what is DJ euphonik famous for? A popular South African DJ, producer, and radio presenter, Themba Mbongeni Nkosi (aka Euphonik) rose to prominence in 2013 when his collaboration with DJ Fresh and Nyanda, “Cool and Deadly,” became a nationwide hit. We sat down with them at the trendy Parkhurst-based Craft Restaurant to talk about their music inspiration, future plans, and why their fans should join them aboard Oh Ship – the ultimate party cruise in South Africa. “We’re all about a certain organic chemistry when it comes to our music,” begins DJ Fresh. “We have learnt over the years what we like and what works best and our music synergy means that Euphonik and I have grown well together as DJs over the years.” The two, who started playing together in 2006, officially launched their dual brand, F.eU, in 2009. “Do you know the exact date when we became official, babe?” Fresh jokes with Euphonik – his signature booming laugh filling the restaurant. As we chat, Fresh sips on Craft’s popular detox juice before moving to still water “I have a long month of partying coming up,” he explains, “So I need to prepare my body for it.” When asked when they find time to balance their radio jobs, brand endorsements, and family lives with their nightly gigs, Fresh admits he doesn’t sleep much. “It’s a norm for me now with my very early radio slot. Quite recently I had to go 36 hours without sleep. Well, I had a few short power naps in between, but really not enough.” Over the years, though, the two have learnt an important lesson: they need to be there for the party; not be the party. “We’re a bit more selective now,” Euphonik says, “Not just for some more downtime but also to keep up the appeal of attending one of our gigs – we don’t want to be overexposed. No one likes those guys.” The rise of house music On average, Fresh and Euphonik’s ‘normal’ schedule involves three to four gigs a week but this can double, sometimes treble, during the busier seasons. “Each set lasts about an hour but we take our cue from the crowd … and sometimes from an irritated resident DJ keen to take back their spot!” laughs Fresh. According to the pair, local house music has changed dramatically over the past decade. “There used to be a strong international focus but now, more and more local tracks are being produced, and becoming popular, which is great,” says Euphonik. “There has been a big transformation as the youth in township areas have started to put their local flavour on house music.” “It’s great that so many kids are interested in following a musical path. I look back and remember that my parents wanted me to become a lawyer,” says Fresh while Euphonik’s parents wanted him to become an accountant. “It’s not an easy ride,” Fresh reveals. “Few parents like hearing that their child wants to pursue a career DJing. When I told my parents about my plans, there were no role models to point out to convince them to support my aspirations.” Their advice to any aspiring musicians/DJs/performers is this: be your own catalyst; make sure you have your own drive. “Don’t rely on others to secure you a spot in the limelight, it really comes down to you making things happen for yourself,” adds Fresh. Trust the DJ “When it comes to our gigs, our pet hate is being asked to regurgitate the same old song, over and over again. You hear it on the radio, you have it on your iPod, you listen to it on TV, and then you come out to a club and request it again? What is up with that? We want you to trust us; let us introduce you to new songs, blow you away,” says Fresh. In terms of potential plans for collaborations, Fresh says, “For me, it’s about pushing the global boundaries now. Sure, we can meet up with local SA artists and put tracks together, but with the modern age of technology and social media, I’d prefer to work with regional and international artists instead. It also means getting exposure to a new fan base – and doing the same in return for the artist we collaborate with.” Their dream artists to team up with? For Fresh it’s Calvin Harris. “He’s so versatile, and puts together his tracks quietly in the background without needing any big hype. Plus, he drives a McLaren. That’s my kind of DJ!” Euphonik’s response is Swedish House Mafia. “If they ever got back together, that is. I watched them live once and I was a changed man.”