Sowetan

Ms Party releases tune LGBTQI+ people can jam to

DJ wants to be a representa­tive for community

- By Masego Seemela

Olwethu “Olwee” Mlotshwa, better known by his stage name Ms Party, aims for nothing but the top with over 10 years on the music scene.

Having first started DJing for his friend Mika Stefano and performing at Kenny Kunene’s Zar in 2011, Ms Party has now added a new layer to his musical journey.

He recently released Kings X Queens featuring Lady Du and Josiah de Disciple, a song that has resonated with the LGBTIQ+ community.

“I believe I have evolved in the industry. My set mainly focused on old house music for house lovers. But it depends on where I’m going.

“The song is not necessaril­y a protest song. We wanted something in my community that we could jam to and see ourselves in the lyrics and know it’s for us.

“Beyoncé had Independen­t Woman for the girlies, I wanted something where my people can take a reel as boys in heels and have a song that speaks to that. With the amapaino wave, I’ve made sure to expand my music knowledge to suit the crowds I play for.”

The stage name Ms Party was inspired by media personalit­y Bonang Matheba.

He believes that for any artist to remain relevant they need to adapt and evolve with the times. “It’s not pressure, it’s part of the job – if you’re going to be a doctor, you’d have to read and expand your knowledge in order to get ahead. It’s the same for us as entertaine­rs. We can’t ignore that.

“Relevance is being top of mind whenever there’s a conversati­on about bookings. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with people who like what I do.”

Born in Diepkloof, Soweto, Ms Party started off as a dancer which helped hone his skills in the television space –a phase in his life that he fell out of love with. He first entered the music scene under the moniker The First Gay of House Music.

With his success over the years, he believes he’s got no choice but to be a representa­tive for the LGBTQI+ community. It is something he never saw representa­tion of someone doing what he is doing now when he was growing up.

“As the years went by, I got an essence of what it is that I was doing and how much I was touching lives… that’s something that I don’t take lightly,” he says.

Ms Party is also a well-establishe­d TV director on top reality TV shows including Life With Kelly Khumalo, Living The Dream With Somizi, Being Bonang, Kwa Mam’Mkhize and Lasizwe: Fake It Til You Make It. He received Safta accolades in 2020 and 2021.

 ?? SUPPLIED ?? Ms Party on taking the music world by storm.
SUPPLIED Ms Party on taking the music world by storm.

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