banane Mavoko’ in 2010, Black Motion has remained a formidable force in the house music fraternity to be reckoned with. When they tell the story of how they hustled to get their breakthrough song ‘Banane Mavoko’ out there, it is motivating to see where hard-work and determination has taken these two young men. Not only have they had a flourishing musical journey so far but they have become savvy businessmen as well, investing into the property industry.Over the years they have brought us many memorable songs and just a couple of months ago, they went gold in 49 days with their latest album Fortune Teller which includes amongst other hits tracks such as ‘Rainbow’ and ‘Thamokuro’.

Robert ‘DJ Murdah’ Mahosana and Thabo ‘Smol’ Mabogwane joined forces in 2010 to form Black Motion. Born and bred in Soshanguve – Pretoria, the two young men had separately been producing music before they met and when they got together, their partnership took them to greater heights. Their sound, which has elements of jazz, tribal and African musical rhythm, is what distinguishes them. Most importantly though, their sound is indicative of their deep-rooted love for African culture.

We meet them on a hot summer Wednesday at the University of Pretoria’s main campus. Despite their local and international popularity, we are amazed by how the two gentlemen do not display any indication of super stardom demeanor.Throughout our conversation with them, their humility and humour does not go unnoticed and this of course, makes everyone in The Set Magazine team feel at ease with them.

We go from talking about the overall level of the South African music industry, the art of producing music, fame and more. One topic however that keeps recurring in our conversation is the word ‘culture’. The two gentlemen express their concern about the overall diminishing role of culture among our young people in the modern times we live in. Smol is quick to point out how it’s not so common nowadays to see young people engaging in cultural activities or even showing pride in their cultural backgrounds. Black Motion boldly states that it is about bringing the culture back, it is about creating awareness that our African cultures make us different from the rest of the world and that is something to be proud of.

We sat down with them to get to know them better and here is what they had to say... Continued on the next page

IMAGES : Praise Magidi

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Cover Story

IMAGE: Anele Mkungela

YOUR LATEST ALBUM FORTUNE TELLER WENT GOLD IN 49 DAYS. THAT IS SUCH A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT. HOW DID THIS MAKE YOU GUYS FEEL? When we do our music, we don’t do it because we want to sell.

We do music because we want to project what we feel. Going gold was a surprise, we are still celebrating even now. If the album went gold in 49 days, that means platinum is just near!

WHEN YOU GUYS CAME INTO THE INDUSTRY IN 2010, YOUR SOUND WAS VERY DIFFERENT TO WHAT WE WERE USED TO WITH THE INFUSION OF THE USE OF AFRICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT SOUND THROUGHOUT THE YEARS? It’s all in a matter of doing what you want to do. When we produce, we just do us. Our sound has remained the same since 2010 but through travelling, we take a whole lot of ideas from the continent and everywhere where we go. It’s a matter of adding something into our signature. We add jazz and African rhythm however, the signature of Black Motion is always there. It’s all a matter of not following a trend but setting one.

THE ENERGY THAT YOU GUYS DISPLAY ON STAGE IS AMAZING! WHERE DOES IT ALL COME FROM?!

It’s our music. When we are on stage, we enjoy what we do and hence people also enjoy what we do. We challenge ourselves that whatever that happens on stage, whatever that happens …let’s just ride with the flow.

YOU HAVE WORKED WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC INDUSTRY INCLUDING AMONGST OTHERS THE LEGENDARY BLACK COFFEE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH IN THE FUTURE? We’ve decided not to just work anybody now but also [work] with our forgotten living legends, especially jazz musicians.

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IMAGE : Praise Magidi

YOU HAVE PLAYED AT THE MIAMI WINTER MUSIC CONFERENCE NOT TO MENTION THAT YOU’VE ALSO BEEN PLAYING QUITE A LOT IN THE AFRICAN CONTINENT AS WELL. WHY DO YOU THINK THE WORLD HAS ITS ATTENTION ON SOUTH AFRICA RIGHT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSE MUSIC? South Africa has played a huge role in terms of contributing to house music in the world. The likes of DJ Fresh have contributed to what house music is today. Producers overseas are getting tracks from this side so now eyes are on South Africa when it comes to music. That is why even in the Miami Music Conference, the South African party is the biggest.

HOW IS THE HOUSE MUSIC SCENE INTERNATIONALLY AS COMPARED TO HERE BACK HOME? [Internationally] clubs are clubs for music. It’s not a fashion show, it’s not about how much one can spend in the club or who spends how much. It is a culture of music and dancing whereas in South Africa when you go clubbing it’s all about who’s wearing what, what car one is driving, what’s the latest thing etc.

Overseas there is no ‘song of the moment’. Every song is a classic every day. They go to the club to dance, to listen to the music… that is why the culture is so alive there.

YOU GUYS HAVE ALSO PLAYED A LOT IN AFRICA. WHICH COUNTRY WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR FAVOURITE TO PERFORM AT EXCLUDING SOUTH AFRICA OF COURSE? Mozambique in Maputo. The vibe there is amazing!

Cover Story SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLW ARE IN THE PUBLIC EYE, THEY TEND TO LOSE WHO THEY ARE AND FAME CONSUMES THEM. HOW DO YOU GUYS MAINTAIN TO BE HUMBLE DESPITE YOUR POPULARITY? We don’t need to maintain [the fame]. You just need to be who you are.

SO WHAT ARE THE GREATEST LESSONS THAT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY OR FAME HAS TAUGHT YOU? Never make friends! There are also a lot of pretenders as well, a person will want you just because of your name.

