We are told from the moment we begin to question our reason for being, that we are here for a purpose. We all have a calling higher than ourselves, and most of us have forgotten what that is or are too afraid to let everything go and follow the yearnings of our hearts.
But, for the lucky ones the need to be and do what your heart desires becomes stronger than the fear of the unknown and so you leap in the direction of your dreams and pray all will work out. No one knows this more than Lerato “Biskit” Maepa, a 29 year old who left the Marketing field to follow her calling into the Dj space.
Even though being a Dj in South Africa is challenging “the industry is congested with dj’s, and because there are so many of us, a lot of club owners, promoters or events co coordinators take us for granted and generally don’t pay what we deserved to be paid. This in addition to being a female in the male dominated industry, adds more pressure people tend to underestimate you and tend to take advantage” she says, but there is nothing else she would rather be doing, “what people don’t realize is that a good dj, has the power to make you forget your problems, make you dance and just let go of day to day challenges” she adds.
This goal-driven Sound Engineering graduate understands well the challenges female djs face in the industry so she urges aspiring female djs to “stay true to your sound and your playing style…Every dj, has a unique playing sound and it works for them. And when playing always remember to just have fun..” Anything worth having requires hard work and determination. You cannot feel like you have made it; that is the quickest way to become mediocre. Maepa adds that “ always push yourself to learn about what’s new in terms of technology and music, and never always play for the crowd and have fun”. It is important to know that you don’t want to dabble and see how it goes but, you want to be consumed by it because that is one way to secure your place in this congested industry. And when you are consumed and it is your passion you will do all you need to, to learn and grow in your craft.
Maepa did not wake up one day and just decide she would be a dj, she tried it and she knew she would never look back “by how it made me feel every time I put my headphones on, and cue my music. It’s a sense of me connecting my heart beat to whoever is listening and there is no greater feeling than that for me” she recounts. Nine years later and the feeling is still there and will be leading her to her big break, playing at iBiza. She does not know when that moment will come but, she is confident and working hard towards it. This displays the hard worker she is and her “can-do” attitude. Maepa teaches us that it doesn’t matter how long something takes, what matters is your belief in your dreams and your willingness to keep going. So, we have no doubt that Dj Biskit will be iBiza sooner than we all think.
But until then you can catch her at Industry, 305 Fox Street, Maboneng. A space you can go to, to unwind and take in the well thought out décor which pays tribute to “cutting edge queer cultural references”.
Lerato “Biskit” Maepa, (the name Biskit came about because she used to buy biscuits from the vending machine at her previous work, and it solidly stuck) we celebrate your guts in following your dream. In not being deterred by the uncertainty of the industry, and in working hard to reach your milestones. We hope young females who aspire to be djs will draw inspiration from you and will work just as hard and realise nothing will be handed on a silver platter.
We are so glad that your fear of your belly button being touched did not extent into any other areas of your life. Listen to this lady play and you will truly be transported and forget all your troubles, if only for a while.
We celebrate you and wish you all the very best! And when you go to iBiza pack us in your luggage.
Follow Biskit on her social media to find out where to catch her next, you wont regret it!
girlsmattersa 
You go girl!
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