DJ Bee...His Alter ego...The inspiration behind his passion and his new Mixtape, Dusty Records Vol. 1...

Chilling with Bjorn was interesting and very entertaining...he had me laughing right from the beginning doing crazy things like pulling a candid facial expression towards the camera! Yep! That's Bee! I've listened to his mixtape, Dusty Records Vol. 1 and it’s definitely something to jam to! Bee is a respected Monash DJ and Has also played alongside many well known DJ’s like DJ Fresh and has recently collaborated with Kross, a Nigerian artist on his mixtape. 

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Bee's friend Dionne Morris and DJ Kaymack on Bjorn vs. His Alter ego:

Kemo: Who is Bjorn? 

Dionne: Someone with extremes of emotions, will love and hate in excess, totally and wholly...no midway when it comes to being expressive! Most real person you can ever meet and doesn't hide who he is once you have gotten past the mystery. 

Kaymack: Bee is a vibrant young fella who's got a lot to offer...

Kemo: ...and his alter ego? 
Dionne: Spudnik! Some batman dude ...mysterious, exciting but all real. He'll hate the name! 
Kaymack: Techno funk! He reminds me of Chris Brown in that beautiful people hit! 

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What Bee had to say...

Kemo: So! Who are you and what genre of music do you play?

Bee: urm...well...basically ...who I am...I don’t know but when I find out I will let you know...haha...My real name is Bjorn and most people didn’t know how to say it so it was the basis of how I became DJ Bee and it stuck...and as for music funny enough I started off as a house DJ and realised it was kinda not my thing so I grew into electro and then headed towards hip hop and now I’m doing hip hop and we’ll see how it goes...

Kemo: Ok so you don’t play any other genre still?

Bee: I mix it up ... I find that crowds are very different you know and not everyone can be catered for but you can try so I bring in some naija here and there and then bring in some house...if I can I even drop some dub step...but it mostly depends on the crowd.

Kemo: ok so how do you feel out your crowd then? Do you do a planned set or do you wing it?

Bee: I prefer not to plan a set out because if you plan a set out and you fumble or mess up while you're playing you kinda find that you panic and try to figure out what you should play next, so I just wing it. You find that you will probably end up playing what you practiced and then wing some other stuff into that too.

Kemo: ah...sounds like that needs a lot of creativity which you clearly have!

Bee: yeh I’m known to be a bit crazy haha (HUGE grin)

Crazzeee Bee!

Kemo: haha naaaice! Ok crazy Bee so what projects are you busy with and what gigs do you have lined up at the moment?

Bee: ok ... urm...I have just released my first mixtape and did a collabo with Kross a Nigerian artist so we put together a compilation of all the songs that he featured on or ones that he and other artists produced and did...his first video is out...together with his mixtape called ‘Rough sketch’ ... so everything has fallen into place...

Kemo: ok kewl...

Bee: I don’t have too many projects at the moment but I’m working towards releasing my second mixtape and doing a bit of travelling and then hopefully doing a gig in Zim this new years.

Kemo: ah and what is your mixtape called?

Bee: Dusty Records Vol.1

Kemo: Nice...So what are your highlights for next month?

Bee: My birthday!

Kemo: omw you are an October baby! Which date?

Bee: err the 27^th...

Kemo: omw naaaice im the 29^th! Sorry I get excited when I meet people who share my birth month...

Bee: awesome...yeh there are more gigs coming in October like my birthday gig at stones on the 27^th!

Kemo: Naaaice October is our party month! Ok...so in terms of the industry...DJ’s who do you look up to? At Monash and externally?

Bee: My biggest err...person/mentor was my late uncle DJ Dinx and he used to DJ with likes of DJ Fresh and DJ Christos...and that’s where it all started for me...on a more recent level its DJ Kent...he touches my soul man! The majority of the guys I do look up to I have had the pleasure of DJ’n with like DJ Fresh and Euphonik last year...that was fun! Real clown! So It’s getting there...on an international level its Deadmau5...

Kemo: Ok...so you mentioned your uncle...was he your biggest inspiration in terms of getting into DJ’n?

Bee: In a way he did...although it took me a long time to realise it...a lot of people in my family went down the music industry route in their different forms but not as big as him...he took it to another level...I have heard stories about how him and my dad used to cause nonsense in clubs! Funny enough my dad also used to DJ...

