South Africa will, for the first time, be one of the 12 countries to take part in the Miller Soundclash competition this year.
Botswana, Zimbabwe and Swaziland took part last year and now South Africa will go up against Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Paraguay, Colombia, Canada, Hungary, Turkey, Dominican Republic, Panama, Argentina, and Costa Rica to find the best DJ in the world.
Our own DJs Sphectacula and Naves have been tasked to sift through the chaff to find the best young DJ to represent the country at a world level.
“I have always been in love with the various elements of the dance music culture. I grew up on that, but it was when I started going overseas that I discovered just how big the EDM sound was. It was eye-opening for me and very inspiring because as a DJ you would want to play at the higher level,” DJ Sphectacula said.
Describing how he got involved, Sphectacula and Naves were envious of last year’s contest because of the opportunities it gave to young DJs.
“Last year, Miller booked Naves and I to play at their Soundclash festivals in Botswana and Zimbabwe. It was amazing. The Miller global team then invited us to the finale in Las Vegas and it was such a mind-blowing experience. We loved it so much, but also knew that there were so many guys back home who would kill for an opportunity to be part of this. It also made sense for South Africa, being big on house music, to be part of this great experience. When we were told it was coming here, we offered to be involved as judges as we have know what’s needed to be a good DJ. We can also help nurture the winner because we know what it takes.”
Now that it is coming home and the two DJs have been given the nod by Miller to judge the local competitions seeking out the best DJ, Sphectacula knows what he’s looking for.
“We are looking for the person with the right kind of talent and an X-factor. You have to have a DJ’s personality and you also have to be ready to DJ for half-a- million people,” he said.
But what does this mean for the winner?
“Everything in your life is about opportunities and how you grab them. If Metro FM hadn’t offered us a slot temporarily while they looked for someone permanent, we wouldn’t be here. They liked what we did so they stopped looking for a replacement. Here you have a big global brand which will push you on the international market and that’s a big deal. You can use that win to get other gigs in the future,” said Sphectacula.
Although the other countries in the running also have talent, Sphectacula is not fazed.
“I think because we are from South Africa and the world is really ignorant when it comes to our sound, the contestant will be an underdog that no one will be expecting. South Africa is a techno-savvy country that knows all there is about DJing. Look at Black Coffee and other DJs – they are real professionals and if we choose the right winner, the world isn’t quite ready,” he said.
• Miller Soundclash entries are now open and aspiring local DJs are invited to load their music on Mix Cloud with the hashtag #MillerSoundClashSA over the next five weeks. Entries close on June 21. Go to www.millersa.co.za for the competition details.