It’s all about knowing your hustle, it’s all about not being fake.

At the end of the day, we didn’t do this for fame. It’s not about power or money, it’s about respect. If you have respect, you have everything.

OSKIDO HAS PLAYED A VERY INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN SHAPING WHERE BLACK MOTION IS TODAY. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM HIM AS A MENTOR? We learned that clothes [material things] won’t get you a future.

When you hang around Oskido, it’s like you are hanging around a university. You get to learn a whole lot of things from him. You get to see his actions. Behind his name, there is a whole lot. He’s shaped us in a way of knowing what to do and having a plan. It’s not about the fame, it’s not about the money, it is about sustaining.

BLACK MOTION IS ALSO UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE MOST ADMIRED AND RESPECTED HOUSE MUSIC ACTS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC INDUSTRY. HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL TO KNOW THAT SOSHANGUVE, PRETORIA AND THE REST OF SOUTH AFRICA HAS YOUR BACK? WHAT’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR FANS? We don’t believe in having fans, we want to have friends. When you have friends all over, you know you are safe. You don’t have to worry about people turning their back on you. It’s all about treating the people with respect and they will treat you back with respect as well.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU IN TERMS OF CREATING MUSIC? Life. We do music like we live, we want our music to project ‘LIFE’.

We wake up and we do music, it’s part of our life.

HOW WAS THE VIBE WHEN YOU GUYS MADE THE TRACK ‘RAINBOW’?

Rainbow is the last track we did in our shack [studio].Rainbow is a track that has drums. It is our signature but then again it is musical!

We wanted to do a classic song. We presented the song at the Redbull Academy two years back. When we make music, we don’t make it for it to be the song of the moment. When you plan on a song being a hit, you plan for it to be a song of the moment.

In our own right [Rainbow] is our classic, it is our music and to our luck, people loved it.

WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO BESIDES HOUSE MUSIC? We listen to a whole lot of Jazz, tribal, neo-soul, African music, African Jazz etc.

Those genres shape our sound a lot. Those artists don’t make music because they have the instruments, they make music because they want you to understand the level at which they are at when they make their music. Philip Tabane didn’t go to school but he’s a doctor because he discovered a sound. The depth of his music is what made him to be a doctor today. He does music and you get lost.

That’s what inspires us. We don’t make music because we have the musical instruments. Music is a journey for us, we want you to travel with us...

WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE HOUSE MUSIC ARTISTS IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW? EmoBoys, Dvine Brothers and Culoe De Song.

AND WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? [Laughs] We chill and live! We watch things like National Geographic. The life that the animals live show that in a jungle, you have to survive. So when you wake up, you have to hustle! We

IMAGES : Praise Magidi

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Cover Story put ourselves in that situation as if we are in a jungle. It’s a lot of things that inspire us so even when we are just chilling, we just study life.

WOULD YOU CONSIDER GOING TO SCHOOL TO EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MUSIC? Ja, if the time is there. We didn’t make it in school, but we definitely know the dynamics of the business side of music.

When you get into music, eventually you will have to work with accountants and all that and that expands your knowledge. It’s about learning. There are different ways in which people can be involved in music. Know your stuff about the business side of music. One needs to know about the logistics behind the music.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO UP-AND-COMING ARTISTS? A whole lot of catz rely on connections too much. We believe in hard-work. If you got it, you got it. If you have passion for music, you have it.

LASTLY, WHAT DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS DOES BLACK MOTION HAVE (AS WE ARE LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE)?

We were told that when you are successful, that’s when you have made somebody else successful. It would be nice for us to know that we have started something for a person and they have a future in it. Our dream is to make South Africa stand out in terms of music.

IMAGES : Praise Magidi

Additional reporting by Anele Mkungela.

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Illustration: Boitumelo Mmmela

GoDeep or Go Home With C h y m a m u s i q u e Written by Molebogeng Mangoale He is the rising star of house music and a talented deep house producer of note. Collen Mmotla aka Chymamusique who hails from Burgersfort between Mpumalanga and Limpopo, recently won a Metro FM Award for ‘Best New Artist’.

An Analytical Chemistry graduate from the Tshwane University of Technology and a Media Studies graduate as well from Boston City Campus, Chyma is indeed a man of many talents.

Last year he made it to the finals of 1s and 2s, an SABC deejay search talent show.

Although his parents wanted him to be a mining engineer, music has always been a part of Chymamusique’s life with him playing piano, drums and base guitar in church when he was growing up. He says that he started learning how to produce music in 2005, producing anything from gospel to RnB. It was in 2006 when he moved to Joburg that he started producing house music. He says although he didn’t study production, he knows the basics of sound engineering.

His debut album ‘Gift of Sound’ which was released in 2014, is a great work of art and a true reflection of his exquisite taste when it comes to deep house. Chymamusique’s music production skills have gained him a very respected role from fans and fellow artists alike within the house music fraternity.

The Set Magazine caught up with him to find out more about him and here is what he had to say:

Spotlight

You have your own record label. Does this mean you are an independent artist?

Yes, I am very independent. I can do anything I want to do whenever I want to. I don’t sign anyone under the record label, I don’t want to bind anyone. I opened the label to push other guys because I know there are many talented people that just put their music away on Data File Host. I also try to make sure that my guys’ music gets to those big labels that I work with.

Who do you work with under your label?

I’m working with Brazo wa Afrika, Dvine Brothers. Tecknique etc.

