When people ask her how she knows all the golden oldies used in her musical compositions, Masoodah Harris, affectionately known as DJ Masoodah, simply says its because she grew up in a home where these songs would be on repeat.
She recently entertained music patrons at the Gardens Rugby Club music event held at Cellars nightclub in Paarl.
Harris said she has had a love for music from the time she was little. “I would dance and sing, and my family would take videos of me. I always loved entertainment even hosting a braai.
“At family functions, Sunday lunches and parties with friends I would always be asked to play music and I was able to entertain young and old with a variety of music.”
She said “growing up, I loved reading and would often do research on the singers and rappers. I would research their history and open my options to many more of their songs.”
Harris got her very first laptop around age 7.
“I then downloaded Virtual DJ (mixing software for DJs) and I played around with it, without a clue of how the software really works.”
After school she placed the DJ’ing aside to pursue a career in the hospitality industry.
“I always wanted to become a chef since I was young.
“I have a passion for food. So I decided to further my studies into hospitality, finished my N4, N5 and N6 and I am actively completing my internship to receive my diploma.”
She said “in 2022 I decided I want to properly learn how to DJ, so my cousin who is also a DJ and actually completed a course in it, taught me what all the buttons do & how to mix tracks.
“In October last year a friend, who is also in the industry, reached out and he offered to further mentor and train me. After posting some progress videos, I then decided that this is indeed something I would like to pursue professionally. I enjoy every moment of DJ’ing”
When Harris is not in the kitchen or mixing the latest song releases, she also loves photography and enjoys travelling.
She is also a freelance model.
Harris said she grew up listening to 90s RnB, ’80s music, reggae, kwaito, love songs, house music and songs from the early 2000s.
Growing up, she said she “expanded my music and had an ear for certain rock music, techno and modern house music.
“My journey has been amazing so far, I’ve met so many amazing people, I’ve been to so many beautiful places, I actually recently had my very first flight to Durban for a gig.”
She added that while the journey is tiring and can sometimes take its toll, she is fuelled by the adrenaline.
“If you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life.”
She emphasised the challenge of performing in a male-dominated industry.
“You’re up against male DJs that have so much more skill and experience. I am respected by most of them and have been applauded for my skills, and they acknowledged it as a passion.
“However, acceptance and acknowledgment start with me and therefore I can be confident about my skills.”
Born and raised in Heideveld, Cape Town, Harris has performed across the Boland and Cape Winelands in places such as Wellington, Paarl, Worcester, Robertson, Saldanha Bay, Ceres, Strand and even Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.
