DJ Mark (L) and his fan Enock. The disc-spinner says the money is the industry is little.
TURNING TABLES: DJ Mark joined the industry in 2001. Although he has not won any awards, the self-taught disc spinner believes he is the best. He spoke to his fan Enock about the industry.
What is your real name?
Mark Kiyingi
What is DJ Mark upto now?
I am just doing my thing; playing for several hangouts – Club Ambience, Diners Lounge, Happy Boys, Club One in Mukono and Club Nexus.
Do you only play in bars?
No. I also played at the Konshens show the second time he came to Uganda, I play at Buzz events, Kadanke and other events.
How successful are you in this industry?
I can’t say I have won awards yet, but I believe I am the best deejay in Uganda. I was the third in the 2009 spin master competition, I was the winner in the deejay face off organised by Heineken last year. Besides that, I have been playing at NBS TV and I have been consistent for the past two to three years. I also started my own school of deejays.
What is the name of your school and what inspired it?
The school is called K Mark School of Deejays and I opened it as a strategy to expand my superiority and give many young people hope and the opportunity to also earn a living out of deejaying.
What does the school teach?
We teach all the basics of a good DJ; how to behave, speak, mix songs, what machines are good and what programmes to use, among other things.
There is a theory that deejays are school dropouts.
Deejays can look after their families, we drive, pay rent and everything else that other people do. I can entertain delegates with my dreadlocks and they will not care how I am dressed or look.
Why did you choose to become a deejay?
I was a drummer in church back in the day so I think that contributed to my choice of career.
Which Ugandan deejay do you admire?
I admired a deejay called Rickstar. He is so unique. When I was growing up, I admired the way he turned tables.
What is your kind of music?
I love hip hop, RnB, funk and other international songs.
What machines do you use?
Right now I use a turntable called Pioneer CDj1000 and a mixer called RenmixerN57.
Any words for young people aspiring to be like you?
I would tell them to be patient and take time. Never rush.
What do you think of the deejay industry now compared to when you started out?
Then there were no professional machines and deejays were not taken seriously. But today, machines are available and the industry is recognised in that we can also have programmes on TV.
Did someone teach you how to be a deejay?
I taught myself.
If you were not a deejay, what would you be?
I would be a farmer or teacher.
Are you planning on completing school anytime soon?
Of course. I want to complete a course in Music, Dance and Drama.
What do you do in your free time?
I enjoy playing Pool with friends.
Where do we see DJ Mark in three years?
I am planning to go international and now that I have a school, I would love to see my students representing abroad.
Tit bits on DJ Mark…
JOURNEY TO SPINNING DISCS?
I started by playing for a mobile disco called Art Vision in Nsambya, then joined Lumasi Bar in 2003 but I was still doing my thing as a mobile D. From there, I went to Steak Out in Wandegeya in 2008. That is when I realised that I had to start doing my own thing because I had got the experience. So I started participating in deejay competitions and playing in different bars.
EDUCATION
I went to Katende Primary School then joined Kagoma S S before joining Kitante S S, St Maria Gorreti Katende and finished my S6 at Kampala Secondary School.
FAMILY BACKGROUND
My mother is Ms Sarah Nakazibwe and my late father was Mr Mark Kinobe. On my father’s side, I have four siblings and on my mother’s side, we are also four siblings. I am the only one in the industry.
CHALLENGES
Jobs are scarce, money is not enough and recently, some of my machines were stolen as I returned from a gig.
CHARGES
It depends on the place, how long but if someone wants me for two hours in a local bar, I charge Shs500,000 and in a bigger places I charge Shs600,000.