Do you encounter any challenges as a businessman?

On the music side of things it has to be piracy- when people take our music and give it out for free.

A number of artists have been going along the route of establishing their own record labels. As a record label owner yourself do you think this is a move in the right direction for our artists?

It’s not a good thing. It takes many things for one to have a record label for instance a studio, equipment, an office etc. There are also laws binding record labels such as the company registrations.

You made it into the finals of 1s and 2s on SABC1. Why did you decide to enter the competition and what experience do you take away from the show?

I’m someone that likes exploring. I entered the show so I can see what is happening and also to get to know people that are in the industry. Now I have an idea of how things work [in television production].

Who do you look up to in the industry?

Hmmm...I look up to no one. As I said, I grew up in church and taught myself how to play music and produce, I’m self taught. Hence sometimes one makes mistakes but mistakes are just part of life. So I think I just look up to myself.

With so many house music DJs and producers out there, how do you stay different with your music?

My sound is Jazz influenced so every song of mine has to have keys, a bassline and also a string to keep the mood flowing.

Why did you choose house music? You played piano in church...you could have been a gospel artist or that guy that plays piano in church...

[Laughs] Because I can’t sing! It was also because of my age group and my surrounding that I chose house music.

What is it that your fans don’t know about you?

I listen to every kind of music and I also don’t criticise other people’s music.

Besides music, what are your dreams and aspirations as an individual?

I would like to give back one day and do some charity work. I’d also like to start a family and start having babies [Laughs].

Who do you wish to work with in the industry someday?

Internationally, it has to be Louie Vega and in South Africa, Zamajobe and Simphiwe Dana. I would also like to work with Afrotraction as well.

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Poster

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Ladies of House

Top 5 Female House Music Vocalists In SA If you want fresh, raw talent, you will find it in South Africa with women leading the race. These talented female vocalists have changed the house scene immensely. We have compiled a list of the top five female house music vocalists in South Africa and in no particular order, here they are - By JEANETTE RAMOLULA

Thiwe Known to others as the first lady of Soulistic Music, Thiwe Mbola is a talented vocalist who’s worked with artists such as Black Coffee, DJ Ganyani and Sai & Ribatone amongst others. She released her first debut album in 2007 under 999 Music and her big break came when Black Coffee remixed one of her songs ‘Crazy,’ which led to several other remixes from renowned local and international house music producers such as Charles Webster and Quintin Harris. Her powerful voice and nostalgic music makes her one of our top five female vocalists in the country.

Busiswa aka Kalawa Chikita ( Busiswa Gqulo) From DJ Zinhle’s ‘My name is’, Busiswa also known as the Kalawa Chikita, has established herself by making music that keeps everyone sweating on the dance floor such as ‘Ngoku’ and ‘Lahla’. Busiswa started her music career back in 2004 when she used to perform her poetry at corporate events, campus talent shows, festivals, and small poetry sessions and also hosted her own monthly poetry events at the Bat Centre in Durban. It is then that she met one of the DJs from UHURU and was later signed to Kalawa Jazzmee Records.

What makes her one of the top female vocalists is that she is an enthusiastic performer and she has changed the dance music scene since her discovery. She was included in the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South African and nominated in the Channel O Africa Music Video Award.

Bucie (Busisiwe Nqwiliwo) Bucie’s career peaked in 2007 when she col-

track ‘Set Me Free’ on which she was featured by Black Motion. Xoli M has worked with other renowned artists such as DJ Qness, Mckenzie and international producers such as DJ Sylivi and DJ Malvado.

‘Rainbow’, the recent single on which she was featured on with Black Motion was nominated as Song of the Year in the 14th Metro FM Awards 2015.

laborated with Black Coffee in the hit single ‘Turn Me On’ which gained international popularity. This served only as the beginning for the ‘princess of house’. Like most artists, Bucie started singing at school and church with friends. She now stands as the co-owner of Demor Music. Bucie together with Black Coffee later released another hit song ‘Superman’ which earned them duo nominations at the American Music Awards, Metro FM Awards and also at the 2011 Winter Music Conference Awards in Miami to mention a few.

Bucie recently won a SAMA award for Best Female Artist and her single ‘Easy to Love’ which was a major hit, peaked at number 9 on South Africa’s official music chart. Her beautiful and angelic voice has made her recognised both locally and internationally.

Xoli M Xoli M is not only a singer but also a song writer. Her rise to fame began with the hit

Thandi Draai She used music as her escape to reality little did she know she will one day be recognised for it. Thandi Draai started off her music career as a little girl. Apart from working with some big names sin the industry such as Da Capo, Culoe De Song and DJ Shimza, Thandi Draai has established herself as a talented and hardworking vocalist and a rising DJ and producer. Her work has also been remixed by renowned DJs such as Atjazz, DJ Shimza, Andyboi and many more.

What makes her one of the top female vocalist is the fact that she does not limit herself to one genre of music. She is always willing to try new things and grow herself as an artist. There’s no denying that this young woman is one of the most formidable female vocalists in the house music industry.

Even though house music is a male dominated industry, women have managed to make a way by changing the house music scene with their voices and skills. The above mentioned women, in no particular order have really reached down to elements that define house music by using their talents and this is what makes them our top 5 female house music vocalists.

Pictured: Thandi Draai IMAGE: Twitter.com

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Meet Move and Shaker DJ Thabi Thabs DJ Thabi Thabs is a young, ambitious woman from Tembisa who has been taking radio waves by storm with her Friday mixes at Gauteng’s no 1 youth radio station Y FM. She’s one of the rising female deejays in the house music scene and The Set Magazine caught up with her to find out more about this go-getter.

from the station.

