DJ Tira's gunning for a Metro FM award and taking over the cider industry

Artists nominated for the Metro FM awards are counting down to the big night, including Afrotainment owner DJ Tira.

The awards, now in their 17th year, will be held in Mpumalanga at the weekend. He is nominated in the Best Kwaito and Best Music Video categories for his song Sikilidi.

The nods has DJ Tira beaming with pride and hopeful he will walk away a winner.

“The song really deserves to win. I'm pushing hard and I also made a really nice music video that people have been loving.

"For the song I used artists and producers that are still up and coming, and that I've worked with on the music. There are other vocalists featured and it's people that never sang before who always wanted to sing. Basically, I'm giving them an opportunity to be able to sing. Hopefully they do well in the music industry.”

He shares the nomination in the Best Kwaito category with Big Nuz for their song Ngeke. They recently made a music comeback, however it was short-lived as Mampintsha died aged 40 in December 2022.

“I really feel like Mampintsha really gave us a classic record before he passed on. Big Nuz is very excited about the nomination. For them to get nominated after they disappeared and came back it's something that is very nice and obviously it's hard to promote the album without Mampintsha, but people are still loving the album as well. We have to keep on pushing.”

The music producer recently ventured into the liquor business and launched his own premium cider called Bearings Cyder.

He said it has been ticking the right boxes with consumers.

“The success of the cider has been amazing. People are loving it and I'm really amazed. I thought people would respond positively, but, yoh, this is great. We really have a nice cider, it's treating them well.”

Tira is on the line-up of artists who will perform at the official Metro FM after-party organised by RMM events at Mbombela Stadium. 

“The drink is already available in Mpumalanga and I'm sure most outlets will be having it on the Metro FM awards weekends. I'm also planning a few promotion parties with venues that are stocking Bearing Cyder.”

“RMM Events is proud to be a part of this year's Metro FM music awards activations. We are excited to see all Mzansi's favourites on stage,” said RMM spokesperson Sebabatso Maseko.

DJ Tira and his wife Gugu were recently in the US.

“In the States I had gigs. I was booked to perform in Dallas, Texas on Saturday (last week) and then on Monday I was performing at West Palm Beach, Florida. Dallas gigs were nice because it had classic polo. So during the day you know it's the polo — you are watching the horses, the fashion. So we went and represented, you saw the images, we don't play around. I also performed at the after-party.”