KNYSNA NEWS - From university dance floors to international cruise ships, DJ Es-Kay, otherwise known by his government name as Siphuthando Kalani, has followed his passion for music.
Now he wants to help open doors for other local artists hoping to make their mark. Es-Kay told the Herald that he grew up surrounded by music.
"My late grandfather, Mveleli 'Big Daddy' Saliwa, was a musician and cultural liberation figure, while my father, Xolani Sibuta, is a percussionist, dancer and choreographer who co-founded the Eastern Cape Indigenous Music and Dance Ensemble in 2000. So I guess music runs in my blood," he says.
Before finding his place behind the decks, Es-Kay explored acting, directing and rap at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), where he led its first hip-hop dance group, Logik, and deejayed events with Mr and Miss CPUT.
In 2015, he became a croupier at the Garden Route Casino before transferring to Hemingways Casino in East London.
He later secured a cruise ship job, spending four years working abroad and deejaying onboard and in ports. He returned home in December 2024.
Finding his feet in Knysna
Performing for international audiences helped Es-Kay appreciate his talent and develop his ability to read crowds.
"I learnt the importance of playing the right music at the right time. Seeing people from different countries embrace South African sounds, particularly the Amapiano genre, was especially rewarding," he says.
Despite his international experience and social media following, Es-Kay says securing local bookings has been difficult.
He wonders whether gatekeeping, favouritism and the overlooking of local talent contribute to the problem. He also raises concerns about remuneration, saying some local DJs earn between R150 and R500 an hour, while visiting and international artists are often paid their full rates.
"Supporting local talent must go beyond giving artists a platform; it requires fair pay, equal opportunities and recognition," he says.
An opportunity from Bra Tyla, who offered him a resident DJ position at EmlanjeniLifeStyle, inspired Es-Kay to create his own platform. Together with co-producer Masixole Hamza, known as Enix, he co-founded Sunday Chill Out (S.C.O.). Events to connect DJs, artists and brands through Deep House and Afro Soul.
Opening doors for local talent
Eskay says he hopes to perform at next year's Knysna Oyster Festival, bringing his international experience to the town where his musical journey continues.
He dreams of opening a DJ and recording studio school for underprivileged artists, giving young people the opportunity to develop their skills and pursue music careers.
He also hopes to host events and compete for municipal funding to create more platforms for local performers. Having experienced the challenges of establishing himself, Es-Kay says he wants to help ensure that there are more open doors for the next generation of Knysna talent.
DJ Es-Kay on the decks. Photos: Supplied
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