Behind the beats with DJ Chronic

Unknown to many, he's one of Namibia's best kept secrets with his edgy and masterful beats.
Michael Kayunde
The best and biggest songs are usually collaborative efforts. But in most cases, the vocalists take the lead from the producers or composers. We have seen many talented artists fall short of reaching their potential owing to the inability to find the right production. So tjil salutes the undercover heroes who keep bringing the heat. We present to you the Namibia Annual Music Awards (NAMAs) Best Producer of the Year for 2019 DJ Chronic, real name Lucas Kambinda.

He has production credits on Lize Ehlers, and Exit's latest album, projects he maintains he enjoyed working on. For DJ Chronic aligning with such big names means he is in the right direction. “Even before winning Best Producer of the Year at the NAMAs I already knew I am a winner in my own right because I have worked and impressed the biggest artists in the country,” said DJ Chronic.

Besides being a producer DJ Chronic is also an author of the book From Zero to Hundred Grand. He wrote and published the book last year. “I made N$100 000 last year from selling beats and studio time alone so I decided to document that achievement in a form of a book.

“I lost all of it because I invested it in an industry that did not pay back. It was my biggest mistake because I was supposed to invest in in my art by purchasing new music equipment, but you live and you learn,” he shared.

He mentioned Arrafath, Elvo, Andrew on the Beat, DJ Kboz, MJay and Dr Dre as some of the producers whose work he admires for their renowned production styles. He shared that after completing his high school he could not pursue tertiary education because of financial issues. “I could not go to university and I had to take care of my mother and siblings and music was the outlet for me to do that.

“I use Fruity Loops (FL) Studio to make beats, a software many only consider to be for beginners but it is not about the software it is about your passion,” he said.

On what separates his production style from other producers, DJ Chronic mentioned that it is the patient he is when creating beats. “Every producer has their own style of doing things. I do not like rushing the creative process. Many people will also tell you that artists and producers need to drink and smoke for inspiration, I do not do any of that,” he said.

Since 2017, DJ Chronic has produced so many hits it's almost unbelievable and has had the highest played songs on radio at different times of the year. “I also give credit to the artists I work with; they take my beats and really make good songs out of these beats,” he said.

MICHAEL KAYNDE

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-23

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