Get to know DJ Euggy, producer, director at Godwana Ke music stable
Mombasa-based DJ Euggy isn’t your usual guy on the decks. He is a producer and director at Godwana Ke, a monster music label that’s changing the entertainment scene. He chats with Jasmine Atieno about his craft and experiences.
Did you choose deejaying as your career?
I actually did study a few courses for my tertiary education, but a musical career has always been at heart since I was young.
Playing and producing songs is what I enjoy the most. I took interest in deejaying while in high school in 2011, but went professional in 2013 at local nightclubs in my hometown Mombasa.
I always wanted to focus on a music-based tertiary course, but ended up studying Business Administration and later took a self-taught approach on music and deejaying.
Has family supported you in this craft?
Absolutely! My family is one of my greatest support systems. However, I must say the support didn’t come easy; I had to prove that I am willing to go the extra mile and make it worthwhile for myself.
How has been the experience as a DJ thus far?
I wouldn’t exactly call it easy, although I have come to the realisation that the more I did it the less challenging it became.
Hurdles come about, but I am certain in whichever form challenges exist in every walk of life.
Tell us about your entertainment unit Gondwana Ke.
Gondwana Kenya started out as a party brand, initially focusing on African house music.
A year or so later, the team that included a local DJ, producer and my fellow resident DJ Suraj, developed the unit into a record label and introduced a monthly imprint showcase that has been running for two-and-half years now.
On our growing catalogue, we work with some of Africa’s best electronic music producers, singers and songwriters.
We aim to portray a musical identity from home by intermixing the sounds of a nyatiti, Maasai warriors or any locally sourced authentic instruments and vocals.
Why the emphasis on African house music?
Personally, I’ve always thought that compared to most genres in the electronic music scene, African house is more mass appealing, especially here in Kenya.
The diversity it offers is endless and with such varieties, the music spreads widely. It is the perfect approach to the initiation of dance music.
Gondwana aimed to curate a unique environment that could bring people together mainly for the music and honestly, the audience is one of the best I have played for yet.
How are you coping with the ban on events and gatherings?
I most certainly do miss the crowd; part of me is grateful that I can still connect and share online with the majority of people who listen to my music, but the experience can never be the same.
What are your marketing strategies to pull the online audience?
We’ve since launched the ‘Gondwana Sunday Stream’ and later a partnership with Trace TV that ran on our social media platforms and Trace Mziki on DStv.
These were all aimed to create a vibe that is not far from our monthly sundowner sessions and picking unique locations with a splendid view of our city and it’s outskirts to film at.
We continue to fill our catalogue with upcoming releases from artistes such as Kato Change, Winyo, Sun El Musician, FKA Mash and many more.
Gondwana also runs an audio podcast series called Dwanaland, where we invite guest DJs from all over the globe for a 60-minute showcase mix.
Does your career interfere with your private life?
Not really. As much as music is most of what I am doing, I try my best to have a balance.
What is your advise to up and coming DJs?
It’s important to have an identity and find out what you want to achieve with it; having the skill is one thing, making use of it to reach your goals is something else.
