WHEN DJ Core, born Desmond Mulenga released his self produced first single titled Joke in May last year, perhaps not many took him seriously.
But after following up his first release with three more singles within months, perhaps it is right and befitting to lend the budding artiste whose elder brother T Sean (Richard Mulenga) is a household name, an ear.
We caught up with the talented music producer who recently released a single titled Umulwele. The released song which featured Kas D Troy, Slim the Hitmaker and Goodson Chizo was released together with a top class music video.
“I would say that I technically started music last year in May when I released my first single which was called Joke. I will be clocking a year in the industry very soon,” he says while emphasising that the desire had always been there. “It was just a matter of time before I would go into it full swing.”
Growing up, DJ Core whose other alias is Dees Law, had always loved music. “I remember growing up, we would normally practice together with my brother T Sean and my immediate young sister from time to time. So yeah, I have always had the passion for music,” he says.
He says had he not been a music producer, DJ Core would have probably been a full time artiste manager.
“That is all out of the love I have for music,” he says. DJ Core has mostly been working as T Sean’s deejay at shows, something he is grateful for.
“The experience has been great.. I am learning a lot and I am grateful for the opportunity,” he says. His second single was Ikumbatefye and it featured Bow Chase and Jedi. It received quite an overwhelming response from both radio and club deejays.
He then went on to record, produce and release his third single which was titled Ecstasy. On the project, he featured his brother T Sean, Kas D Troy and XYZ affiliate rapper Camster.
“Then there is also this new single Umulwele, which I am currently promoting. So far, I am impressed with my works and the latest project is so dear to me because, not only did I work with exceptional people, but it came with a video which is a huge landmark for me because it’s my first ever music video,” he says.
DJ Core says he receives so much love from the fans and assures that he will not be a one hit wonder - he is here to stay.
“I am unique in my own way because I make beats and produce apart from the usual disc jockeying works. I call myself DJ Core as an artiste and Dees Law is my other moniker that is mostly limited for business and company use,” he says.
Having been in the shadow of an established artiste in the form of his brother, DJ Core seems to have seen it all and understands how hard it is to break through in the industry.
In the same vein, he has some advice for upstarts wishing to make the top drawer in the game.
“I have worked with many top drawer acts in the game such as T Sean, T Bwoy, Bow Chase, Camstar, Slim the Hitmaker, Kas D Troy, 4D, Jedi and Goodson Chizo. My advice to other upstarts is to simply say that everything is possible. Just be focused and determined in life and know your target and goals,” he says.
He says he will release an album in due course as soon as he has established a fan base.
DJ Core was born on May 4, 1994 in Kitwe to Memory Banda and Robert Mulenga. He is the second born in a family of seven.
“I have been brought up by two lovely families. My parents split when I was quite young so most of my childhood involved moving back and forth between Kitwe and Lusaka,” he says.
He attended Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula primary school in Lusaka and also Chiwala Secondary school in Ndola.
“Being in college was an amazing experience. I learnt a lot of things, not only academic wise. During my stay in school, I was solely focused on school and I hadn’t gone into music by then, even though I would from time to time join to support my brother at shows. My commitment to music then wasn’t as it is today,” he says.
DJ Core is also grateful to his parents and the family for their unwavering support throughout his musical journey.
He says: “Few parents in Zambia support music and I know that had I gone into music before going to college, my parents would not have allowed me. So I had to do what my parents wanted me to do. Only then did I take the step that I took - which was to follow my heart and pursue music much as I am still a professional scientist.”
