Stanger DJ basks in the big city limelight
Discovering he had a passion for music at the age of 13, Balia took matters into his own hands
At just 19 years old, Stanger born DJ Jared Balia hit the big time when he became a resident DJ at Kong, one of Johannesburg’s most popular clubs.
Discovering he had a passion for music at the age of 13, Balia took matters into his own hands and downloaded a music programme on his laptop which he used to practice mixing tunes.
What he never imagined was that one day he would be sharing a stage with some of South Africa’s biggest artists.
“I would play music at my friend’s house parties but everyone told me that I should give up on my dream of being a DJ and to rather pursue a normal career. Once I completed school, I moved to Johannesburg with a dream. I would go to every club asking for a chance to show them what I could do but everyone would turn me down.”
Determined not to give up, the young artist begged Kong management for any job at the club.
“I told the owner of the club that I would clean the toilets or sweep the floors until I had the opportunity to DJ.
“He told me there were no positions open but that I could practice my mixing when the club was closed. My first gig was when I was the opening act for an AKA concert. Afterwards, I was offered a job as a resident DJ at Kong. It was truly a dream come true.”
Balia has since been the opening act for South Africa’s biggest artists including Cassper Nyovest, AKA, Ricky Rick Makhado and Euphonik.
“My aim is to always create something different. I have a mix of old and new sounds and I mix different music genres to create something fresh. Too many South African artists create an American sound when the music we have around us is so much better.”
Studying toward a bachelor of arts degree in corporate communication, Balia believes that his degree will one day help him become a better artist.
“Education will help me to market and manage my brand. When I was in school, I was told that I would not amount to much. It sounds like a cliché but anything is possible with hard work and dedication.”
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