DJ Ntoli | Khads Ark Magazine

by Zhakiya

DJ Ntoli: Behind the decks.

We sat down with British Zimbabwean DJ Ntoli to discuss her transition into a career behind the decks. She explores all sides of being an up-and-coming DJ in the Amapiano scene as well as her qualms with trading one life for another. In a sit-down interview, she relays the reality of being a young creative and the challenges that come along with it.

KAM: As an Amapiano DJ, how would you describe your sound?

DN: I think my sound is very varied, I never play the same subgenres of Amapiano throughout a set even. There are so many types as well, like Rekere, Sgija, Soulful Piano, and Private School Piano, and the more I listen to the music the more I want to play each of them. If you know the music well enough, you can mix each genre seamlessly, and with Amapiano it’s always something new. So as for now, I don’t have my distinct sound but you know if you’re going to watch Ntoli play you’re going to hear a range of good music, I like to play what I enjoy listening to.

KAM: What does your creative process look like in and outside the studio?

DN: I would say the creative process is the hardest part of being a DJ, it's so much more than going to the studio or just downloading trending songs, you’ve got to go to events and listen and study DJs.You have to do your homework, if six Amapiano DJs are booked for an event, what separates you from the other five? In order to thoroughly prepare for a set you need to know what kind of vibes the other DJs are going to bring and that’s through working with them or watching their sets. Number two, for me personally I like to keep my music organised as sometimes you don’t know what to play for an event, but when you get there and pick up on a vibe you can play accordingly.

KAM: Where do you draw influence from?

DN: The way I play now is influenced by a combination of people I’ve worked with since the beginning of my career. It’s all in the studio, that’s where all the magic happens and when you play with other DJs you naturally pick up skills. With that I started watching live mixes of other DJs for example TxC, I feel like I mix similarly to them in the way that when it gets to an instrumental break in a song that's when I mix.

Photographed by Znoiree

KAM: What is the message you want to communicate to your audience when you play?

DN: I’m a very expressive person especially when it comes to ‘piano and DJing. The way I connected with Amapiano in the first place is solely to do with how it made me feel, which is something I hadn’t experienced before, and all of a sudden I became so immersed in it. So when I’m playing I want the audience to experience the same feeling the music gives me, like I want them to take it in, to the point they feel consumed by it.

KAM: As an Amapiano DJ, how important is it to you to show appreciation for the cultural roots of the music you play?

DN: Paying respect to the people who made the music you play is one of the most important things as a DJ. I don’t make the music I play or listen to, there's someone else back home in South Africa in their home making beats that move people just off their laptops. So I make a point to connect with producers and artists through social media who create the work we push out in the clubs because without them we wouldn’t be able to do anything. If you see my Instagram story I’m known for tagging the people whose music I play because it’s good for them to know people are listening and enjoying what they’ve created. For the genre to break through, people need to know where and who it comes from. Everyone wants it as badly as each other.

KAM: Do you think crowds appreciate and recognise the intricacies of DJing or is it a feature for DJs to primarily enjoy?

DN: When it comes to technicalities of how a DJ develops their sound, I don't think that's something audiences are trained to recognise. It’s more about the performance behind the decks, that’s what catches their attention. People don’t want to watch a boring DJ especially if they play Amapiano because the genre is so lively and colourful. There’s no way you can hear the music and not want to even just move your, leg you’re lying. That’s what the crowd looks for more than the technical side and it’s what keeps people coming back.

Photographed by Znoiree

KAM: What does life look like outside of being a creative?

DN: Unfortunately I’m a full-time law student. It’s a means to an end. I have other university roles that no longer play a part in my life right now as I’m taking my career more seriously. I used to play netball but I haven’t been able to do that in a long time and part of that is because there are certain things I have to maintain, my nails being one of them. Appearance has become a big thing for me as it adds to my image as a DJ. So I can’t play netball with long nails which is one of the many compromises I’ve had to make.

KAM: What do you hope to gain out of your career as a DJ?

DN: One of my hopes and dreams is to become an international DJ and play everywhere big festivals, and small festivals. I’d also love a residency at a radio station with a show to get my sound out there. I want to do a boiler room and be on other big platforms. I’d love to play at Amafest, Dankie Sounds and Ministry of Sound. I enjoy playing for big crowds and small intimate crowds, so I want to do more of that. At some point, I want to produce an EP or album and I’d have Mellow & Sleazy, Mr JazziQ, Felo and Uncle Waffles. So the goal is to get bigger and better.