Kemo: oh wow naaaice...

Bee: Yeh...one of my favourite mixes of my uncles was 50-cent and Bongo muffin!

Kemo: craaazeeee...that sounds like an interesting mix...not common but interesting...

Bee: yeh it sounds pretty decent...we always stole CD’s from his car...

Kemo: haha...wow... so the music path runs in the family...

Bee: Yeh it does...

Kemo: wow nice...well that kinda goes into the theme of this whole blog...about being a vessel and being able to use your talent or gift to feed into others' lives...so how do you think you can use your music and you being a DJ to be a vessel?

Bee: I think being a vessel is about sharing a dream...most people don’t get a chance to get out and get that one moment to get exposed...so its kinda like assisting and finding someone with talent and helping them figure out how they can use their talent in the best way possible...I have had friends of mine who have hooked me up with gigs which has taken me closer to where I want to be...and now upcoming artists give me their demo’s and ask to me give them a listen and it’s nice to be able to help someone you know...

Kemo: yeh...definitely...

Bee: So it’s all about sharing the dream with someone and sometimes without even knowing it...

Kemo: DEEPness...kewl...so DJ Bee as a brand, where is it going?

Bee: mmm...as a brand...I am trying to get to the point where no matter where I am in the world, someone will turn around and say ‘Oh hey it’s DJ Bee!’...for the moment I don’t know where I will end up...whether I will be doing just gigs, on radio on TV ...

Kemo: Yeh...there are a lot of opportunities...

Bee: yeh...I may even start producing...we’ll see how it goes...still growing...

Kemo: ok cool always room for growth ryt...

Bee: sure...

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"DJ Bee is a vibrant individual and you can totally get that from his DJ’n sessions! He has a great ear for what hiphop tracks gel well together! That's why his sets get the club full! DJ Bee is the future of Hiphop DJ’n.. Watch out DJ Milkshake!"

Nadia Nakai

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Bee turns the spotlight on Kemo!

Kemo: Ok you now get to ask me a question... (Nervous smile)

Bee: mmm...If you were anywhere in the world ... and you were partying and DJ’n ...what would be the last song on your playlist...

Kemo: haha wow...

Bee: Yeah bear in mind that you have a packed crowd and they have been loving you and you need to play that song ... what would it be?

Kemo: Wow...hmmm...well not sure about a party finisher but I have been listening to some drake lately and I’m liking “Up all night” by Drake...

Bee: (starts singing...”kush rolled, glass full ...”) haha

Kemo: haha Yeah..naaaice interesting question...ok so that’s a wrap Bee!

Bee: wow that was short...

Kemo: haha yeh short and sweet! 

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 "Too much fun ain't enough fun with my boy DJ Bee on the ones and 2s ..."

DJ Phatbeatz (Zimbabwe)

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Bee's October Gig guide: 


Zambian Independence and Bee's Birthday celebration
Date: Thursday 27th 
Venue: Stones Featherbrooke

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Catch an interview on Bee done at the Monash Beerfest 2011 for Motv


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdY1j-jeFWI


Holla at DJ Bee for a copy of his Mixtape, Dusty Records Vol. 1!


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Contact DJ Bee: 


E-mail: deejaybeesa@gmail.com
Facebook: Deejay Bee
Twitter: @DeejayBeeSA
Link: http://twitrax.com/deejaybeesa


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Next week...A Review on the Independence party with Kaymack and C-Flow.

***Kemo

 Twitter: @KemoMoloko
E-mail: kemog11@gmail.com

18th October 2011

Interview with: Louis Majiwa...

A musical genius in the making...

It's been HEAVEN and BLISS waking up to the sounds of Louis Majiwa’s EP (Demo) for the past week! His EP is a snipet of an album in the making, which he describes in the interview as “a window into our lives” and showcases pictures that draw you into his world and his story! Louis plays with the Mountain Yaks and The Fridge and had a band in high school called Little Green Dustbin! lol! ‘Light Rock’ is the genre of music he plays and the instrumentals and sound can take u to a place faaaar away - Bliss land! It’s got a blend of acoustic sounds and a jazzy rock vibe to it ...this genre is quite new to the African music scene and with pioneers like Louis, it's already becoming a hit... I enjoyed our interview session and got to know quite a bit about Louis and also that he is quite chilled and down to earth! Great guy! 

