Deon-Simphiwe talks to Dj Richie Colin aka Skietreker about his album

He is widely known as Richard or “Skietreker”, but this time he introduces us to his new name, Dj Richie Colin. A few years ago he wrote and published a collection of poetry called Apartheid Ek gaan jou Boks.  His latest project is a music offering called Supergod, under the name, Dj Richie Colin. Acoustic Strings recently had an honour to conduct an interview with him to learn more about the latest project and many other things.

Deon-Simphiwe: Thank you for consenting to this interview Richard. Before we begin, which name should I use to address you? Is it Richard or Reitumetse or “Skietreker” or even Dj Richie Colin? Don’t you fear your identity may be absorbed in these names?

Dj Richie Colin: (*Smiles*), my mentor once advised me about having too many identities, and now I truly see what he meant, but in short I would define it as a path that God wanted me to walk through so that I can shed that which is not me and inherit only what I stand for through my projects. I’ve always been Skietreker in the literary scene, but people couldn’t even pronounce that name (*laughs*). So I wanted to create a platform where we could all easily flow and speak as one. Richie was derived from Richard and Colin is the spiritual side of me. A Dj has to move the crowd through music and with the words and song I practice that.

Deon-Simphiwe: Well, thank you Richard. Firstly, congratulations on the new project, Supergod! Please tell us more about it?

Dj Richie Colin: With this project I wanted to highlight and underline that you can still praise & worship
God in dance, so Supergod reflects the changing times of now, the societies we live in, the food we eat, the songs we listen to, even the way we walk and carry ourselves, so I believe nowadays our ears should filter and learn to identify songs which add colour to our lives.

Deon-Simphiwe: How is the project doing so far?

Dj Richie Colin: The CD is doing really well I must say (*smiles*), I only began with 30 copies, then I moved to 50 and now I have sold over 115 CDs from garages to carwash spots and every possible platform keen on receiving good music. I had my doubts and I didn’t think the fan base would grow this much but God increased and elevated my faith.

Deon-Simphiwe: The copy I have suggests that the offering is a single. When is the full length album coming out and what type of sound can we look forward too?

Dj Richie Colin: Yes it’s a single, for I first wanted to introduce myself and only give my listeners a taste of what’s to come. So, I couldn’t risk releasing a full length album when no one knows me or my music. I wanted to grow my market first and know exactly who I’m targeting when “dinner” is ready. You can expect soulful and serene melodies that would take you on a pleasant journey and back. I’m not specific in my production, but when the inspiration hits me I create what the heart is feeling. So, kindly allow me to say whoever the listener is l try to find him/her through every element; through the kick or snare, bass or keys – hat or drum simplicity does it for me – expect genuine creativity soul mixed with love!

Deon-Simphiwe: Is it a self publishing project, if so why did you go through this route instead of the record company one?

Dj Richie Colin: I was in a space where I had no direction musically and I felt like I’m dying instead of growing. I submitted a few demos to record companies, knocked on many doors until I was blue in the face. This only proved that it’s a mission to get a record deal these days if you don’t know the right people or have the right contacts, truth be told. So I prayed and I prayed, hoping for someone to spot me and invest in me. I also believe that if it’s not your time to get a deal it not your time. That is how I went independent hoping to sell myself and encourage young and upcoming artists never to give up on their dreams because everything is possible with God.

Deon-Simphiwe: There seems to be an increase in self-publishing across the creative platforms. Do you think artists are taking enough control of their creative output thus creating a new way of doing things by going through this route?

Dj Richie Colin: Certainly! I would encourage self-publishing even though the risks are high. One could experience great financial losses if the product and market is not well studied, so you need to know what you are doing and you have to do research and learn from those who have made it in your craft. Look, learn, listen and ask questions but do it with love and nothing else.

Deon-Simphiwe: I don't want to read anything into the album title, but is there any significance in the name?

Dj Richie Colin: The title defines my journey of self discovery, the hardships and the struggles; the tears I cried and the pain experienced to be where I am today. And through it all the Lord has been there; He still is and will forever be a super God. We have always heard about Superman and Superwoman so I felt it was time to say something about Supergod.

Deon-Simphiwe: There’s a strong indication that Supergod is a dance album at best, at least from the arrangement point of view. But there’s a pleasing fusion with spoken word that I took a great liking to in the song, Connected as One. What were you aiming to achieve with this production and who did you work with?

Dj Richie Colin: Connected as One was born when I felt a gap between “you” and “I”, so I had to think of ways to connect and be united as one nation through singing and dancing. And the only element I could think of was music and I wanted to be heard in other languages as well, that is how I fused drums and words. I do my own beats and write my own poetry, and for the mixing and mastering, I worked with Dr Quantize, a very talented extraordinaire producer who is to release his own album in September this year.

Deon-Simphiwe: Still on the song, Connected as One, I find the words very matured and profound. The reference to the African culture is admirable. And the wordplay that you employ around the musical elements and the fusion of words from various languages is an absolute beauty because it’s not forced. What was the inspiration behind those words?

