DHLA: First off, what is behind the name Dj Linc?
DJ Linc: Basically, Linc is not just a name or a DJ aka… But a brand that I wanted to build. When I had my daughter in 2006, I named her Likho (short for LikhonaIthamba) and I wanted to build an empire for her so that she doesn’t struggle the way I used to and what other way to do it than doing what I loved and enjoyed the most, music.
Then I had to think of a name for this imaginary empire and …BOOM…why not a combination of my name and hers. Then the name Linc was “born”.
DHLA: Anyone that has experienced the Oskido’s Church on YFM knows that Ncediwe Dj Linc has passion for music. I remember how we’d sing along to every tune playing on the vocal mix then post the lyrics on our timelines: Beautiful Moments....
DJ Linc: Oh yes, those were beautiful moments indeed. And when I got the invite from the maestro himself, to be live on his show during the SAMC 2010, it wasn’t only my first of many radio interviews, but a dream come true because I was to meet the legendary Oskido himself.
And on the same day, while going out of the station, I met Black Coffee coming in for his interview too. What a day it was.
DHLA: When, how did this journey start/begin? Bet your story is completely different to those that are being told by many of us...
DJ Linc: Well, I’m not sure if it’s different but it’s quite on its own. I was brought up by very strict parents and partying was just out of question. My family was one of the poorest in the community but one thing kept us together, LOVE and LOVE FOR MUSIC. We would sing about anything and everything.
I remember when I was about 8 or 9 years, I was the youngest in the school choir and a soloist. So our family was and still very musical. Then I grew up, went to varsity, when the others wanted autographs of the celebrities, I wanted to be backstage with them, I wanted to see and, because I didn’t know then, mingle and get all the info about this entertainment world as possible.
When I came to JHB, my brother would take us to clubs on weekends, for them, it was normal dancing all night, but for me I wanted to know more about this craft of deejaying.
I would be sing the next song while the Dj was still introducing it and fading the one playing.
With that, a lot of DJ’s thought I was a DJ already, then I met a friend who recommended that I enrol for proper Deejayin lessons, as I already had the “theory”, I just needed to perfect it. And the rest is history.
DHLA: Take us through your upbringing: You were born and raised in the rural parts of Eastern Cape. How was life then?
DJ Linc: Yho! Where and how do I start? Life was really hard growing up. Both my parents were not working. We would go for days (2 or even 3) without having had anything to eat. But, like I said earlier, my family is the most loving. I would never trade any of those moments with anything in the world. Those are the moments that made me the person I am today.
DHLA: Did you ever think in your young days that you’d end up being a deejay?
DJ Linc: Lol, not in a million years. I knew I loved music. I thought if I follow this, I’d probably end up being a gospel artist or just someone behind the scenes. My parents still hope I become a gospel artist though lol..
DHLA: Seems like music has been the biggest part of your life journey, I mean you were a school choir soloist at the age of 8...
DJ Linc: Lol…Yes, a lot find it unbelievable, but go to a lot of rural schools in the Transkei regions, there still are those very young learners who do best musically in school choirs. Transkei was and still is very good in choral music. That’s the only thing I enjoyed at school, my skin would lighten up every time the music class was coming on. And I used to pass all subjects taught by the music teachers (Geography and English) with flying colors…lol!
DHLA: Strict family values hindered you from following your music dreams at an early age, let’s rewind back to 2010; The Apology EP on Hot99 Dance Countdown with Oskido and to having DONE some great tracks with the likes of Aero Manyelo and to being part of Mlue Records, Herbal 3 Records & The Smartology crew. Not forgetting the day your Mom heard your song on radio. Share the experience...
DJ Linc: Man, I will never forget that day. Mom called me with a shaking voice, that she heard her daughter on radio. Tears rolled in my eyes for a second.
Then the review from Oskido (that was before he called me for the live interview) that the lyrics and vocal on the song Apology reminds him of the late Mam’ Busi Mhlongo. For me, that was it, I had fulfilled my purpose.
DHLA: To come to think of it, those were the days Afro/Tribal House was dominating the streams in Africa and worldwide: Do you think we have made enough impact through the sounds?
DJ Linc: Currently, SA has been dubbed as the capital of house/dance music and it was all through the sounds of Afro house. The likes of Culoe De Song, The Invaders, Infinite Boys, DJ Micks, Black Coffee, Bucie, etc that put our original sounds out there to the world. We made house music how we understood it.