Chilling with Louis...

Kemo: So...who r u and what do you do?

Louis: Urm...my name is Louis...err im a student doing errr marketing actually, I quit IT to do marketing...aaand I play music eer yeh...that’s pretty much what I do...yeh

Kemo: k...and the genre of music that u play?

Louis: My genre of music...I’d like to call it light rock cos it’s not really soft rock n its not heavy rock either so yeh...it’s more light...

Kemo: Ok...so how did you start playing music? What inspired you to get into it?

Louis: urm...I started in an orchestra in form 2 in high school with the trumpet and played in a few musicals and that’s where I started playing, then went onto other instruments and ended up with the guitar. We have actually recorded at the SABC studios so I played quite a few other instruments then...

Kemo: Naaaice...what other projects or gigs have you guys been doing and have lined up so far?

Louis: We have been doing gigs for the album that we 1^st recorded...made copies to sell and will be recording another one soon...it’s an album that is going to have an interactive section where you would be able to see other parts of our lives; so it’s like a window into our lives beyond the music you know....cos it’s not only about the music, there’s sometimes that disconnect between the artist and the fans you know...that’s not what we want, we want to engage more with the listener.

Kemo: Wow...that’s so awesome ... I’ve got like 5000 questions running through my mind right now...so what’s the name of the album?

Louis: Well it doesn’t have a name yet but it’s got a diary section where you would see what happened in each part of my life and even a section which shows behind the writing of the song where you would see all the events that lead to the writing of the song and then there’s going to be a part about...err...right now there is a poll on FB about which song fans would like to learn how to play so it would be about teaching the cords and showing how to play the song...yeh

Kemo: That sounds awesome and amazing omw I’m so excited! Cos the thing is with a lot of albums and CD’s...you get the song and listen and have your own interpretation of the song without knowing or understanding the real meaning...so that’s brilliant!!!

“My EP is called Out Of My Boot and is a live recording done at the SABC...we spent a whole night there from 8pm- 5am the next morning! yeah! Take after take after take...The title is just what it means. I'm trying to sell my music out of the boot of my car.well if I had a car I’d be selling the CD out of my boot. Most of the musicians I know and like who have made it onto my itunes started by selling their music out of the boots of their cars as well. Everyone starts somewhere. So that’s the reasoning behind the title."

Louis

...

Kemo: U mentioned feeding into the listeners lives which is basically the theme and purpose behind this blog and my personal purpose of being a vessel ...so to u in terms of using music to be a vessel unto others how do you think u can achieve that?

Louis: Urm...the biggest way musicians can relate to  people is by telling them what they have been thru and how they got thru it and instead of being reactionary just be more proactive or some stuff like that u know...that’s how it can be used to be vessels...

Kemo: Yeh...ur right...as a universal language its quite powerful! So...if u had to get a sponsor or endorsement deal...who it be and why?

Louis:  uuuurm...it would be music connection cos they have the best instruments so I could get all the instruments for free...haha

Kemo: haha cool...that makes sense...I’v had interesting things like McDonalds ... peops who juuust wana eat all the way...lol

Louis: haha...

Kemo: Now you can ask me any question u wana ask? (hides face)

Louis: haha eerrrr...

Kemo: This part is always exciting haha...

Louis: haha errr how old are u?

Kemo: (gasps for air) Oh my gosh! That’s the worst question you could have asked omw do I have to answer haha! I’m 21 plus X! ...haha

Louis: awww come on that’s not honest...haha

Kemo: K...I’m 22...(cringe!)

Louis: 22 ...

Kemo: yeh..haha

Louis: why is that a problem?

Kemo: No seriously I start blushing when I talk about my age...it’s such a sensitive thing to me wow...hahaha...it’s crazy but ye him 22! and btw where are u from?

Louis: I’m from Kenya...

Kemo: Kenya...wow cool! Ok so in terms of the African music industry...what do u think about young talent at the moment? Where are we in terms of growth?

Louis: There is still a lot of space for young people cos a lot of musicians are getting older and we are starting to listen to the same stuff you know...but the problem with young artists is that they are bit naive so record labels would play them and they become disenchanted and then u never hear from them again...

Kemo: yeh ...so that’s the biggest thing cos the industry is quite tough.

Louis: Yeh woah its rough!

