Chopper ready to rock EL after national tour

EAST London music producer and DJ, Chopper Paton, is back in town to share his latest music after a successful national tour and receiving major airplay on 5FM.

After years of making music, this year Paton’s music finally made it to 5FM.

“My goal was to get playlisted on 5FM and this year I got more than that. When DJ Das Kapital heard one of my tracks he asked for more and they have been playing my music,” he said.

Getting airplay on 5FM saw Paton land his first record deal with the underground label, Scruf Records.

“This year things have been going well for me and through the label I have had a bigger audience. Even though they are an underground label they have a big following and it helps having them,” he said.

He released his extended play (EP) last week through the label. Paton said for the next two weeks the EP titled Everything would be available for free download.

“The EP has been out for two days but already I am getting positive reviews. I’d rather get my music out to people for free but the label isn’t too pleased with that. I get to make my money from the gigs,” he said.

Paton said his love for music and drums dated back to his Selborne Primary School days. His first collaboration was with East London musician Quinton Maritz.

He studied drums at the Campus of Performing Arts in Cape Town. In 2013, he moved back to East London where he met fellow musician Dan Forhouse and the two created the experimental electronic duo TheFunkConnection.

The duo went from performing on small stages to festivals and big events around the country. They shared the stage with acts like LCNVL, Billy Kenny, EDX, DJ Fresh and PHfat.

Last year, Paton partnered with another East London musician, Wandile Mbambeni, but have since parted ways to focus on their solo projects.

“It was great with him.”

Paton said he would be spending the festive season performing around East London.

“There are a number of events that I am booked for at Buccaneers and Wiseguys Bar and Grill. There is also a new festival at Port Alfred that I will be attending on New Year’s Eve,” he said, adding that he was amazed by the growth in local entertainment in East London.

“Promoters such as Sounds of Summer, The Music Company and Wes Thatcher are really working hard to bring the best in East London,” he said. — working