DJ Oats strikes it rich with international releases
Thato Kala | Wednesday March 19, 2014 12:24
DJ Oats’ first international release this year was under United Music Records – a label based in China. According to a quick internet search, UMR is one of the major house labels in the globe.
They featured his song Kamselele, done with Mel D, alongside remixes by Angola’s Renato Xtrova and Benny T.
He also enjoyed some Traxsource recognition recently with the same tune pushing it to a number 17 slot in the Traxsource top 100.
Traxsource is considered the biggest worldwide store when it comes to house music.
The Bukalanga hitmaker received rave reviews for his work.
“The comments you see there are from important international DJs, producers, radio personalities, and house legends from around the world. Their comments are important for me. It is heartening to notice that even significant people across the globe are recognising our music,” he added.
Last week, another of DJ Oats’ tracks titled You, made Yfm’s Hot99 dance countdown.
An American-based label Open Bar Records released it. He is overly excited about making international inroads.
“I set principles to achieving goals because I believe dreams come true when you have the passion, focus, hard work, prayer, self-belief and patience,” he said.
The inventive DJ starts his album promotional tour next weekend buoyed by the success of his music on the international platforms.
Dubbed Ngoma Yorira tour after the hit song that has penetrated the Zimbabwean market, the promotional circuit roars into life on March 29 at Erban Nite Club.
DJ TIC and T Mash from the House University will grace the opening show together with DJ Boza and RB2’s Obza.
The following day, Oats takes his music to United Café and then Lizard News in Lobatse on April 4.
“We also intend to go and promote in Francistown, Moshopa, Orapa, Letlhakane, Jwaneng and Serowe afterwards,” he said.
The 14-track album, which features 13 vocal songs and one instrumental, is now available on CD.
The current single Ngoma Yorira, done with Zimbabwean diva, Bernadette, is receiving massive airplay in the neighbouring country and locally.
The video to the track is DJ Oats’ first since storming into the local music scene. It was recently played on Nigerian channel, Freshwave.
Other songs on his album like You and Stronger are also out internationally.
The House DJ once got a thumbs up from French Deep House jock and producer, DJ Rocco (Sémakdji Mourad) who told him he plays his Bukalanga hit in almost all his sets.
Bukalanga was dubbed the epitome of a new-fangled genre Tswana House after its release and is part of the new album.
The hit has also attracted international interest with the well-travelled Rocco, who is based in Spijkenisse, Netherlands, and DJ Fresh. The renowned DJs gave it their approval. Moshotle produced Wizards’ album Azonto to satisfaction as his stock continues to rise.
DJ Oats is also credited for breathing life into rookie House starlet, Miss Sushi’s music. The unheralded Miss Shushi (Kozo Mabuta) bungled when releasing her debut album Lovers Of House. She then released a much-improved Celebration Time with DJ Oats as the producer.