Getting to know DJ Zan-D
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...
Represent Review: Keith Murray and friends
Get your dictionary’s out ‘cos the Matrix has been working out with his thesaurus again and this time round we let his words flow without cutbacks. Reuben went to check out US HipHop star Keith Murray aka another “I’m home in the motherland” visiting artist, on our behalf – He wasn’t impressed with the women-izing but had a bash all the same. Enjoy: “Ke mokone; Paki ya bo – Darkie ka di – Baki mpya!” , you’ll forgive me for dropping my 2 cents worth of lyrical rhyme here, but the short-lived excitement and free flow repertoires of last weekend’s mammoth rap concert at Emperor’s Palace has left me with an aura of unquantifiable satisfaction. If I’ve ever doubted Ghetto-Ruff’s ability to stage a world class event, I was wrong. My cynicism was shoved aside by Saturday’s hip gig: shame unto anyone who still believes that an “A” grade event under the African skies is the equivalent of a shebeen bosberaad! To this end – the Matrix bows to Ghetto-Ruff’s skillful and artistic management of a world class event in a world class African City – Jozi – our Jozi. Now, back to the lecture at hand, this Saturday evening/ Sunday morning yours truly was in the East Rand to Represent all you outgoing Jozi folk in what will go down in Mzansi’s event history as “a diamond in the rough” of Jozi Hip-Hop concerts. At first glance the venue (Former Caesar’s Gauteng), draws you into a comfortable world of plush and splendor only befitting the “have more’s”. The lobby is lit in such a way that your heart beat starts to pace as you digest the surreal magnificence that’s almost overkill. “Suprise, suprise” the artist line-up was a bit too biased in Ghetto-Ruff’s favour (but then again, this was their show!). The listings boasted the flamboyant and very “stout” (we shall get back to this…) Keith Murray and a host of Ghetto-Ruff artists and co-opting allies like: Drenco, Slice, Gum Shev, Maggz, Mr. NK, Jub-Jub, Jus Dat, Morale, Malic, Bricks, DJ Cleo, HPP, Morafe and Zola, although the latter 4 artists did not make their stage appearances (and with no public service announcement as to why not – I found this to be a bit disappointing!), however their absence was cheered up by Mandoza’s surprise appearance and the reinforced turn-table skills of DJ Speed-Cop. The Down-Low: ‘Jus’ Dat’ raised the curtains to a half-empty auditorium of fanatics who nevertheless received them with cheers and excitement. As the night advanced further Jub-Jub lashed us with his spiked whip as Emperor’s Palace got thumping to their famous single: Good time of your life! Mandoza and Bricks got us doing moves to their “Left, Right” song… Then Keith...
We will be back!
