DJ Zan-D (Zandi Ngwenya) is a radio and television personality and has a weekly Thursday mix on YFM on their YTKO feature which he is doing now for the 3rd year. DJ Zan-D also appears weekly on television on Etv’s Club 808 show where he’s a Video Mix DJ (VJ) and mixes videos live on the show. Club 808 airs on Saturday’s at 18:30 to a viewership of over 2 million viewers weekly. Represent catches up with him to find out what makes him such a cool DJ.
1. Between TV and radio, which one would you say is your favourite medium?
I love TV but it is quite challenging. On TV you need to be always on your best, looking good, smiling and there’s no room for mistakes. So I prefer radio because it’s a more relaxed medium and with radio I also get to launch or break new songs.
2. You’ve DJ’d at events with international acts such as the Kendrick Lamar concert, 2 Chainz, Wale and Keith Murray, how was that experience for you?
That is one of the best experiences as a Dj mostly because in concerts like that you get to play for the biggest crowds and best stage, sound & equipment. My favourite out of all those concerts was the Keith Murray one. It is more special to me because I got to actually play for Keith Murray during his performance.
3. I always find DJ names fascinating, how did Zan-D come about?
It actually took me 5 years to find a suitable Dj name. Before I used to just use my normal name Zandi. The one night I was sitting with a few of my friends and they were planning my first Club gig back in South Africa since my return from the UK so we decided to bounce heads in finding a name until the name Zan-D popped up and I liked it.
4. When did you start your career as a DJ?
I was brought up in a musical background. My dad was a Dj. He owned sound systems and he would rent them out and play at those events. From owning sound systems, he then owned a Night Club called The Dukes Place in Vosloorus in the late 80’s. As young as I was then, I had to learn how to connect the sound systems and play at some of the events. Even when my dad passed on, my brother Dj Choc kept the sound business alive and he taught me how to play and I got my first paying gig when I was in matric. But for a while it was just a paying hobby until just a few years ago when I decided to drop the 9-5.
5. What triggered the love for it?
I have always loved my music more than anything. I actually think I’m addicted to music. Things got serious when I started getting a lot of gigs and I received a lot of love from the fans and even fellow Dj’s.
6. Who were some of your influences when you started DJing?
Locally I used to look up to Dj Christos. I loved his style of playing back then. He used to do some cool mixes, whether it was house or kwaito and internationally it was Louie Vega and Dj Jazzy Jeff.
7. You stayed in London for 6 years, what did you learn from the UK music scene that you apply when playing for a South African crowd?
There lot of the Dj tricks that I do, its stuff I learned from the UK most especially the scratching and the beat juggling.
8. What has been your biggest career highlight since you started?
Landing my first club gig in the UK was the best achievement for me because competition in London was tough and that meant a lot for me because I had started from being a bedroom Dj and worked all my way up.
9. What’s been your worst experience as a DJ?
At some point my Dj equipment was stolen and I had to play the following weekend with some old laptop that kept on freezing right in the middle of my set. LOL, I will never forget that.
10. What is the best part of life as a DJ?
You get to travel around and see all these different towns and places; it’s like having mini holidays that are paid for by the client.
11. Where do you find the best audiences?
The small towns out of Gauteng are the best. There you get people who are not used to having popular Dj’s around so when we get there people are so full of love and appreciative.
12. What’s your take on the current state of the quality of local music?
I love it how our local music has grown. It makes life easier for us Dj’s because it means there is now so much more good music to play during Dj sets; even better that its local music.
13. What are your 2014 goals?
I have a few singles to release this year and I’m looking forward to the work, launches and videos for them. I’m also working on a Youtube channel that I want to make a home for young Dj’s where they can get Dj tips etc.