- By Phindile Kganyago

YOU ARE A YOUNG STAR FULL OF PASSION AND LOVE FOR HOUSE MUSIC. WHAT MAKES YOU TICK? Seeing a young lady throw away their future makes me tick more than anything else on earth.

DO YOU FIND THAT THE HOUSE MUSIC INDUSTRY, INCLUDING FANS AS WELL, IS OPEN TO FEMALE TALENT? Yeah times have changed now, they are now open. I have faith that in time they will realize that we can be as good as men, if not better.

ARE THERE ANY CHALLENGES OF BEING A FEMALE HOUSE MUSIC DEEJAY? I personally believe your greatest challenge as a female DJ is having the ability to be compared to men yet still come out the best. You should not get into the industry to compete with other women, although that is what most female DJs do. One needs to have the ability to stand out from all the men who still believe that women belong in the kitchen.

YOU EMERGED AS THE WINNER OF ‘MO FLAVA’S FEMALE DJ SEARCH’, HOW HAS THAT EXPERIENCE CHANGED YOUR LIFE? Wow! That competition changed my life so much. I started gaining recognition from it,

Ladies of House

got myself a slot on YFM’s YTKO and I feel it helped me strengthen my self-esteem and have confidence in what I do. Above all it helped me build a brand.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HOUSE MUSIC IN SA? ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10, HOW WOULD YOU RATE IT? On a scale of 1-10 I would rate it at 7. I still feel we have great talent but we only focus on pushing our music nationally instead of internationally. There is more talent out there but it’s not given the platform, people only want to help people they know, being scared to take risks.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH YFM. ARE THERE ANY FUTURE PLANS BETWEEN YOU AND THE YOUTH RADIO STATION? I’m a Friday YTKO DJ. I do believe I’ve done and am still doing a great job and hope the radio station keeps me as I’m hoping to gain as much exposure and growth

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS FOR 2015 AND BEYOND WITH REGARDS TO YOUR

DJING CAREER? I want to release singles with people I believe make the greatest music. I want to work on growing my brand inside and outside SA. I would love to make a difference in the lives of women who are burdened by life. I want to motivate and inspire them. I wish to get slots in all the big events held in SA and get an international gig and more. Most importantly I want to build and strengthen my brand.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO PEOPLE, INCLUDING WOMEN, WHO WANT TO GET INTO THE HOUSE MUSIC INDUSTRY? The industry is not for the faint hearted. If you don’t have passion and patience and believe short cuts will get you there, your downfall is bound to be as quick as your way to it all. The industry has no gender preference [and] what you think you can do is what you are most likely to achieve.

Set yourself free from boundaries and be a person who lives in possibilities. Life is what you make of it. Stand up and claim what is yours.

Image:Facebook.com/djthabithabs

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Up & Coming

Q & A With DJ Mlungu Who inspires your music career and also generally in life?

Many people. I take something from everyone.

Everyone whom I’m close to gives me some sort of inspiration to go further. I love being around empowering people and people who are doing great things for themselves especially entrepreneurs. It gives you strength knowing there are people out there making it, so you can [make it] as well.

How has the show 1’s and 2’s had an impact on your music career?

1’s and 2’s was a great experience. It has impacted positively on all fronts, it exposed my brand to more of South Africans. The show received an average of 3 million views a week according to TVSA reports [so] people always come up to me and congratulate me for the work I’ve done on the show and there’s a lot of interest in the brand from a consumer point of view.

By Phindile Kganyago & Molebogeng Mangoale How did the name DJ Mlungu come about?

Back in the day a few years ago I used to use my Christian name Ivor Cleary as my dj name. [At] that time social media was starting to boom in our country and people were battling to find me and to say my name. So they were like “no man, you’re not DJ Ivory what what, you’re DJ Mlungu”.

I also toured for many years as DJ Cleo’s tour dj and he also used to introduce me on stage as DJ Mlungu, I liked the name and it stuck.

Where were you born and raised?

Mbombela, Mpumalanga.

How and when did you develop the love/ passion for house music?

In 2002 when I moved to Johannesburg. Back home I was only really exposed to “rave” you could say, and when I started attending school in Johannesburg kids out here were listening to “house” and I fell in love with the groove of house and the sound of it.

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You’ve worked with DJ Cleo and DJ Clock previously, what next can we expect from you?

I’m currently working on my single which features artists like Charlene Lai , Trademark & Zinhle Ngidi. [There’s also]more good music to be released under 1ST JHB MUSIC in 2015.

Who do you wish to work with in the industry in the future?

Thembi Seete and Bucie are my two ultimate goals.

What are your goals and future plans in 2015 and onwards?

My goals for 2015 are [producing] a lot of good quality releases musically, growing the brand as much as possible and also touring South Africa more.

Fun questions...

If I had a time travel machine I would go to....

Back to 2010/2011. Loved those years.

If I wasn’t a DJ I would be...

A pilot… I love travelling.

The most stupid thing I’ve ever done is....

There’s many things *hides* The one talent I’ll never openly admit to having is.....

Driving, eating and talking on the phone as the same time.

What would say are the challenges that come with being a DJ? Trying to stand out from the rest of your peers.

The first thing that came to my mind when I woke up this morning is....

What’s for breakfast ... I love food.

How do you react to a negative crowd?

