BEING a Disc Jockey (DJ) was once a profession frowned upon or one that was not regarded as a ‘serious’ job.
It was something one could not ‘seriously’ aspire to become.
While the profession might earn one recognition and fame, the rewards have been viewed as something not to sing home about.
Yet in most developed nations, it is a serious business that has earned many a practitioner not just fame, but fortune as well.
But there are practitioners in the country that have made it in the profession.
The likes of DJ Flavour are names that quickly come to mind.
And sadly the country last year lost a real player in the field, the maverick and highly skilled Deon Fulton popularly known as ‘DJ Smoove’.
He died in a car accident.
The late DJ Smoove made his name not only on the local circuit, but on the international scene, exhibiting his skills on the turntables in cities across the world.
DJ Smoove toured with stars that include Christina Aguilera, Mary J Blige, Common and Damien Marley among others.
And local DJs in a competition sound-clash sponsored by Millers, a brand of American Miller Breweries will clash for an opportunity to display their skills in Las Vegas.
The Miller brand has conducted similar DJ clashes throughout the world and is coming in the country for the first time.
The clash is sponsored by Miller Genuine Draft with the preliminaries underway in the countries northern and southern main cities, which are Bulawayo and Harare.
“We have already 16 DJs from Harare and eight from Bulawayo that have enlisted to participate in the sound clash off,” one of the organisers who refused to be named said.
“The event will see DJ’s from Southern Africa converge with acts like South African top DJs Fresh, Euphonik, Spectacular and Knaves and artistes like Khuli Chana,”
The national final of the clash of the DJs has been slated for June 21 in Harare.
The winner of the national competition will represent the country at the Africa finals and stand a chance to travel to Las Vegas for the Miller Music Tour from August 22 to 26.
“This is more than just a DJ search competition,” the organisers said in a statement.
“It is an avenue to shine the spotlight on local music and local talent, cultivating and supporting the emerging electro dance music talent that has made this genre of music one of the most exciting and dynamic not only in Africa, but the world over.”
According to the organisers, participants must submit a ten minute mix at local radio station, Star FM.
The mix needs to be made up of tracks from four music genres, EDM, Afro-House, Hip- Hop and Zim-Dancehall before a panel of judges select the best mixes from all submissions.