DJ Gomez loves playing for crowds

Were you born and baptized DJ Gomez? Hahahahaha…actually, my real name is Martin Kabuye Magoo. I got the name ‘Gomez’ from a friend of mine, Jonathan Kamali, who suggested it as my stage name.

Sunday, March 04, 2012
DJ Gomez plays Hip Hop for u201cthe crowdu201d. He says he would be mad if he was asked to play Hip Hop at a corporate cocktail party. The Sunday Times / Bryan Kimenyi.

Were you born and baptized DJ Gomez?Hahahahaha…actually, my real name is Martin Kabuye Magoo. I got the name ‘Gomez’ from a friend of mine, Jonathan Kamali, who suggested it as my stage name.When did you join the DJ business?Professionally, I joined the business in 2006. That was at Join Us pub in Kampala but I had earlier been playing in small functions around my neighbourhood and my friends’ birthday parties.Why was ‘deejaying’ your choice of career?I spent most of my childhood listening to music especially Hip-Hop. Then, when I grew a little bit older, I found myself in groups of DJs like DJ Racheal formerly with Club Silk and DJ Sandy. I think being in their company made me choose deejaying as my profession and I don’t regret.Who has been the greatest inspiration on this journey?(Thinks for a while)…there’s a friend of mine called Kemisi. This dude had a lot of machines that he’d let me use whenever I wanted to. He also taught me a lot about using a computer since computers were rare during that time. As a young VJ, I have also been inspired by DJ Lotta, who was the first VJ in Kampala. I met him through my boss who wanted me to begin playing videos at pub called Join Us pub. Lotta taught me a lot about the profession and gave me advice that I still use today.Is there any one you look-up to in this profession?Honestly, I have not met any deejay that is worth talking about in Rwanda, but I think this is because I haven’t got time to go to other places and check out what they do. In Uganda, DJ Ricky Star of Ange is my best because he has a distinctive way of playing that I admire. My choice internationally is DJ Skills of the US.What do have to say about Rwandan DJs?Like I said earlier, I haven’t seen any Rwandan DJ playing. I hope to meet them soon though I have heard many interesting things about them.Have you got used to playing Rwandan music?Yes, actually I thought I would find it hard to adapt, but I’ve realized there is a lot of good music here. My problem is their videos because as a VJ, I always insist on playing quality videos yet few musicians like, Kitoko, Riderman, Dream Boys, Urban Boys, Knowles, Alpha, Tom Close and Rafiki are the ones that manage to release quality videos.Apart from deejaying, what other activities are you involved in?Normally, when I am not playing music, I am making remixes and extender remixes. I also catch up with graphic designing, a hobby I want to develop.What do you do in your free time?The little free time I get is for updating my music. I download all the latest music because I hate it when a client asks me for a song and I tell them that I don’t have it. I also love watching movies when I am not working.Any advice you have for DJs here?My advice will not only go out to Rwandan DJs, I want all DJs and aspiring DJs to know that our job is to entertain clients and thus they should always work hard to live up to the expectations of the crowds they entertain.What’s your favorite music?Dance hall and Hip –Hop are my take because I grew up in their era. But when I am playing music, I do it for the crowd. I’d be mad if I played Hip-Hop at a corporate cock-tail.How well have you settled in Rwanda?Very well, the people are good, yes I miss Uganda, but its not as I expected because the people here are very accommodating.Anyone in your life?Hmmn!!! There is someone. She lives in Kampala. Here, I only have friends.