I don’t believe in such, people came out to dance, so if they are not dancing obviously the music is not right, give the people what they want.

If I could be invisible for 24 hours I would....

Go see what certain people get up to...

How did you cope with your career as a DJ and also studying?

That’s a tough question… What many people don’t know is while 1’s and 2’s was being filmed I was doing my final year in varsity so I was juggling between the TV show, gigs and studying at the same time. Sitting back and wondering to myself how I did it all still amazes me, but I guess when you want something so bad and are so passionate about it you just find time and make things work.

The worst thing somebody has walked on me doing is...

I don’t usually get caught when I’m up to mischief :) My favourite superhero is...

Wolverine

Get in The Set

How To Market Yourself As A Musician Social media seems to be the obvious tool to use when marketing yourself as a musician. However, many of those who have gone far in the industry understand that the use of social media alone is nowhere near enough to keep you ahead of the competition. There are other ways of unconventionally creating awareness about your brand without running your internet usage through the roof. Adequately marketing yourself may be daunting for those who don’t have the know-how.Getting started may be overwhelming and confusing, which is why we at The Set Magazine will help you make some sense of it, writes Oreneile Tshetlo.

1. Look The Part First impressions are lasting impressions. Understand your target audience and make sure that your look is appealing to them.

Remember that you are a brand – stand out, be unique. Make a good impression and dress for success. And yes, that includes “dressing” your product. Invest in good photography and graphic designing. Make it a point that your album art and posters are on point.

2. Feel The Music Apart from working hard to promote yourself, you need to play hard. While performing stay focused and keep your head in the game. You need to love and feel the music. If you play with passion you will give your audience a musical experience which they will remember. In time they will be back for more with their chinas and their chinas’chinas so that they too can share this experience. In this way word of mouth works in your favour, proving once more that good news does travel fast.

3. Focus On Sound Your music speaks volumes. If your listeners like what they hear they will make it a point that they follow your work. Others will even go out of their way to find you if they hear you playing for the first time and fall in love. In order to create the best sound that you can possibly produce you will need to invest in good DJ software applications.You also need to invest your time in creating something memorable. Refine your sound. In the end, your investment will yield great returns.

4. Wake Up – Smell The Coffee Get up and get your hustle on. Try to never turn down a gig, even if it is a small event. The important thing is getting your name out there. You need to work tirelessly in spreading the word and making sure that people know who you are. Although not everyone can afford a marketing team initially, it is advisable that you get a few people to help you get your name on people’s lips. Never take for granted the power of word of mouth.

5. Taste Success We’ve all heard the expression “You are what you eat” but in this industry, you are who you meet. Make it a point to stay connected to the relevant people – to a large extent, your success depends on this. Get to know your fellow musicians and support them. They will support you as well and if you form a close enough alliance,their fans will end up being your fans (free marketing for you). Lastly, be careful not to burn the bridges that you crossed on your road to success.

We’d like to give a special shout-out to DJ Big Vic (@BigVic_DJ) for helping contribute to some of the ideas in this article!

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Features

FIVE INSPIRING AND UPLIFTING HOUSE SONGS Music holds the power to inspire us. We find the comfort in it from different musical genres and thensame goes for House music. More than just the upbeat and soulful sounds, the drums and the vocals, the power of House music lies in the way it makes one feel. House music possesses the power to heal us, the power to inspire us and also to make us realise that nothing is impossible in this world. We have compiled a list of our top five favourite South African House songs that inspire us and we hope they’ll do the same for you.

BLACK COFFEE FT VUYO- “DON’T YOU GIVE UP”

LELUJAH ANYWAY”

This has to be one of the most underrated and less known

This house rendition of Candi Staton’s“Hallelujah Anyway” is one

house songs however, its message is beautiful beyond

of the most well-known and inspiring house songs. This song

words. It was after we watched Black Coffee’s Africa Rising

evokes emotion even to the most non-religious person. It is the

DVD that we came across the song and this has to be one of

perfect emulation of what gospel and house music can do when

the best motivational house jams ever created. It is a soul-

combined. The lyrics will lift one’s spirit in any given circum-

ful jam filled with a message of optimism. Vuyo’s powerful

stance.

voice also adds an emotional element to it. His exquisite voice adds an essence of hope in this song.

DJ SBU FT NAAK MUSIQ-“QINA” When a great DJ meets a talented vocalist, there’s no room for

CULOE DE SONG- “THE BRIGHT FOREST”

disappointment.That’s exactly how we feel about this song, given

Sometimes a song doesn’t have to have powerful lyrics or a

its uplifting lyrics executed beautifully in the Xhosa language.

talented vocalist in order for it to take you to cloud nine. As

It is all about encouraging one not to give up in life even in the

we said, the power of house music lies in the way it makes

face of adversities.

one feel and this track is guaranteed to have you in a hypnotic trance. The beautiful thing about “The Bright Forest”

DJ QNESS FT OLUHLE- “FUGAMA UNAMATHE”

is that it takes you into a world you can’t describe, a world

This song was a major hit in its prime. Its popularity resonated

where you and Culoe’s deep, cinematic and tribal sounds

well across nightclubs to the dusty streets of townships where

coexist peacefully together. Its hypnotic elements are just

house music is embraced as a way of life .The lyrics are well

too magical to narrate. Although the man himself notably

blended in the Shona, Zulu and Xhosa languages and the song

has numerous hits and is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s

is all about encouraging one to kneel down and pray in times of

most gifted producers, this has to be one of his best offer-

difficulty.

ings. You know a song is too good when you can’t even describe how it makes you feel.

