Mohalenyane Phakela
MASERU is set to be the last stop of South African House music DJ Vinny Da Vinci’s birthday tour next Thursday.
The veteran disc spinner will hold the show at Maseru Mall-based Ba.One restaurant. He will share the deck with DJs China and Thabo Phalatse from South Africa as well as local heavyweights Agent K, Black Bee and Tapi Delux.
DJ Vinny Da Vinci started the tour on 22 May 2016 and has been holding shows around South Africa since.
The House Afrika recording label boss told the Weekender from his Johannesburg base this week that he decided to include Lesotho on the tour because of the “huge followership” he enjoys in the country.
“The tour is being held under the tagline #Vinny Da Vinci’s Expensive Birthday Tour, and it started on 22 May which was my actual birthday. I have since toured South Africa and Lesotho will be my last stop,” he said.
The tour, DJ Vinny Da Vinci said, was the first he ever held for his birthday celebrations and at the request of his fans.
“Initially, I used to have parties at my usual hangout spots over a weekend, but my fans around South Africa asked me to come to their areas and the idea of a tour over a period of a month was born,” he said.
“I included Lesotho because it is home away from home for me since I have developed a huge followership over the years I played there. Fans from Lesotho also asked me to perform in Maseru and that is why it is the only place outside of South Africa that I will come during the tour.”
DJ Vinny Da Vinci also said he was well acquainted with the local artists he would share the stage with, especially Agent K.
“I know a number of DJs in Lesotho with whom I have shared the stage and kept in contact on social media.
“In the case of Agent K, we are very close because he is always in contact with me to ask for advice about the industry and never misses my shows when he is in South Africa.”
The House Afrika label boss added that he would also be on the lookout for talent to add to his stable.
“Every time I am at a gig, I am always looking out for talent and one may never know when the next big talent will be discovered,” he said.
For his part, Agent K said he was looking forward to sharing the stage with his mentor.
“When Vinny called me and asked me to play at his show, I felt honoured since I regard him as a mentor,” he said.
“We met in 2006 when I used to get my vinyl collection from House Afrika, and every time I was there I would always ask to see him and he never gave me a cold shoulder.”
Agent K added that he was in the process of promoting his music and clothing brand, Agent of House, for which he hopes to make DJ Vinny Da Vinci a brand ambassador.
