HUMBLE BEGINNINGS HAVE GREATER ENDINGS: MEET DJ ONE KAST WHO BELIEVES IN ZAMBIAN MUSIC

Alex Simwanza is our very own local club Dj, professionally known as Dj 1Kast. He started Dj’ing in the late 90’s the times of late Daddy Zimas were people used to walk long distance from their various homes just to go and watch free shows in the show grounds. From there he started developing interest in music as he got motivated and inspired by the likes of Jk, Danny kaya, Black Muntu and many others.

Here is a brief back ground of his journey on how he started his career.

“I started Dj’ing in a very small club called Leo njoleo in the ghetto, where i would showcase my skills despite not being paid. I persevered for the love i had in music, for me it was more of the passion other than what I would get out of it. A lot of people loved my work and started elevating me, they would approach me and tell me “there’s a better club somewhere” so i worked in so many different clubs because each time I improved, people introduced me to better places. I am currently working at Pops night club in Matero” he said.

“I have worked with a number of artists to put our Zambian flag on the international market, the industry could not be where it is now without my efforts and big names like Jk, Danny kaya, the late Joe Chibangu, Daddy Zimas, Mainza, Talk of Slapdee, Raff Kid, Alpha Romeo Macky2 the list is endless. Looking at the music industry back then and now, much has changed. The music was better and artists made money through selling Cd’s it was more of the passion as compared to now.

In today’s music it has improved greatly and it is more of the show business, artists generate finances through shows, the more shows the more money. I feel very good each time I see artists travel to countries abroad, because i know they are representing and putting Zambia on the map. Some artists have connections and some just travel using their own resources, good example is B1, Shenky and Rich bizzy.

My appeal to already established artists and those with connections with international artists would be, to strengthen collaboration ties, the problem comes in when an upcoming tries to feature an established artists, the issue of demanding for huge amounts of money. That way we can’t build each other, the focus should be seeing Zambian music pushed to greater heights.

Take for instance the Nigerians, I admire them because you can’t even know who is upcoming and who is not! They help each other for the good of the country. I personally work tirelessly to build most Zambian songs, I can boastfully say If I was to die today, the music industry would be shaken. Because I build most of these songs from scratch! My playlist consists of 90% of Zambian music while others start playing the song when it’s already a hit.

I make sure I play Zambian music on my everyday list because most people hear songs first in a club, people listen to radio but not compared to how they will enjoy the beat when they are in a club. Therefore I make sure I play Zambian music to the max. I believe together we can achieve greatly, the Djs, websites and the artists in growing our music industry. Big artists need to stop being greedy and jealous of their fellas. The best would be to work together and help the younger ones coming behind us.

The government also needs to look at the plight of artists, if we had a ministry that looked into the affairs of the entertainment industry then things would be better, at least then it would groom and nature talent from young age as low as primary level. Nigeria has done it, we can do it…it it sad that they only want to recognise someone’s efforts when they are long gone, “he was a hero” are statements we hear each time one dies, but did you ever tell them they were heroes while they were still alive?

We have artists who work closely with the President but they never stress out issues affecting the industry, their interest is enriching their pockets and forget the real struggles being faced on the ground. The entertainment industry is very rich that when invested in, would really help grow the economy of the nation. Club Djs and radio Djs don’t differ that much, only that with radio you are required to play songs based on that particular session or show where as with the club you make your own playlist

I am proud to say I am the only Dj with an award of best Zambian club Dj. I was voted winner in the best club Dj category countrywide in the Komboni radio awards. Because I aim at taking Zambian music to the world, I have groomed Dj Furious of komboni radio who happens to be my uncle, and wish to see him achieve more than I have. Dj More fire is also one i can proudly say I have mentored and always encourage him to build Zambian music.

My encouragement to those wishing to one day become a Dj or an artists would be perseverance, determination, discipline and hard work, in everything you do is very important. There are my fellow Djs who think i want to be crowned king because of my work, truth is i pay less attention to what others say or think about me because I know where my focus is. Others promote songs from outside countries more than our local content and yet these same outsiders never do the same.

I would like to acknowledge people behind my success, big ups to Chris Shakafuswa who is the second manager at Komboni radio and Dj Furious and to all Djs working so hard to see the music industry taken to another level”.
Thank You