CANDI STANTON (EUPHONIK & CHRIS SEN REMIX) -“HAL24 | DESIGN MGZ 6

Features

SA House Albums To Expect In 2015 Given that last year was such a successful year when it comes to house music, it seems like 2015 will be even better. Below is a list of artists whose albums you can expect to drop this year:

album.

Bekzin Terries Voslooorus born DJ and producer Bekzin Terris will be releasing his debut album this year. A talented deep house producer of note, Bekzin Terris sure is one of the country’s rising musical stars in house music. He has worked with the likes of Euphonik, Kent and others. It is only a matter of time we find out what he’ll be offering

Black Coffee This undoubtedly has to be the most anticipated house music album of 2015 with the music maestro having last released an album in 2012. This will be Black Coffee’s fifth studio album. His previous album Africa Rising became a huge success, reaching double platinum status and winning Best Dance Album at the 2013 South African Music Awards. ‘I Will Find You’ on which he features Cara Frew, is one of the jams which will feature on the upcoming album.

The sound is deep with a soulful touch and it has received much appraisal from fans as well as fellow peers in the house music scene. Although the release date hasn’t been announced yet, we are certain that whatever it is that Black Coffee is brewing in the studio, fans sure will not be disappointed!

DJ ShimzaSoulistic Music’s DJ Shimza is also among the artists that will be releasing their albums this year. Although it is not certain as to when we can expect it to drop, he has revealed on social media that he is finally done with the

Heavy K The Drum Boss is yet again to deliver another album for all the loyal house heads out there. Heavk K was the biggest hitmaker of 2013/2014 and he continues to give us more club

Kentphonik Our favourite DJs Kent and Euphonik are back in studio to work on another collaboration album. The last time these worked together on a Kentphonik album, they gave us hits such as ‘Happiness’ and ‘Masingita’. It’s going to be interesting to see what they have in store for us this time around.

banging jams. He is one young man of immeasurable talent and everything he touches turns to gold.

Zano We are excited to mention that soulful music vocalist Zano will be releasing an album at the end of June called Colours Of My Soul. The talented vocalist released the second single from the upcoming album in early February titled ‘Oceans Apart’ on which he also features talented singer Thiwe on the vocals. There’s no denying that Zano is one of the most gifted vocalists in the country and we absolutely just can’t wait to hear what he has prepared for the masses.

music producers and it continues to do so.

Soul Candi will be releasing the Limpopo edition of the Selektor Series soon with rising star Punk Mbedzi, Chymamusique and Brazo Wa Afrika. Make sure you get your hands on this one!

Soul Candi Selektor Series (Limpopo Edition) It is no doubt that Limpopo has produced some of the best house

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REVIEW

By MOLEBOGENG MANGOALE Selected as the best South African dance album for 2014 by iTunes, In My City reaffirms that house heads truly appreciate only the best when it comes to house music.

Released in 2014 under GOGO Music, Ralf Gum does what he does best and makes you appreciate the beauty of deep, soulful house with this ten track album.

Every song is well executed. In My City is the perfect replica of what good soulful house music is. Each song on the album is accompanied with exceptional vocals from a selection of talented singers. It’s quite clear that Gum wanted only the best vocalists featured

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on this album. He features the likes of Monique Bingham, Portia Monique, Omar, Jocelyn Mathieu and legendary South African Jazz musician Bra Hugh Masekela among others. Bra Hugh Masekela is featured on two songs, ‘With her hand’ and ‘In the City’ respectively.

‘In the City’ is a timeless, afro deep song with a touch of Bra Hugh’s legendary trumpet.

After all, one can’t expect anything less with these two generations of pure musical talent merging.

‘Love Core’ is also one of our favourite songs on the album.

Omar’s amazing vocals on the song are just spectacular.

‘Free’on the other hand, coupled with beautiful vocals from the gorgeous Portia Monique,

has been an absolute hit in the local dance scene. However, the song that was on the music charts for quite some time is of course ‘The Pap’. Ralf Gum teams up once again with American songbird Monique Bingham on this one. The last time these two teamed up was in 2012 when they brought us the mega hit ‘Take Me to My Love’. Ralf Gum also features South African songbird KB on the song ‘My Angel’.

This is one of those albums that will have you not skipping a single track. Everything from the percussions to the melodies is just on point. In My City is the perfect embodiment of the best of soulful and deep house music.

The title of the album is

influenced by Ralf Gum’s decision, which he made in 2012, to make South Africa his new home. This is Gum’s third studio album, even though his music career dates back to 1990. His musical impeccability has made him one of the best and highly acclaimed deep house producers in the world.

Every song on this album is perfectionism at its best.

It’s quite clear that Ralf Gum wanted to take his time with this album and come up with a masterpiece. If you appreciate soulful deep house, then this album is for you.

Rating: 9/10

Top Ten

1. Liquideep - You, We, I (Kaytronik I Kant Stop Dub) 2. Bob’ezy Feat. Mazola - Intombi (Original Mix) 3. Heavy-K Feat. Nokwazi - Sweetie (Original Mix) 4. Sante Feat. JUDGE - Awake (Agoria Remix ) 5.Donald Feat. Bucie - Don’t Let It Burn (Original Mix) 6. Tale of Us - Distante (Original Mix) 7. Kid Fonque & D-Malice Feat. Clara Hill - All This Time (Original Mix) 8. Jonny Miller Feat. Cuebur & Sabrina Child - Painting of Life (OriginaMix) 9. Rancido Feat. Madison Groove - The Journey (Original Mix) 10. Rabs Vhafuwi - V8 (Original Mix)

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Compiled by Vincent Tsediso Ramatsebe

Fashion

Autumn in Fashion: Mus

Fashion has grown enormously over the decade. It is not jus highly misinterpreted in the past few years, it is now about ho want people to see you. Don’t let trends foo

MALE FASHION: Must-Haves For This Autumn

Male fashion has taken a huge toll in the industry, it is no longer just about the Tuxedo.

