Chat with DJ Cleo

In my past life as a DJ, I used to jam with DJ Cleo at Heineken House Parties across Gauteng. In those days, Cleo was just starting to become a household name.

IN MY past life as a DJ, I used to jam with DJ Cleo at Heineken House Parties across Gauteng. In those days, Cleo was just starting to become a household name.

"I started playing music when I was 10," he says. "I played guitar in church and school bands, and in 1997 I started playing music that I'd recorded onto cassette directly from the TV and radio. My first performance as a DJ, playing these tapes, was at my uncle's graduation party."

Now he is recognised everywhere.

"I've had a lot of opportunities in the South African music industry and I've managed to make the most of them."

In 1999 Cleo decided that he was going to make it as a DJ.

"I came to Jozi to study sound engineering. I wanted to pave my own way and write my own future. I got onto YFM as a mix DJ playing on Ashifa Shabba's show," he said.

Mixing music in his own style on YFM gave Cleo great exposure, and DJ Fresh invited him to join The Drive Time.

"Because of my sound engineering experience, I also moved into radio production. This was my first step towards producing my own albums," Cleo says.

His second album has been his most commercially successful to date and featured the hit song Goodbye . In fact, well-known DJ and record producer, Oscar "Oskido" Mdlongwa introduced Goodbye at a festival in Birmingham, England, as "one of the biggest songs in South Africa ever".

On his new album, Es'khaleni 7, Cleo collaborates with Oskido for the first time. They worked together on track three, Can You Believe.

According to Cleo Aaaiiiy (Siya Ghida) and Bhampa Side to Side are the de facto hits on this album, the songs that will garner the most appeal.

Cleo also teams up with Kwaito star Howza on Maninginingi and pays tribute to the legendary Mahlatini and the Mahotella Queens with Hip Hip Hooray, updating their famous '80s hit Gazette.

He says that this album completes his transition from DJ to performing artist.

"Ask any successful musician, and they'll tell you that the most difficult thing about their trade is staying relevant, which basically means sounding as good as you always have, without sounding the same. This relates even more to mainstream music like house and kwaito," he says.

According to Cleo, Es'khaleni means "in the space".

"It's my music getting into your space, whether it's in your lounge, in your car, at your party or in your favourite dance club."

As far as international fame goes, Cleo says: "Been there, done that. The music industry is dwindling. I'd rather be here and build on the legacy of South African artists. My appeal is across Africa. But I'll be back in Australia in September, where I'll perform in Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne."