HomeXpress PeopleLifestyleOskido mentors Vodacom Superstars

Oskido mentors Vodacom Superstars

Published on

spot_img

 

 

oskidoMohalenyane Phakela

SOUTH African DJ and producer, Oskido, on Friday dispensed some pearls of wisdom to finalists of the Vodacom Superstars competition, saying hard work and perseverance were the keys to success.

Addressing 12 finalists of the fifth instalment of the talent search competition in Maseru, the Kalawa Jazmee Records boss said continual innovation was the only way to survive in the cutthroat entertainment world.

The Vodacom Superstar challenge was launched in 2011 as a music, dance, as well as female and male deejays’ competition aimed at uplifting the entertainment sector.

Winners in the four categories will each walk away M70 000 richer and with a package from Oskido’s Kalawa Jazmee Records.

The package includes a recording deal for the music category winner while the dance category winner will get to feature in a video with one of Kalawa’s top artistes. The winning deejays will get a chance to perform alongside Kalawa boss DJ Oskido in two gigs in South Africa.

The first and second runner ups in each category will each get M40 000 and M20 000 respectively.

Oskido urged the finalists to think beyond the opportunity the telecommunications giant had afforded them and to look for opportunities to take their budding careers forward.

“There is only one winner in each category who will get the chance to shine on the Kalawa Jazmee platform. But that does not mean the rest of you are losers. You only become a loser once you stop trying,” he said.

“Let’s take Idols SA as an example; it is not only the winners who make it in life. You may find that the runners-up become bigger stars than the actual winners of the competition.”

Narrating his arduous journey to success, Oskido said it was far from a walk in the park.

“It was a rollercoaster ride for me to be where I am today. I used to sell hotdogs outside a club back in the early 1990s and would practice on the decks of that club with only the cleaners listening after everybody else had left,” said the disc spinner, who is of Zimbabwean descent.

“There came a time when the resident DJ of the club failed to pitch up and then the owner asked me to play because he heard me practicing at some point. That was my career break.”

He said success was a product of the ability to keep up with changing trends while also maintaining an artist’s identity.

“Not limiting yourselves to a certain type of music or dance will give you the opportunity to appeal to different markets. Always research on the latest trends so you can stay relevant and updated with what is trending at the time.

“Another thing is don’t try to multitask by being your own manager and marketer at the same time because promoters will never take you seriously. Having a team that handles your business will make you look professional.”

Oskido also urged the finalists to understand their market and not to start off by demanding hefty performance fees “because no one will book you”.

“You can start small by performing in neighbourhood events, and if you have the ‘wow factor’ the demand will increase and that is what sets the market price,” he said.

“No matter how popular you get, don’t get pompous. Remain humble and respect everyone as well as taking your career seriously. That is your job which pays your bills.”

Latest articles

M100m boost for DMA 

  Hopolang Mokhopi  THE Disaster Management Authority (DMA) has ramped up its efforts to assist vulnerable...

Vodacom top employer for the 6th time 

  Staff Reporter  VODACOM Lesotho has once again secured its place as a Top Employer in...

LEC fails to address customer complaints timeously – LEWA 

  Mathatisi Sebusi  THE Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) has been accused of failing to address customer...

Witness narrates how soldiers killed his three friends 

  Moorosi Tsiane  FIVE soldiers, currently standing trial for murder, allegedly killed three Mafeteng civilians on...

More like this

M100m boost for DMA 

  Hopolang Mokhopi  THE Disaster Management Authority (DMA) has ramped up its efforts to assist vulnerable...

Vodacom top employer for the 6th time 

  Staff Reporter  VODACOM Lesotho has once again secured its place as a Top Employer in...

LEC fails to address customer complaints timeously – LEWA 

  Mathatisi Sebusi  THE Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) has been accused of failing to address customer...