In a world buzzing with beats and melodies, DJ Menace gets back to the groove of things with his latest EP, “Back To The Mainstream.” From setting stages on fire with Brenda Fassie to cooking up chart-topping hits like “Coffee” and “Money Maker,” DJ Menace opened up about his musical journey, from his early days experimenting with sounds to the exhilarating collaborations that define his latest project.
With each track serving up a unique blend of rhythm and soul, DJ Menace invited us into his world of music, where every beat tells a story and every melody sparks a new groove.
Let’s chance to catch up with him for an exclusive chat.
What sparked your love for music, and how has it shaped the way you create music?
[DJ MENACE]: My first talent is choreography, I choreographed the dance on the Vulindlela hit from the late pop star Brenda Fassie, that automatically makes you a lover of music. I also wanted to experiment with some sounds in my head that I would hear from time to time, that ignited the edge to want to make music. Importantly I make music that I can dance to.
Congratulations on completing your current work! You choose to call your EP “Back To The Mainstream,” why is that?
[DJ MENACE]: It is because I took a long break in the music scene, producing music but not releasing it to the public through the mainstream platforms, now this simply means I am back to the mainstream because on this project I really have an appetite to taste the global market through it.
You mention how this EP blends these two styles, Gospel and Dance, to create a unique sound. Can you walk us through the inspiration behind this creation?
[DJ MENACE]: I create mostly dance music, but this time around I wanted to engage my audience with the word of God, that meant I had to go the gospel way but I’m not a gospel artist, so I decided to combine the two so I don’t lose my audience who are used to me on a certain genre of music.
You worked with different artists on your EP. How did these collaborations come about and what was it about the other artists you worked with that made your you want to include them in this EP?
[DJ MENACE]: We have exciting features on the EP including Urban Matjila, a gospel sensation from Zebediela my home town. Speedy the long serving artist and the ever consistent in the game from the days of Bongo Maffin. I also featured the social media influencer Mphela Mphela who is poetic in nature, when we called him he was very skeptical, he said “I can’t sing” then we explained everything to him that we are interested in him giving us a poem than him signing, that’s how he agreed. 😁
You featured Urban Matjila more than once in this EP. What made you want to work with him so much, and what does he bring to your music? Share a little something about your studio sessions if you can.
[DJ MENACE]: Urban Matjila fitted perfectly on the narrative I’m driving of the gospel but more than that, he is a very underrated talented musician who can jump on any song. After we agreed with him to record, I played the beat Nkateko and gave him the lyrics and guided him through the tune I wanted, Urban just went his own way and his way is what we kept today because I could not believe what came out of the man’s mouth. He is indeed one for the books.
Reflecting on your previous success with hits like “Coffee” and “Money Maker,” how do these experiences contribute to your current musical journey and the creation of your latest EP?
[DJ MENACE]: Well obviously experience counts, I am able to move with the time and not get stuck in my glory days. That helps you look for new exciting sounds because music is evolving. As an artist you must have room for growth also.
The single “Nkateko” is about the challenges you faced in the music industry. What about these challenges that made you want to speak out publicly about them?
[DJ MENACE]: Well I believe I have support, so those who look up to me must learn a thing or two about my journey, that way you are able to save others from committing the same mistakes as you. My journey was a difficult one, from the glory days and to find yourself without a car. That’s not a child play especially when you were used to that kind of a lifestyle.
If these challenges pushed you to take a break from music, how has that time away been beneficial you? And would you advise artists to consider taking breaks in their musical journeys to reflect, regroup and get back to being their creative selves?
[DJ MENACE]: The time away assists you to understand that you need to be true to yourself and not live according to the public perception. It also gave me an opportunity to study the game from outside it, dust myself without any pressure because the industry is very fake. I lost friends and acquaintances during my difficult days. The advice to other artists would be yes a break is important because your mental health is more important. Mental strength is able to carry you through and through so take care of that.
“Coffee” is a bonus track. Why did you include it as a bonus track and how does it fit into the story of your EP?
[DJ MENACE]: Coffee is my ancestor song in a way,😁 so having it featured on this EP was mainly because you want to remind the audience of who you are but also give them an opportunity of having it on digital devices because it was first released during the days of CDs. I believe people have not danced enough for this song.
As an artist who’s experienced success in the mainstream music scene, what valuable lessons do you think emerging artists can learn from your journey, especially when it comes to staying true to their craft and navigating the industry?
[DJ MENACE]: Stay true to yourself and represent your story very well, do not let them tell your story because that will distort it. Work hard and smart, respect your craft and put everything in God’s hands.
Featured Image(s) Source: Supplied
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