EAST London local music legends, DJ Master Jam and DJ Tulz have added another notch to their musical careers as they are now working together after landing a three- year licensing contract with Soul Candi Records.
The two DJs renowned for setting dance floors on fire with their repertoire in the local club scene have joined forces with young Mdantsane singer, Songeziwe or “Songz” to form a trio known as Le Gud Life.
Well-known for working with the likes of Mr Shakes, Mafikizolo, Fresh, Euphonik, Mdu and other big local and international names, DJ Master Jam (real name Elroy Meyer) and DJ Tulz (real name Tulani Mafumana) are combining their talents on the decks with Mafumana’s piano-playing skills and Songz’s voice. These talents are also evident on their first single together, Shining Star. And, it is this collaboration that kicked off their relationship with Johannesburg based Soul Candi Records.
“After creating our single, Shining Star, we sent it to Soul Candi and after a few weeks they came back to us with a contract, licensing us to them for the next three years,” said Mafumana.
“After releasing my series of CD s, I really wanted to stop and look for something else to do. This is where the idea of forming a band came from. It’s a dream that I’ve always had and we’re dedicated to fulfilling it. This is especially a dream come true for Songz who is so young but so amazingly talented.”
Despite being signed with the Johannesburg-based label, the performers are dedicated and committed to staying in East London and developing the artist base here.
“We definitely want to stay in East London and help push other East London artists. East London music is often only on the map because of certain artists, but what we want to do is promote the talent in this city as a whole,” said Meyer.
“It’s a big thing for us in East London to be working together, especially because we come from different angles but we want to show people that it is possible.”
Having signed with Soul Candi, the musical trio have the advantage of having their music available to download on sites like iTunes, Traxsource, Beatbox and others.
“We live in a digital world, so having this advantage is really great for us,” added Mafumana.
Both Mafumana and Meyer said it has taken hard work and perseverance to get where they are and encouraged other artists to give it their all to pursue their dreams. Mafumana has been in the industry for 21 years while Meyer is celebrating 16 years in the industry. Catch them both at The Rock in King William’s Town tonight and at Rhythm Divine tomorrow night to celebrate Meyer’s 16 years in the business. —