Mohalenyane Phakela
LESOTHO’S entertainment scene has never been the same since the 2010 foray of Tshepzadj in the industry. And five years on, the disc spinner remains focused on churning out the best of House music.
Born Tšepo Thokoana in July 1981, Tshepzadj is one of Lesotho’s eminent House music exports with his stature having grown in leaps in bounds over the years. The Mohale’s Hoek-born star revealed in an interview with the Weekender this week that his love for music dates back to his primary school days.
“I have always loved music since my primary school days as I used to play the Moropa (home-made drum) in church on Sundays,” Tshepzadj said.
“I only started playing music professionally in 2010 at the then popular club, The Joint, in Ha Nelese.
“My biggest challenge then was fitting in as the industry already had talented disc spinners. I then sought a platform to deliver sets for the audience on a regular basis so that they appreciate my craft.”
Unlike most disc spinners, Tshepzadj has been able to blend different musical genres to suit the crowd he is performing to. He was, however, categorical that House music is his forte “because it is easier to keep people on the dancefloor when playing it”.
“I chose the musical genre I understood, loved and enjoyed playing most then stuck to it,” he said.
Tshepzadj said he had managed to make his passion a career, thanks to hardwork and perseverance as well as a devoted following.
“Being a DJ is a passion and also a career for me and one has to be professional to make it in any business. My hard work continues to bring more blessings,” said Tshepzadj who also holds a Bachelor of Technology (B-Tech) qualification.
“I have shared the stage with some of the big names in House music including Ralf Gum (from Germany) and South Africa’s Vinny da Vinci, DJ Fresh, Black Coffee, Oskido, Euphonik, Glen Lewis, 2Lani, Lulo Café and DJ Claude among others.
“I make sure I never disappoint whenever I get a chance to perform and am always thankful to God for that.”
Throughout his five-year career, Tshepzadj has carved a niche for himself by churning out the most exclusive tracks in his sets. He is yet to release an album but has up to 40 mixtapes titled Tshepzadj SweetSounds which he describes as “music meant to touch the soul”.
“I always ensure that I have a few new songs to play on every set, follow my favourite deejays on the social networks and hang around other DJs and friends in the entertainment fraternity to keep myself updated on the latest releases,” he said.
“While I do not have an album yet, I have 40 mixtapes and am currently working on SweetSounds 041.
“The mixtapes are meant to ensure listeners have an endless stream of Tshepzadj’s sounds and also spur feedback on social media sites where they can be downloaded them for free.”
Tshepzadj said his best performance so far was at the Vodacom *111# Concert in 2013 where he played alongside the likes of Christos, Black Motion and Oskido to name a few. As a parting shot to fans and aspirants alike, he said to make it in the industry “one has to be humble, disciplined and respectful”.
