Get to Know DJ Jaivane As He Continues to Share His Generous Heart With His Music
For the founder of Simnandi Records and record producer DJ Jaivane, music is not merely an audio cocktail of well-assembled instruments overlayed with sumptuous vocals and the flavour of harmony-enhancing melodies – it is the very fabric of the universe that unites him with like-minded individuals. Coming in hot from Diepkloof, Soweto, the deck spinner has carved a neat niche for himself in the amapiano space as well as the house scene with the help of his albums and his vibrant playlists and countrywide sets. With his heart set on making more music and making a difference in the lives of those eating from his table, Jaivane has established himself as one of the quieter leaders making an impact in the industry.
With plenty of years in the game as well as an extensive catalogue to show for it, it’s been a long journey for the self-taught producer. He shared that one critical thing he has learned the hard way was that he was one on his own and had to mind that reality in order to make something noteworthy of it.
“The most crucial lesson I learned from a young age is that in life you are alone. In whatever you do, that’s one thing you have to keep in mind. I think that has pushed me to be the Jaivane that you see today,” he said.
DJ Jaivane | SUPPLIED
Today marks the official drop of his seventh full-length studio album, Onkgopotse. Heralded by the release of “Lutho”, Jaivane spoke about the roots of the album’s name, and how it steered the creative direction of his latest opus.
“The album Onkgopotse is actually inspired by my daughter – that’s her name. Being the only child from both sides of my family, I lived my entire life trying to find brothers and sisters from outside. My child is the daughter I’ve been striving to have. After her birth, my life changed. So, all the songs in the album talk about my life and my past and what exactly happened back in the day,” he said.
The record producer promised his listeners that Onkgopotse is going to be a timeless experience, and that his fans can expect the body of work to maintain the standard they’ve come to know him for from previous records.
“With the culture and tradition that follows my music, people know that I don’t do gimmicky music. I make music from what I feel and from the things that come from my heart. It’s always something that people can relate to. I don’t do music just for the sake of it. In this record, there’s definitely going to be a track or two that everyone is going to resonate with,” he said.
Watch “Lutho”:
DJ Jaivane admitted that the greatest catalyst which has been beneficial to his growth was reconciling himself to the fact that the music industry wasn’t only about the music. Instead, it was understanding that it is a part of a larger network of things which included fans and how well the music fared once released. The feelings and the intangible parts of it.
“When I look at myself, the only thing that I think is different about me is the growth obviously. You know, how I think and the way I handle things. I’m more at peace as a person, and because of that, I find myself reasoning better. Another thing is that I have grown to understand the industry more and more. Back then, in my younger years, I used to think it was just about the music and nothing else but that after getting in. I know now that it’s important to understand the workings of the industry as a whole, from the good to the bad. Such things make you realise that not everybody is going to love you and your music and you need to make peace with that,” he said.
Belief in self and in his expertise is one thing that Jaivane put ahead of everything else when it came to crediting his staying power in the game.
“Believing in my craft has been the most important thing that has kept my abilities alive. I believe a lot in the idea that if you put your all into something it will prosper. It’s what I was told growing up, that if you stick to something and believe in it, it will work out. And obviously, you sticking to something, particularly in this industry, means having people that you must forcefully convince that this thing is going to work. Believing in what you do and loving it are things I feel every artist must have,” he said.
DJ Jaivane | SUPPLIED
Looking to the future and the years ahead of him, the businessman, a savvy one at that according to himself, admitted that he was hungry to plant more businesses, driven by the passion of helping those behind him and those looking for a chance to make something of themselves.
“I’m a very business-minded person, and business is one thing I am good at. So moving forward in life, I want to have more businesses outside of music. That’s what I’d like to see. And me having businesses goes back to what I’m doing now and what I have been doing all along, which is giving people a chance. I do that because I know how it is to not have anything. So, for me, having businesses is about empowering people and giving jobs to those in need so they can put food on the table. I strive to be helpful more than anything else,” he said.
When not in studio making music, Jaivane revealed where he liked to spend most of his time.
“I’m quite a private person in general. So I tend to spend most of my time with people who are close to my heart, such as my family and my close friends. These are some of the things I don’t ever post on social media. I also like travelling, being out in nature and seeing the sights,” he said.