Kemo: So now how do u guys get gigs? Do u guys have a manager or someone you are working with? (Guys: Louis Majiwa and Jonothan Annandale)

Louis: urm...Jono and I used to work with someone and they used to get us gigs...but now we have broken away and now we sorta do our own thing...so now Jono gets gigs and I get gigs and yeh...that’s just how we do it...

Kemo: So u guys are like partners basically...

Louis: Yeh...

Kemo: Ok...so tell me about the things that are happening Ito new Kenyan bands especially with your genre ...how popular is it in Africa...

Louis: I’m not really sure cos thats what I think my genre is and I’m not sure if it exists...hopefully young Africans will start playing light rock and I will be the pioneer in that genre haha...

Kemo: hahah yeh...

Louis: But I have met many young good bands also...

"Clownin around..."

Kemo: Ok cool...So have you played any gigs back home?

Louis: Yes I have...there is a festival happening in Kenya and the music scene is also getting more vibey lately...

Kemo: So do you feel a difference in response from audiences between home and SA? Which place do you enjoy playing at the most?

Louis: mmm...that’s a hard question...well...I’ve played bigger shows here cos I’ve been playing music in SA for longer...like I said there is a festival in Kenya in December and it will be big and if I get a bigger response from my people I would probably feel more accepted...

Kemo: Yeh...ok makes sense yeh...and in terms of icons...who do u look up to?

Louis: mmmm...urm...Gideon for one has been quite a mentor...right now I don’t really have a mentor anymore...urm...I’m just going on...(smiles)

Kemo: Any other people that you rate as great musicians? World over...

Louis: Asa...the Nigerian chic...

Kemo: YES!

Louis: haha I watched her live at Baseline...it was just amazing...after I couldn’t talk...second song of the set I was in tears...

Kemo: Wow!!!

Louis: She is this tall (gestures the height of a realllllly short person...)

Kemo: Wow is she like tiny? I have never heard her perform live so I should get in touch...I’m using this blog to get back into knowing about music too! You guys played at Cool Runnings recently right?

Louis: Yeh we did ...but we’ve played somewhere where the manager didn’t pay us so we took his wine haha...

Kemo: haha...I’ve  heard so much of that tho ...young artists tryna make it and not getting paid for the gigs they do...sounds like it’s becoming an issue...taken advantage of...do u think they expect u not to come back for your money?

Louis: Yeh it’s a problem...especially if u don’t have a manger and u don’t sign anything they can do what they want...

Kemo: Not cool at all...So who do u respect as artists at Monash? People you feel that have the potential to go far?

Louis: Yesterday I was leaving my tutorial class and I saw the MonChrist group of guys practicing...I was like woah....(tilts head back and opens mouth WIDE!)

Kemo: Yep the band...they good...yeh! Ok...I’me say a few words and then tell me what comes to mind when I say them ok...

Louis : ok ...hahaha

Kemo: haha...tjatjarag...

Louis: (leans forward) ...what?

Kemo: ‘tjatjarag’...

Louis: food...

Kemo:  Really?

Louis: Yeh like chakalaka ...

Kemo: hahahahahaha ok kewl...tjatjarag means being forward...Julius malema made it famous basically...an old SA slang word actually...

Louis: oh really...hahaha!

Kemo: Yeh...haha...no I’m glad u said that cos I’m so gona write this down haha...ok...next word is ‘SWAG’

Louis: errrr...RAP...or hip hop culture...

Kemo: haha...Ok kewl...urm ‘Monash fashion’...

Louis: SWAG...

Kemo: ok kewl haha! Been awesome chilling with u! Ime come see one of your shows soon! Loved it! Been good getting to know a bit more!

Louis: oh yeh...thanks...been great!

Louis and Jono

...

"I will be doing small sessions in my room on campus called Listening Parties; the idea is that people come and chill and listen, talk, drink and a QnA session at the end. It runs for an hour. It costs R10 to come in. People should bring drinks but there’s gonna be punch there and there’s gonna be the CD to buy and other goodies.”

Louis

First Listening party: Friday 21st October

Venue: Res 6 room D312 

Contact Louis: majiwalouis@gmail.com 

Twitter: @LouisMajiwa

Next week (Mon 24th Oct) its an interview and chill session with Bjorn aka DJ Bee!

***Kemo

Twitter: @KemoMoloko
E-mail: kemog11@gmail.com