Mo Flava is staying ahead of the game

With his infectious laugh and no-holdsbarred approach, radio presenter and TV personality Mo Flava has earned popularity across generations. Here, he talks growth, the evolution of broadcasting and his passion for discovering new talent

When MO Flava started his radio career

at YFM in 2005, he had no idea that 14 years later he would be taking over the much-coveted role of breakfast show host on Metro FM.

He admits it happened much sooner than he expected. He was cruising on drive time, minding his own business, when he was approached by station managers. ‘To tell the truth, I had no ambitions of hosting the breakfast show on Metro FM, so it came as a complete surprise,’ he says.

Flava (born Moeti Tsiki) is cognisant of what the move means for his career; especially since he took over from DJ Fresh. ‘The overarching lesson here is that sometimes things don’t happen at the time you expect them to because a higher power intervenes.’ Does this mean he believes in the law of attraction? ‘I do, but you could also be doing something you’re completely unaware of, and that creates an energy that could attract great things. Maybe the hard work I’ve been putting in has translated into something great.’

GQ: listeners waited in anticipation to find out who would be taking over from dj Fresh. how has the reception been?

Mo Flava: Encouraging, keeping in mind that in radio you have to be modest and you mustn’t get ahead of yourself. I will say one thing, though: most feedback has been positive. I’m grateful for that. It propels me in the direction that I started in, and it makes me realise people have confidence in me to deliver the work. My objective is to assure them they needn’t feel uncertain. I’m also careful not to get caught up in the hype because I have a long journey ahead.

GQ: did you feel under any pressure to fill the “Big dawg’s” shoes? What’s the vibe?

MF: To understand the job at hand, from Fresh’s perspective. He’s someone I look up to, and that

doesn’t change all of a sudden, just because I’ve taken over from him. I still look up to him, regardless, so it’s an honour. The pressure comes from within, and the question I ask myself is, ‘How will you respond and rise to the occasion?’ The reality is, I need to be at my best to tackle the mammoth task ahead. With that comes a lot of emotional and mental preparation. It means having the presence of mind to understand where you are, and the kind of show you’re doing.

GQ: how is presenting a drive-time show different to presenting a morning show, and what are some of the challenges you face?

MF: The morning show is four hours long, which means you need to wake up at a completely different time of day. From a content point of view, you need to deliver something different. Everybody hates mornings, so the challenge is to make mornings great. Generally, people are more upbeat in the afternoon, which makes drive-time easier to present.

GQ: let’s take it back to your YFM days, back in 2005 when you’d just started. has your perception of radio changed? how have you grown as a person?

MF: My perception of radio remains that of intense love and admiration and, fortunately, that’s something that will never go away. I’ll always feel connected to it: without it I’m nothing. What I’ve also learnt is that, as a broadcaster, you have to invest in your personal growth. Regardless of which slot you host, you need to develop and become a better person. You need to operate at a level where people gain something from talking to you, without you even realising

it. The main feature on any radio show is the host, so I’ve been investing in myself.

GQ: how has the digital era disrupted radio broadcasting?

MF: We can podcast our content now, so it’s available on demand. We can even stream content, and what’s going on in the studio. We’re also able to use social media to ensure we’re topical while being on air at the same time.

Those things, collectively, are contributing towards attracting more listeners and keeping people interested. Living in a digital era means people have more access to information, so a radio host is no longer the be-all-and-end-all. A Twitter handle can provide information before you’ve even uttered a word. With this in mind, the challenge is to keep radio interesting and show people the medium is evolving.

GQ: radio presenters dream of hosting a breakfast show, especially those on the graveyard shift. have you arrived? What else can we expect from you?

MF: I arrived in 2005 [chuckles] because I felt I had something to offer. Exactly how I feel and what I offer changes with time. When I was at YFM, the country was in a different place. I have to decide what I want to represent and figure out where I fit in, in the broader scheme of things. It’s not as superficial as some people might think; there’s a lot of thought that goes into the stuff we do, and it’s

about figuring it out. Once you get the opportunity, you have to make the most of it, and I think it’s important to be present. I always imagined that one day I’d host a breakfast show, but it happened sooner than I expected. Now

I have to remain present and stay humble enough to acknowledge that there’s a lot of learning I still need to do

– and that will never stop.

GQ: You’re also a dj. do you consider that a natural progression for radio presenters?

MF: It all started when I first heard house music, back in

’98. At the time, it was a new idea, and people referred to the genre as international. I loved it so much, and I felt that instead of just listening to it, maybe I could play it for other people.

GQ: let’s talk about your experience on the remix sa and the process of discovering new talent.

MF: I love the idea of allowing people to showcase their skills, especially in a group context. The show is about finding talented individuals that work well together in a team. Fans can look forward to a new season, as the show has so far done well. I’m naturally interested in helping young talent and will offer feedback to anyone who sends me a demo. When

I was asked to do the show, I was happy to jump on board, seeing as it’s something I enjoy doing.

I’m finding it fulfilling.

GQ: What’s your advice to young people who are interested in radio presenting?

MF: Listen to different radio stations. How do you compare to the talent that’s already on the air? If there’s a gap, figure out how to fill it. Get involved and be relentless in your efforts. If you don’t keep knocking, the industry will forget about you. If you have the talent, the will and the drive, eventually something will pop!

‘The main feature on any radio show is the host, so I’ve been investing in myself’