Dj Richie Colin: I wrote this poem four years ago while I was paging through my little sister’s (Mpho) grade 8 Arts and Culture book. I was fascinated by all these weird and beautifully sounding names. It would only be in February 2011 that I made a beat and married the two. They fused so well together, the melody lifted my spiritual energies, the bass touched me and the simplicity of the beat gave me a new life and changed my perception of poetry – now I don’t just write poetry, I live it.

Deon-Simphiwe: The two other songs are mostly instrumentals. Is this an indication that your interest is with instruments too?

Dj Richie Colin: I love instruments period. But I can only play drums and keyboards and of course a little bit of guitar. But I’m planning to spread my wings and learn to play other instruments.

Deon-Simphiwe: With the recent explosion of hip-Hop music in South Africa, and with the close association of the spoken word to Hip-Hop, one would imagine that you would also get into this genre. Is there such a possibility in the future? Or are you more on the dance/house side as I presumed earlier?

Dj Richie Colin: No; maybe collaboration would do. I find it best for one stick to what he/she knows and explore other avenues when jamming or getting out of one’s comfort zone – but never say never (*smiles*).

Deon-Simphiwe: I’m sure you know how people like categorising music as a way of contextualising it. How would you, if at all you do, describe your music?

Dj Richie Colin: Two phrases describe me best: I’m instrumental and Soulful; I’m a Gospel artist trapped in a “house music” body.

Deon-Simphiwe: The era after 1994 has brought its many challenges among South Africans, preservation of languages being one of the prime examples. How important it is for you as an artist to help the marginalised languages not fade? You have Setswana heritage right?

Dj Richie Colin: Yes, ke Motswana Rra and I believe you are much stronger in your own understanding and truly have a deeper feeling to that core through your own language. However, even though I lost some Setswana in my pursuit to learn Sesotho, I’m comfortable with both languages. But now, simply due to language hunger in me, I try to learn the deeper meanings of simple Setswana words so that I could speak like my grandfather the late J.R Seape, thus preserving our language too.

Deon-Simphiwe: There's a conspicuous humility about you, a trait which a lot of young people seem not to have these day. I say this having seen things you’ve written. A lot can be derived from a person’s writing. For example, you say the following in the album intro: “... For those who were there when I began, for those who are here and for those who are still coming, thank you for being part of this dream.” I'm not sure if you're aware of this quality about you. Would you like to tell us about what inspires such an attitude?

Dj Richie Colin: To be really honest those words came straight from the heart, and I didn’t even have to think about them – they just came out. And I never try to be something that I’m not; I always stay true. I was not aware of this quality though (*smiles*) – ke ya leboha!

Deon-Simphiwe: As our introduction suggested, you’re a versatile artist that has great interest in poetry. Have you been writing any new material for future book/s?

Dj Richie Colin: I tried to run away from poetry but beautiful words find me everyday. However, when I write now, it is through the energies from high above.

Deon-Simphiwe: Free State is renowned for its huge and admirable contribution to literature. Has this movement helped shape your consciousness and also inspire some of your work?

Dj Richie Colin: Truly, it has in a major way. Now I see more of what the movement is all about; one has learned to stand on one’s own two feet. Yes, “gold and diamond” have emerged from the Free State and I will not mention names for this page is not enough. I would therefore like to thank the soldiers who are keeping this movement alive and the icons who continue to inspire us to be better than what we are.

Deon-Simphiwe: Talking of literature, what do you think of the current state of emerging writers? Do you think there’s a creation of writers that would carry the heavy mantle worn by those who came before us? The late Phaswane Mpe and K Sello Duiker had begun this task after a long gap that was inspired by icons such as Dr Wally Serote and Don Mattera. Kgebetli Moele and other younger writers have also created that spark within the young again. Are you hopeful though, or are we creating social networking masters instead?

Dj Richie Colin: That question is critical especially looking at what some of us call poetry and literature these days. But I believe a legend or an icon cannot be replaced but we can only continue to walk from where these greats have been so that we can also leave footprints for those who will come after us. Yes indeed! We are rewriting history and telling our own stories profoundly.

Deon-Simphiwe: How do people get hold of your album and how much does it sell for?

Dj Richie Colin: My Album is only available in Durban and Thaba Nchu, but will be available for digital download soon. I can’t get it in bigger stores as they will regard my creative juices as a waste of time because the piece only has 4 tracks and is selling for R20. But who knows, the right audience may be reading this interview.

Deon-Simphiwe: Thank you for your time again Richard. I hope you don’t mind my using this name. Good luck with the single and the forthcoming full album. There’s a greater responsibility on any artist. I’m confident that you will handle it wisely.

Dj Richie Colin: Thank you so much for this opportunity; ke ya leboha!
Friends can catch me through the following contacts: Facebook: “Dj Richie Colin” and via e-mail: djrichiecolin@gmail.com