Get to know talented Kenyan DJ Karoski who is a ‘wizard’ on the decks

Who would you say acted as your role model?

In terms of role models there’s a few I can mention. I will start with where it all started: I have DJ Mgatuzi (Johnny Tahidi High), a guy who gave me his own decks, and welcomed me to his home to practise while he was at work. My other role models include Crème de la Crème, DJ Styles, DJ Puffy and Grauchi. These are people who have impacted my career in one way or another across the years and I truly appreciate.

What are some of the key highlights of your career?

I was privileged to have been a finalist at the Smirnoff Battle of the Beats Season 1 final. I am also privileged to have played in some of the top clubs in Kenya such as: Ibiza, Gemini, Platinum 7d, Bar Next Door and Milan  just to name a few.

What challenges have you faced so far in your career?

There are many challenges in this industry. The biggest one being the feeling of wanting to give up. Its takes a lot of sacrifice in this line of work in order to make a name for yourself, and results may not be as fast as one would expect. There’s also other challenges like: lack of support from people because deejaying is still not an accepted career path in society, being broke and lack of DJ equipment. Equipment isn’t cheap and it discourages a lot of upcoming talents.

Do you think deejaying is a more appealing job now compared to when you were starting off?

Definitely. When I was starting off, my mother used to tell me this is not a career, but a part time gig. Today, my mum is my biggest supporter. Deejaying has created jobs for many youths, created new revenue streams and showcased the creativity and awesomeness of Kenyans.

Does deejaying pay?

Once you’ve been able to wither the storms and challenges, then deejaying will pay, and pay well.

You were a finalist in the first season of the Smirnoff battle of the beats DJ competition. Talk to us about that.

Smirnoff Battle of the Beats was is a first of its kind competition, and being able to get through the stages and eliminations, and get to the finals gave me the resilience and confidence to tackle the industry. Over 2000 DJS came for the auditions and only 20 would be chosen, so I needed to be on top of my game every minute and every second. The experience was a chance for me to evolve and grow my skills.

Through all that I was able to reach the finals as part of the top 3, and after that I took it upon myself to improve myself. Four years later, and a full circle later, I was unveiled as a judge on Smirnoff Battle of the Beats Season 3. I am now able to encourage other upcoming DJS through sharing my story, experiences and skills.