DHLA: There’s a track you again did with Aero Manyelo (Aero Manyelo & Ncediwe - Ingxubevange) what inspired that track?
DJ Linc: Hahahahahhhh…. That song man…There used to be a drama on SABC1, Zone 14.
Zone 14 was a mess… And “Ingxubevange” means exactly that, a mess.
But the song wasn’t constructed until I visited studio with Aero and he was playing this strange instrument (Timbili)… That’s how all the words came together. You will notice that the sounds of this instrument throughout the song.
DHLA: From working with Aero Manyelo to working with Oluhle Ncube on a production done by Dj Smart, back then it must’ve been a great experience performing that tune live together with Oluhle...
DJ Linc: Working with Oluhle, WOW. I remember back home a year before I worked with her, I had a big argument with my sister that I only want to watch Channel O when they playing house. And that time, Mzee feat. Oluhle – Zvinosiririsa would be played back-to-back. I loved her voice, she was very original and she sang in Nguni languages. That fascinated me a lot. Only to find that a year later, I will be in the same room with her, holding the same mic and later performing with her in the same stage. To me, that was the best God could ever done. It is then that I realised my purpose in music.
DHLA: How did the closer of AFROdesiaMP3 affect you as a growing brand at that time? Most of your records were released on that site...
DJ Linc: I think, every underground artist was hugely affected by the closure of Afrodesiamp3. Currently, I can’t even reference anywhere of my work. And a lot of DJ’s and promoters think I’m lying when I say I have released more than 6 singles since 2008
.
DHLA: Pumeza did a Dlwati poem EP, when we having a Ndamase Poem EP? Maybe it’s about time we revive the Afro days, with remixes by Skaiva, The Heavy Quarterz, Mindlo & Essential I and Dj Bullet. Or should we add Staffroommaniacs and Mushroom Boyz on the list as well? A better way to get you back in studio...
DJ Linc: Man I would love that so much. Can I pick and choose for myself? Lol
But I really like underground artists/producers. StaffroomManiacs, The Heavy Quarterz and Skaiva…that would sure make my year (2018).
If they would be reading this innerview, I have a vocal I need to record. The song was performed by a Zim + Brazilian band during the 2016 Seychelles international street carnival. Where, in over 50 deejays, I was the only female Dj, representing South Africa…. And all those Deejays were mixing with laptops and controllers, lol… I was the only “real” DJ there.
So, if they are keen, let’s meet up in studio and have it recorded.
DHLA: You have shared a stage with remarkable Deejays, locally and played some of your gigs abroad as well. How is the scene in countries like Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and
Seychelles compared to South Africa?
DJ Linc: All I can say is that, the house music scene is mostly relevant in the Southern Africa, with the exception of Angola and Nigeria. Most Central and Northern African countries are into Ragga, Dancehall, Hip Hop. So if a DJ wants to broaden their wings, its best to broaden your knowledge about other genres of music too.
I play a lot of Deep House when I’m in Botswana and Swaziland. In Zambia I have to play ragga. In Algeria and Gabon, Dancehall and Hip hop….etc
DHLA: Would you consider a holiday in Seychelles when not playing?
DJ Linc: Hell yeah…any day!
DHLA: Speaking of holiday (and abroad gigs), you are open to the consistent travel aspect of deejaying. I believe you will be doing Botswana again soon, do you see travelling as something important to your own life?
DJ Linc: Being a Deejay has fulfilled my love for travelling more than I could have ever imagined. I’ve seen places I never dreamed I would, met people and experienced cultures I never thought in a million years I would. And I have made friends wherever I’ve been. I still keep contact with them.
Oluhle (London)
YDJ, Sanchez, Onesimo (Botswana)
DJ Fikkie, Marvin (Uganda)
DJ Oscar (Seychelles)
Chongz (Namibia)
Merrielle (Gabon)
DHLA: There’s an up and coming producer from Zimbabwe who goes by the name Skaiva, his sound reminds me of the golden days of Afrotech house and the tribal sounds SA was known for, do you think South African Producers still have what it takes to revive the sound? Or are we at the stage whereby what we used to be known for don’t matter anymore?
DJ Linc: There are producers in SA that never lost track of Afro or tribal house. The likes of Da Capo, Enoo Napa & others.
DHLA: You have had sad experiences along you pursuing your music journey, please take us through them...