It’s about the shoes, the accessories, the hair and more. The best worn thing by a man is his cologne, added by his confidence!

Men’s fashion is more versatile now. A man can wear a pair of jeans a white tee and sneakers and still look stylish. Men’s fashion is more retro and old fashioned...the khakhis and rusty colours. They make fashion more fun in many ways but one. I compiled these clothing items because they are for modern men with a modern edge for fashion!

It’s all about the hat, torn jeans, sweat pants, shoes and jackets. So this Autumn, make sure that these items are not missing in your closet:

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“Fashion. The art to express through clothing. My love, my passion. To me , Fashion is tailored for the soul, a way to express the hidden hinders in our thoughts. Through fashion we tell a story.”

- Palesa K Magoro, The Set Magazine fashion stylist.

st-Haves For this Season

st a trend for ladies anymore. Although fashion has been ow you express yourself to the world. It is about how you ol you, fashion fades but style is forever...

FEMALE FASHION: Must-Haves For This Season A girl is at her best when she feels comfortable in her own skin. Comfort is sexy, confidence is sexier...

Jewellery is one of the most exciting parts of fashion. Jewels make a simple outfit look edgier. Gold has to be one of the best accessories one can own, it can either be a gold chain, ring or a watch.

One more exciting thing for us girls are nails. Warm colours are trendy now, those are reds, pink, violet, orange etc. They bring out one’s mood, bring out a warm feel and complememt weather conditions.

Torn jeans look best no matter what the colour. They can be worn with a nice peep toe heel or flats and very nice blazer or jacket. Add a side bag either big or small, and you’ve definitely got a killer outfit!

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Simtronic’s Corner

Simtronic’s Corner

Software

Rekordbox 3.0 (Professional DJ Music Management Software)

DESCRIPTION rekordbox™ is the best way of preparing and managing your tracks, be it at home, in the studio, or even on the plane! It allows you to import music from other music management software using the Bridge function or by simply adding them into the software for

management. rekordbox will work out the BPM and allow you to set hot cue and loop points into the track, utilizing a full beat grid view in advance, as well as color coding your music and adding all the ID3 information so it appears automatically later on any rekordbox enabled Pioneer DJ player.

Working with rekordbox also means that when tracks are exported to a USB key or SD card (CDJ-2000NXS and CDJ-2000 only), the waveforms are loaded instantly.

Review Although this may seem like a software to ‘cheat’ or have things easy its important to note that its really preparation only! you can Only set Cue Points and loops in the

software but there is no way to use them in the software, it all boils down to implementation of whatever may be prepared here. On the downside its compatible with Pioneer equipment only as it’s a software for and by pioneer so if you manage your files there, better use selected pioneer equipment for implementation so the data can be read from your USB. It also seems like the beatgridding in this Rekordox has improved, after running a bunch of tracks through it, they were spot on, as opposed to just slightly off with older versions. This software makes it possible to use the magic ‘sync’ function on newer CDJs which I personally feel could play a role in the increase in unskilled DJs, arguable though as one may feel otherwise.

Hardware

Pioneer XDJ-1000 (Performance Multi Player) Description Adopting the same advanced layout, size, and ergonomic platter as the professional series CDJ-2000NXS, the XDJ-1000 offers a wealth of DJ performance functions and adds the convenience of touch screen, utilizing a large 7-inch full-color high resolution touch panel display for access and control of multiple features. Users can quickly see and execute a variety of commands that were once only accessed through physical buttons. With the convenience of its large touch display, users are provided with faster control, more information, and the ability to toggle through different screens to make DJ performance easier. The XDJ-1000 features a large JOG wheel, PRO DJ Link, rekordbox® compatibility,

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Wi-Fi® connectivity, and more.

Review One of my favourite new toys from the Pioneer HQ. Over the last few years the DJ world has been evolving to much digital means, making it easy for the Dj to do his/her job. With the XDJ-1000 Pioneer has removed the CD slots from the player which I feel sucks big time but with the evolving scene adaptation would do one some good. USBs are much more manageable, and the new touchscreen feature on the XDJ1000 makes it even more worthwhile. You can easily browse through files unlike before and make use of the touchscreen keyboard at-

tached to the browse function for keyword search of tracks. Now that spells convenience if you ask me, so CD or no CDs I’m 100% for the XDJ1000 as its actually much more affordable as well, retailing on average R10 000 each.

Simtronic is a young, talented and upcoming DJ known for the ability to please diverse crowds through his versatile music selection and mixing skills. After winning TUKS leg of McDonald’s Top Jock Dj competition in 2012, Simtronics career began an uphill journey giving rise to countless opportunities

Chosen Gear

Orbit Concepts Jetpack Prime DJ BagPack DESCRIPTION Orbit Concepts has been trusted as one the biggest names in Dj gear and it goes without saying that their Jetpack Prime™ Dj bagpack is one of, if not the most convenient DJ bag out.

