Back in the days, DJs were just ordinary people who spun the vinyl that people danced to. Today, they are megastars in their own right, and everybody wants a piece of them.
Back in the days, DJs were just ordinary people who spun the vinyl that people danced to. Today, they are megastars in their own right, and everybody wants a piece of them.
But do DJs really do deserve the attention they get? According to www. wordiq.com, a DJ is "A person who selects and plays pre-recorded music for the enjoyment of others". There you have it. These megastars simply play pre-recorded music! If that's the case, anyone can be famous.
But the question still remains, why are DJs so highly regarded? One of the most promising new talents in the business, Lulo Cafe, who did some gigs in Grahamstown recently, says South African DJs are more popular than those in other countries. "In the 90s, legendary DJs such as Fresh and Glen Lewis started a trend," he said.
"Here there are various types of DJs, but at the moment, club DJs receive more publicity, hype and love," Lulo Cafe said. "We appreciate the fans' loyalty towards us. "The thing about deejaying is that it is a craft and a culture. A person does not become an overnight sensation. It takes years to make your mark in the entertainment business.
"There are two main types of DJs – club and radio. At the moment, club DJs receive more publicity because of they way they deliver their music. Our job may not be important to other people, but we take it very seriously," said Lulo.
Mike Whyle, Grocott's Mail deputy online editor, believes deejaying is a unique art. "These days everyone and their grandmother is a DJ," Whyle said. "It's very empowering. DJs don't just play music. We liberate it. We perform it. We live it and we breathe it."
"Electronic music is a serious musical discipline and, much like piano, bass guitar or didgeridoo, one can happily dedicate one's entire life to it, without ever feeling a twinge of regret," he said.
One of Mzansi's longest-serving DJs, Oskido, said being a DJ was all about touching lives. "Even amateur DJs touch people's lives," Oskido said. "I interact with people through my music. It makes me very happy to get feedback.
"Being a DJ is more like a career to me. It is also a culture thing and people understand that. With the number of years that I have spent in this field, I am confident to say that I am as good as a person who has an Honours or Masters degree," he chuckled.
Local DJ Con Artist believes DJs play a huge role in students' lives. "Without djs, there would be no entertainment. If we don't do it, no one else will," he said.
Another local DJ, Fabiano, said, "If the music is not on point, people will not have a good time." To sum up, DJs are popular because they touch people's lives by spinning decks, get the party started, get people on the dance floor and create a lifetime of memories for the party animals… all the more reason to throw lots more parties, I say…
