Artist Spotlight: Roz

Growing up in Gqeberha:

I grew up in Port Elizabeth (PE) with a dad who was a DJ, so music has always been part of my life. We used to listen to lots of Motown, old school RnB, and radio stations like Metro and Five FM. I started to go clubbing at around 17 years old, and that was when I was truly introduced to the house music scene that was booming in PE - it was even known as the House Capital of South Africa! I’d also always been a dancer, so instantly I just connected with the styles of house music we would listen to with my heart, body and soul.

I moved to Cape Town and met Alvinator (Elvin) who used to run Uppercut at The Waiting Room which was a very cool event. He and a woman called Heather (?) started this initiative at Redbull studios trying to push female DJs by providing lessons and getting more established women in the scene to share their experiences. I was invited to attend and K Faith helped me on the decks - that was how my journey with Djing began. The bug had bit!

At the time, I used to work as a restaurant manager, but when Covid hit, it was actually a bit of a blessing for me. The restaurant I was working at had to close, so for the first time I could properly focus on music and DJing. On the second floor above the restaurant were some DJ decks and speakers, so I used to go play around with them a lot and taught myself how to DJ on those decks. That then progressed to me putting a speaker out of my apartment in Vredehoek and playing music for my neighbours. From there I started to livestream these sets and gained some traction before, completely out of the blue, DJ Ready D called me from Goodhope FM. That was a bit of a catalyst for me. I started doing a few mixes on different radio stations, and after that, once the regulations around Covid began to soften, I was booked for my first gig by Brendan (Blaqkongo) to play at his event, Casa Kongo. From then on, the gigs just started to flow.

Most memorable set to date?

WolfKop was the one! It was one of my biggest sets that I think really kicked me off in the scene, and it all just kind of skyrocketed from there! On the way up, my friend's car broke down, so I had to catch a lift with someone else just to get there. I arrived an hour before my set, got changed, and then was so nervous that I actually cut the tunes from the DJ who was playing before me early. So much had gone wrong leading up to the set, but as soon as I started, all of that just fell away! There were loads of people in the lake, but as I got going, it was like a zombie apocalypse - they just got out of the water and filled up that dancefloor! I love to make people feel alive, and I think that is exactly what happened at Wolfkop. People were crying and I was even approached by the owners of Vetsak who gifted me a massive one out of gratitude and said my set had changed their lives! That was such a crazy experience for me, and it's even more special that that set is now on over 10,000 plays on SoundCloud! Other amazing sets were at Lighthouse Festival earlier this year, and opening for Black Coffee in Joburg twice. Honestly just talking about it now makes me remember that I have done some really cool shit!

What is your usual routine once you have finished playing an amazing set like that?

I used to send it straight after the set, like literally just send it! But now, my performance doesn't just end after my set is done. I have a big connection with the people on the dance floor and I always try to connect with them afterwards. I love when people come to me and I try to make them feel special and heard when we connect by listening to their feedback. Then, I try to ground myself by taking some time out, maybe having a drink and then coming back onto the dancefloor to show support. I love taking the time to support the DJs who play before and after me.

Djing in Cape Town was a very cool journey, but it does come with its challenges. The scene here has the tendency to be very cliquey and small, so if you don’t know the right people, sometimes you just don’t get booked. I began to go through a bit of a rough time here and felt like I needed to get away. That was what motivated me to move to Johannesburg, another shift that really helped things kick off to another level for me. It was a big call because it meant I would be taking that leap of faith into relying solely on music to support myself, but I am so grateful that I did it.

Do you have a preset ritual?

Yes! I always prepare my sets alone (ideally at home) for like a week in advance, but honestly the preparation usually starts the moment I get booked. I start thinking about the crowd, the time of my set, and the music I think would work best. Then, I get comfortable at home with a glass of wine, and begin dancing in my kitchen. The music I play has to get me up and dancing if I expect it to do the same for others, so that is how I sort of test out some of the music I am thinking of playing. I really love this set prep process. Even though I am generally very well prepared, I still do get a bit nervous just before I am about to play, but the minute I am behind the decks, those nerves just disappear and it all feels so natural and so normal.

How would you describe the process of “finding your sound”?

It's an ongoing process! When I first started, I was playing even more funk and disco than I play now. I love those genres but I do feel like my taste has been refined further as I have gained experience. I think Cape Town has a bigger Tech House scene than in Joburg, while Jozi loves its Deep House, so when I got there, I started to lean towards more Deep House. Overall I would say my sound is very adaptable - I can play different genres in one set and I always read my crowd. I don’t like when DJs don’t connect with dancefloors, so I try to be very engaged with my crowd. Eye contact and reading them and their body language is very important to me. The first time I did it I realized I am actually quite good at it, and people received me well which inspired me to push on. I play my favourite music but I make sure to give the crowd what they want, and honestly, I think it is a blessing to be able to play a diverse sound for very diverse crowds.

How has playing multiple genres influenced your approach to Djing?