The JetPack is the ultimate all in one bag that is uniquely designed to yield unprecedented comfort, versatility, and organization. With specially designed compartments and multiple pockets, The JetPack will defy every notion of how much can be carried in a laptop backpack. It offers enough space for a laptop, audio cables, headphones and microphones, CDs, DJ Mixer, tablet and more.

REVIEW In addition to the awesome features the

Jetpack Prime comes with, my favourite which really seals the deal for this bag is the optional personal branding which you request upon your purchase and receive your bag with your Dj Logo branded on your Jetpack.

Big brand DJs such as, Afrojack, Pauly D, Avicii to name a few, have owned or may still own this specific bag so if you’re looking for the next item to add to your Dj Gear collection, this comes highly recommended and at a rather fair price at that. Averaging around R2000 per bag.

Orbit Concepts have recently released news on the Jetpack Remix Dj Bagpack which I’ll review next when its available to the local market.

LIFESTYLE Travel – Get A Travel Agent One of the most exciting things about being a DJ is the constant travelling from city to city, country to country and continent to continent. No matter how small the distance travelled is, it’s always a thrill moving around in-between gigs. However, it can get tiring and draining the longer the distances are and hence, one would advise a regular travelling DJ to have a travel agent in their team, who’ll organise all things travel, from flights to accommodation and organise a chauffer to drive you from show to show; to allow for nap time or relaxation during the trips from gig to gig and back home to avoid arriving at gigs tired and worn out before set time and also avoid car accidents on the road which may occur when one drives tired or even under the influence. A travel agent of course comes at a cost but it’s much cheaper than the risked costs should anything happen as you drive yourself in between gigs. NOTE : this isn’t a prerequisite to being a good DJ or whatsoever, just a pointer to make your job more convenient as you grow.

Pre and Post Gig Endevours Pre Gig Research on the crowd in the area of show(s) Collect all necessary music based on your research should need be Check out event hype on twitter/facebook and get set up with the mood.

Post Gig Eat Eat Eat! Check for feedback on your set on social networks. Post remarks on the show collectively, mention the promoter, sponsors and venue. Avoid negative remarks, remain positive. The fans had nothing to do with whatever took place.

5 pointers ; Behaviour and general etiquette Greet club/venue staff Be approachable Don’t refer everyone to your manager, sometimes you refer your manager to the person.

Humble yourself at all times Avoid acting a fool in public, someone looks up to you.

IMAGE

Just like any other career field, in the DJ world your image is what people take home 1st hand about you. Its therefore very important that as you make your way up the DJ game ladder you have a strong image which identifies you from the many climbing up with you. Image compromises mostly of how you dress, accessorize and your individual aura. All these are in your control so its impossible to have an image by mistake. Thorough self introspection must be done before settling with what you may feel is your image as this then defines you in the long run. If I mention Culoe De Song, one may immediately have his famous hat come to mind, that right there is the power of image.

Identify what you’re trying to portray and stick to it. However, some may have multiple styles and worry that they can’t keep to one look. That on its own becomes your image then because you’re the deemed ‘the guy with multiple styles’ don’t limit yourself in creating an image. YOU define what your image is, not the other way round.

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Legend

DJ Christos: A Man That Defines A Legend

By JEANETTE RAMOLULA Referred to as the Godfather of House in South Africa, Christos Katsaitis, commonly known as DJ Christos, is without a doubt a man that fits the word legend. He is one of the people that have played a very instrumental role in house music in South Africa and has also shared his knowledge with many.

DJ Christos has worked and developed the musical careers of a lot of South African artists. He was one of the founders of Kalawa Jazmee label as well as his very own successful independent record label -Katsaitis Music, that has released a number of hit songs and six Platinum and twelve Gold selling albums in South Africa. In this label he has released and worked with the likes of Boom Shaka, the talented late Lebo Mathosa, Daw, Shana as well as renowned house music DJ and producer Black Coffee.

DJ Christos has also produced afro-funk together with Vinny Da Vinci at the DJs at Work and has won a South African Music Award (SAMA) for Best Dance Album in 1998.

DJ Christos is also an internationally recognised artist that has worked with big recording labels such as Real Tone Records as well as GOGO Music amongst others. Katsaitis Music has become a leading DJ agency that represents the likes of Vinny Da Vinci, Monique Bingham and Lars Behrenroth amongst others. DJ Christos has also played internationally with European DJs like Ralf Gum, Frank Roger as well as Rocco. In addition to this, DJ Christos has also worked with renowned artists such as Louie Vega, Mr, V and Dennis Ferrer.

DJ Christos is one of the best DJs in South Africa and this is seen from the establishment of the South African Music Conference that has further enhanced him as a DJ. The South African Music Conference (SAMC) was inaugurated in the year 2004 by Oskido, Vinny Da Vinci, DJ Fresh, DJ Christos and Greg Maloka who all form part of the DJs Unite collective. Apart from being the largest annual house music conference on the continent, SAMC has also featured international guests like Charles Webster, Franck Roger, Abicah Soul, Manoo, Ralf Gum as well as Rocco.

Some say he was born to spin the vinyl and entertain masses.

This can be justified by the major role he has played in the deep house music scene, as well as being able to represent house music’s ability to unite people by breaking the boundaries.

DJ Christos is a man that indeed defines a legend. He is one of the most respected house music producers in South Africa and he has been credited for contributing towards the magnificent development of the foundation of a now flourishing dance music scene in South Africa. He is a man that is defined by his work and his music speaks volumes. He is a true legend, the godfather of house music indeed.

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