DJ Linc: Not a single journey hasn’t had hurdles. I always tell most of these sad stories on my social media. I was once almost raped, I’ve been pointed by a gun on the head… Those were the worst but they only shook me…. I’m still pursuing this and pushing even more than before.
DHLA: Given a chance to write a book about being a female deejay, what would be the contents of that book? And the title?
DJ Linc: Hahahah! I think the title would be “Perished Dreams: The Untold Tales of Ladies in Music)
Because a lot of talented female deejays have given up. Many have been diverted by their partners. It goes more than just a mere “bedroom interview” as we call it in the industry….it goes way beyond that.
DHLA: You are part of a movement called Female Deejays Network #FDN with the likes of Lady Sakhe, Dj Buhle, Dj Thobs and Lady Zeejay, what is the mandate of #FDN and how can we as a society be of good help in FDN achieving its objectives?
DJ Linc: FDN’s aim is to empower, motivate and strengthen the relationship amongst female deejays and artists. Our aim is to unify and address the challenges that we as female deejays encounter in this male dominated industry.
The society at large can assist by not looking down on us female deejays. Deejays’ in general shouldn’t close doors at us, shouldn’t build walls behind them. Promoters & PR teams must stop requiring us to sleep with them so we can get gigs and PR. It’s wrong and many Deejays have lost the fight on this and succumbed to pressure in an attempt to breakthrough.
Look, I have been in the industry for almost 10 years now, I’ve travelled all the way abroad, I’ve worked with some of the most prominent in the game, but ask yourself why I’m still underground.
DHLA: What are the everyday challenges a female deejay faces? Are the male counterparts helping in any way?
DJ Linc: We are not being taken serious. We are taken advantage of in every horrible way you can think of. Our male colleagues are unfortunately the major perpetrators, so no, they are not helping.
Some of us have won awards on national and international level (the likes of Zinhle, Cndo, Lady Sakhe, Divalash etc) but till this day, they must still motivate their fee, technicalities and hospitality riders. We don’t see the same happening to male DJ’s.
DHLA: Who has been the biggest inspiration behind DjLinc?
DJ Linc: All underground Deejays that have never stopped their hustle, working hard to get the recognition they deserve. The people that are not rushing for fame. Those are the people that motivate me.
DHLA: You are a B. comm. Accounting graduate, how has education helped in shaping up your life?
DJ Linc: Everything I do, from emails, DM’s, profiles, radio interviews etc, I do it with the utmost professionalism, because I take this as my profession. I mean, I went to school for it, just like a typist, I got a certificate for DJing. So why should I treat it like a game?
I have a professionally compiled DJ profile, I have business cards which give out when I can’t or don’t have a mixtape available.
DHLA: Don’t you have any regrets in choosing music over being an accountant?
DJ Linc: Not at all. While I was still in corporate, I felt like I was suffocating in the office. I never enjoyed a single thing I did there…
DHLA: What are the top 5 tracks that you currently playing?
DJ Linc: I’m playing a lot of local & African house music… In no particular order:
Mthandazo Gatya, Phumy X, Skaiva, Da Capo, The Heavy Quarterz, Chymamusique
DHLA: Couple of weeks left before the year comes to an end, how do you see 2017 regarding to the development of BRAND Dj Linc? Any dates or months that particularly stood out for you this year?
DJ Linc: 2017 has seen a massive turn for my brand.
I registered my company, LincCreatives (Pty) LTD
I played live on TV (Best Beats TV which now has more than 9800 views on YouTube.) and Soweto TV.
I’m working closely with a deep house duo from my home town, Mount Frere, XK DeepFellaz, they remind me why I started djing in the first place. They are very good. At the moment, I just refer promoters to them, hopefully, I will sign them.
DHLA: In closing... With the festive season here and the schedule undoubtedly busy, how do you maintain a level of mindfulness through it all?
DJ Linc: Firstly, my family comes first in everything I do. In all the bookings I have so far, if my parents don’t approve of any, I don’t compromise, I drop the booking (well, a request for booking, because I confirm everything before I continue with the booking).
I manage to maintain because I do most of my work on the phone, well, except the actual traveling lol…
But I work with good people who understand the kind of person I am, they don’t force or persuade me to do something I’m not comfortable doing… And because with every venue I play at, I build a business relationship.
Booking info and social media:
Bookings: djlinc337@gmail.com or +27 78 476 5372
Facebook:
Twitter:
Instagram:
Mixcloud:
#ItsAWrap
Post a Comment