I think playing Hip Hop and RnB is way more difficult than playing House music, and learning to play these genres can make you a much better House DJ. I hardly ever play those genres except for at the occasional private event. Every time I get behind the decks I figure new things out and my technique gets better, but it is interesting because it shows me that I still have so much to learn, and I’m just trying to continue to educate myself and improve. I love learning new things and staying mentally stimulated by trying new things, and the next project is production. I am still at the very beginning stages of co-producing with some producers, I am excited to see where this goes in the next few months.

Who are your idols and why do they inspire you?

I have so many! I would have to say the old school cats from PE that I grew up with though had a huge impact on me. Artists like Vimo, JB, Tamara Day and Flash Republic who I used to try and go see whenever they were in PE - my friends and I thought they were just amazing! Others like Ryan Dent and the whole Soul Candy Crew - these guys were my idols!

What is on your techrider?

I hate playing on shitty equipment! There is nothing worse than getting to an event and the effects button doesn’t work! I can play on pretty much anything but the newer the better, anything above CDJ 2000’s and a 900 mixer and up. I don’t play vinyl, except for one b2b set with a friend, but aside from my record player and collection of records, it is not really my forte right now. I think in the future it is something I would like to get into. I have so much respect for vinyl DJs because their artform extends far beyond just playing, they have to consider the entire process and setup too, like my friend who always pulls out her tennis balls which she uses for extra shock absorption.

Do you have another occupation?

I can proudly say I am a full time DJ! It was a tough decision as I had a fulltime job which obviously came with a lot of financial security, but I decided to take a leap of faith and it has been super cool. Obviously it can get stressful as sometimes there are no gigs so I end up having to juggle my cash, but if its managed correctly then it works, and it is something that I am so grateful for - not many people get to make a living off of something they love doing. I am one of the lucky ones - it’s been a blessing!

Now that I am with a bigger agency (Jetblack), I am doing the less is more approach. Before, I was trying to do a lot of gigs, whereas now I have to take a step back and trust the team as they suggested only playing at really good gigs that match my brand and add to my value in the industry. I am not going to lie, it has been a bit challenging because obviously I want to play a lot and see my name on flyers, but yeah I know I can't be a weekend warrior anymore so I have to humble myself.

What kind of character is Roz in her downtime?

I am a homebody! I love being at home, relaxing and recharging. I think it's because of my history in the hospitality industry, as well as now being a DJ, you are constantly around thousands of personalities, literally buzzing from the adrenaline, so I love being alone at home to ground and calm down. I also love the outdoors and hikes with friends, as well as family time.

Tell us about your recent trip to Europe?

It was very interesting - I went over for a “working holiday”, to lay foundations and make some connections in the industry. It was definitely nerve-racking, but I had a vision and a mission and honestly I am proud of myself for smashing it - it was a very successful trip! I did have a booking via some guys who were in SA and saw me play at Wolfkop. They were throwing a castle party called Per En Alte, and were keen to have me play there. I agreed and slowly more gigs came from that. I played at a few bars and then was booked at Katterblau. Then, I met the guys who run Bridges For Music who asked me to play at Garbicz. I couldn’t say no so I changed my flight and went with them and a whole South African crew to that amazing party. It was such an awesome moment for all of us to have played at this massive festival together. I have built those relationships now, so when I go back those things are all in place which is really exciting.

What is your dancefloor philosophy?

No phones, no talking, just dancing! Honestly, dance, close your eyes, move with the music, respect the DJ, and respect the dance floor. We really need to protect dance culture and respect the fact that the DJ is playing, so phones on the dance floor really irks me! Show some etiquette, be present and boogie!

What are your thoughts on SA as a hub for Electronic Music?

I just want the music scene to stay pure and be about people, music, community and safe space! After travelling and learning about dance and music culture abroad and the respect that people have for it was amazing.

Something I hear all the time is “how do I start as a DJ?”, so I wish there was more of a space for new DJs to get booked to keep the scene fresh. We need the new bedroom DJs to come forward and play gigs, but also to be educated as to how to get those opportunities, because I feel like a lot of people don't know where to start. If people have good music and energy we need to provide them with a safe space to explore and gain experience! If the scene can facilitate this it would enable sustained growth and I really want to try and be part of this shift! On the other hand, there is a lot of talent in SA, and more so than ever, the world sees us right now! It feels like the whole world is leaning towards electronic afro-inspired music, which is a good thing but at the same time, people should also not just blindly follow these trends.

If I could have one lasting impression on the scene in South Africa it would be that I want people to learn and be inspired by me to be confident enough to pursue their dreams - you don’t have to be a victim of your circumstances!

What are your future goals?

I am going to be producing some bangers! I have some music being released in a few months and some amazing gigs coming up. I want to continue to play on international stages and travel more and ya that is the big dream! Gotta aim high and push those goals!

Finally…Let us set the scene: It's a pearler of a day in Cape Town with a beautiful sunset on the horizon, the crowd is in the mood and you have them in full control - what is the sunset track you are playing?

I love playing sunsets and opening sets, I would probably play some really sexy deep house music with a good vocal. Not entirely sure which track exactly right now, but it would be something along those lines.

Take a listen to her set at Wolkop here