Nandipha Mqoco On Digital Entrepreneurship, MC’ing And Her Love For Fashion

Nandipha Mqoco / 24 / Digital Entrepreneur, Master of Ceremonies & Fashion Enthusiast

School Them: What’s a Digital Entrepreneur?

Someone who starts a business in the digital space. In my case it would be by means of content creation and endorsing products on my social media platforms.

Content Creation: What’s the process followers don’t know about?

A lot of planning and strategizing. Most of the content you see is curated but that process is where it gets fun, well most of the time.

New Year: What would you love to achieve in 2020?

Solidify existing brand relationships. Getting the opportunity to travel more for work as an MC and a Content Creator, collaborating with more international brands too. Being well on my way to achieving full financial independence.

Rewind: How did you get into the Digital and MC’ing space?

My digital career just happened to me. It definitely wasn’t intentional at all. I would post my outfits, places I would go to on my Instagram. My sisters and I would have impromptu shoots with street fashion photographers. In addition to that, my sister Yoliswa who had a bigger following, would also post me on her Instagram. Thereafter, my audience grew and brands started to take notice and the rest was history! My MC career was definitely intentional. I always had a passion for public speaking so it only made sense to turn my passion into a profit.

Fun Fact: Your sisters Yoliswa and Thobeka are also in the Social Media Influencer game, was this always the plan?

Not at all, we were just living our lives and sharing our love for fashion, beauty and lifestyle then BOOM!

Threads: You’re a very stylish girl, where’s the inspiration from?

Thank you so much! My relationship with fashion is VERY personal. I was surrounded by extremely stylish women (my mother and sisters) all my life. I would watch fashion TV all day, everyday. I drive my inspiration from many places. Thank God for the internet because it exposed me to amazing fashion from all across the globe, seeing how people interpret different styles and trends. London, Amsterdam, New York, Beijing, even good ol’ Cape Town right here in Mzansi. I really enjoy how the people dress there.

Brag a Bit: Biggest bag/s you’ve secured so far?

Revlon and Clinique have been the biggest bags for me.

Mzansi: Where do you enjoy spending your free time?

Get on a plane and fly to CAPE TOWN. For many reasons – my sister lives there, the food is amazing, the scenery is breathtaking. There’s just so much to do there! But if that isn’t possible then watching series, movies and documentaries in another favourite place of mine…MY BED, is a close second.

Wisdom: Some advice on how to stay relevant in the digital era?

C-O-N-S-I-S-T-E-N-C-Y

Follow Back: Where can new fans catch you on all platforms?

Instagram: nandipha_mqoco / Twitter: @nan_deep / Facebook: Nandipha

 

–Bridgette Makhela

Euphonik On All You Need To Know About Oh Ship 2017

What can people expect from this year’s Oh Ship?

That’s something you’re going to have to come on the boat to see for yourself!

How do you source out the play list for all 72 hours of Oh Ship?

This is the maddest party, so we can only have the best Djs in South Africa playing the best music.

Tell us about your decision to partner with Captain Morgan this year?

Captain Morgan is all about fun, they stand for what we stand for, I mean their mascot is a ship’s captain!

Do you ever sleep on the cruise?

There’s hardly any time to sleep. The party ends at 6am and starts up again at 9am, you literally have 3 hours of downtime before the madness starts again.

Advice for Oh Ship new comers?

Check out the website and bring outfits for the different themed parties. It’s 72 hours so pace yourself, come prepared for a massive party, but most of all, come and ENJOY yourself.

What is your favourite part of the overall Oh Ship experience?

It’s such a great place to meet people from all different walks of life.

What is the biggest misconception about cruises, particularly Oh Ship?

That being on a ship feels like you’re being confined, because you can’t just relax in a room doing nothing. You have to take part in the activities for it to be worth your while. Go window shopping, go to the theatre and dress up for dinner. There are many activities to do other than just partying non-stop and you get to do that while being on a ship.

Most important item to bring on the Oh Ship cruise?

Definitely your dancing shoes!

Where can people make bookings?

http://www.OhShip.co.za

Follow Oh Ship!

Instagram: @ohshipsa

Twitter: @OhShipSA

Facebook: Fresh and Euphonik, OH SHIP

DJ Doowap: Doin’ It And Doin’ It And Doin’ It Well

Khetsiwe Morgan aka DJ Doowap
YFM 99.2 Radio Host, Live Mix DJ & Conceptualist

 

What does a day in the life of a Dubstep, Hip-Hop and Bass mix DJ look like?
Everyday is wonderfully different. I wake up early, workout, have breakfast and then handle whatever is in the diary. It varies: from preparing a new mix for a gig, to shooting one of my concept videos, playing at one of the Nike training events, getting my hair done in Hillbrow (on average every two weeks), recording my radio show on YFM 99.2 or sometimes even designing outfits I would like to get made. It’s awesome that each day differs.

How was your childhood like?
I would say I have lived a charmed life. My parents are happily married so there was always fore filling love in the air, which gave me a fantastic support system for all my dreams.
My parents believed that we (my sister and I) should travel as much as possible and try as many things as possible to see what we like, what we don’t like and most importantly, what we are good at. I went to the French school Jules Verne in Morningside, where I did springboard diving for the national team, that took up a lot of my time as it was intensive training. It taught me self-discipline and “kept me off the streets”.

 

When did you decide “Okay, I wanna be a DJ”?
I have always had a passion for music, so I started studying Sound Engineering in London and partying in the bass scene at the underground clubs. I moved back to South Africa in 2012 to complete my studies and needed to make a bit of cash on the side, so I did a DJ course with DJ4Life and got my first gig at Roxy’s. I was scouted by YFM at that first gig and it’s basically just been a snowball effect from there.

Pick one: walk-in sneaker closet or music?
WOW! That’s a super tricky one. But I have understood that music is my destiny. Music will bring me the walk-in sneaker closet.

 

Who or what keeps you grounded in this industry?
My wonderful parents, sister, my love and my incredible zen manager, Preneil Pillay.

 

Do you like that ‘female DJ’ tag? If no, why?
Crisis, that’s one thing I hate the most. So I appreciate how you phrased the question. I just feel that if you badass you badass, no gender discussion needs to be involved. People often say “Oh wow you’re not just female and beautiful but you can actually play!” Like why was that even a question? Nicki Minaj isn’t getting judged as a female rapper, she has managed to break through that ceiling and be labelled one of the best rappers in the world. I would like to do that as a DJ.

 

Favourite jam right now?
Gosh, I am constantly changing favourites, I hear a lot and get bored quickly so probably by the time this is published I would be over it…But right now it’s Conduction x Notion – Felt This Way

What’s that one thing people don’t know about you?
I am fluent in French.

 

Got big plans for the rest of this year? If yes, do share…
Sooooo many BIG plans but the most exciting one that will open many other doors is the move to Berlin in June for 6 months for the European summer.

 

Follow DJ Doowap!

Instagram: @djdoowap

Twitter: @Dj_Doowap

Facebook: Dj Doowap / Khetsiwe Morgan

 

–Bridgette Makhela