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...