 | Biography
My interest in music began from a tender age. As a child I enjoyed playing musical instruments: the keyboard, recorder, the flute and drums. I also loved singing and have performed at various events from school to youth church choirs and other occasions such as engagement parties and weddings. My biggest vocal performance was in front of a 3,000 strong audience in the 2008 Ventura V-Factor finals, held at Doncaster Dome in Feb 2008 (www.thedeepend.co.uk) - Pictures are available in the Gallery. Besides music, I am also into visual art and enjoy writing poetry - four of my poems have been published on www.poetry.com) (Search Gamuchirai Gundidza)
|
My career base and qualifications are in Business & Finance. I have studied BA International Business at the University of Greenwich (London) and graduated with First Class Honours. I then moved to Leeds and completed my MSc International Finance at the University of Leeds. I work full time Monday to Friday for a finance company. I also write academic papers for a research company. Therefore being a DJ began as a hobby for me playing at student & house parties around Leeds, Yorkshire, Manchester & Newcastle.
I was later introduced to ZonetRadio in 2006 by Mc Bonde (Toronto, Canada). With the help of US-based DJ Smoothspinner who provided me with a solid music foundation I joined the station and played at various times in between my studies in late 2006. I soon secured a permanent slot & introduced the “Mid-Week Party” every Wednesday 11pm-1am GMT. It wasn't long before I started playing in clubs and at other big gigs.
I am 100% moblie play at numerous venues all over the UK. I play either in clubs/bars alongside other DJs or solo at various functions e.g. weddings, birthday parties, graduation parties, house parties, hen nights, baby showers etc. I have played alongside industry greats such as Tony Matterhorn, Chris Goldfinger, Sovereign Sound, Injection Sound, Blackheart Sound, TK Sound, Hypersound, Candyman, Bobo Hill Sound and many others. I do not specialise in any particular type of music (Although a lot of people associate me with Dancehall because of my radio show and participation in sound clashes). I avoid pre-determining the sequence and music I play, which increases my versatility and ability to play what the people want. I play a very wide genre depending on the crowd - Dancehall, Ragga, Reggae, RnB, Hip-hop, Dance, Techno, Baseline, Garage, Oldies (60’s, 70’s, 80’s), Gospel, SA House/Kwaito, Zim music (Urban grooves, museve, sungura, gospel etc).
|
Being a female DJ has brought a unique set of challenges in this male-dominated industry. Occasionally I get mixed reactions, particularly in places I have never played. I suppose that is explicable as not everyone would have seen a female DJ play before. I have also discovered how difficult it can be to make inroads within the industry. As soon as you make some sort of progress, some are happy and ready to encourage you. Equally, others (even those close to you) are ready to pull you down. Its not easy sometimes. I believe as an industry and as music lovers we aught integrate and work together. By so doing we all gain and rise together. After all "Music is a Mission, not a Competition". Positively, I received a lot of support & encouragement from listeners, promoters and all the listeners people out there who attend my shows. I receive numerous requests from people all in various parts of the various parts of the world to play in their countries of residence which is very encouraging. |  |
In early 2008 I was humbled to receive the Lady DJ of 2007-08 award at the Urban Achievement Awards held in at Brittania Hotel, 9 Feb 2008 (Nottingham). On 24 August 2008, I also received the Unity Splash Best Female DJ Award at Honeys Nite Spot (Northampton).I cannot thank everyone enough for the constant support. One of my greatest achievements so was on Sat 28th March 2009. I became the winner of the ZIMBABWE CUP CLASH UK 2009 held at Traffic Niteclub, Luton. I claimed victory and triumphed over 20 other Zimbabwen Soundsystems from all over the UK.. See also the article "Winky D Triumphs over Mavado" on www.zimdancehall.co.uk). I would like to BIG UP all my Clash Supporters who lost their voices supporting me at the Clash & everyone who could not make it but were supporting me from the UK and all over the World (Clash pictures available in the Gallery and video clips under Music/Videos).
Due to public demand for a second show, I decided to host the "Sunglass Affair 2008 - Part 2" on Sat 1 November 2008 at Club Sugacane in Leeds and was equally sucessful. My third promotion was my very own Birthday Bash themed THE "BLUE-ICE AFFAIR" (Blue White & Bling!!!) and took place on Sat 13th December at Upstairs Downstairs Niteclub, Leeds. I wanted this to be a show with a difference - PURE MADD ENTERTAINMENT all night long with nothing but happy people!! The response was overwhelming (See Gallery for pictures). Thereafter, I organised the "LADY GEE2 ZIM CUP CLASH AFTER PARTY" held @ Dfusion Niteclub (Leeds) on Sat 9th May 2009 to celebrate winning the Zim Cup Clash UK 2009.
My next big show was for the third time around "The Official Sunglass Affair 2009" on Sat 1st August @ Club Dfusion, Leeds (see Gallery) which was bigger & better than the previous shows. In fact, the "SUNGLASS AFFAIR" has become something of a trademark for me and an annual event held every single year in Leeds, with people travelling from all over the country to attend. Besides Zim Cup Cash another major highlight for 2009 was the S.A.M.A. Festival and Zimfest. I was the main DJ at the S.A.M.A. Festival held at Stockwood Athletic track in Luton 30th Aug 2009. It was an honour for me to play the instrumentals for the artists including Danny Kaya (Zambia) and Zimbabwe's Sniper Storm, Roki & M'afriq and UK-based Jusa, Simple Dread, Dubbie Benzie, Kudzi Ku & others. To top it up I was the one paying the instrumentals again for Winky D & Sniper Storm when they hit the stage at Zimfest on Sat 5 Sept 2009. Ah the crowd went crazzzzy!!! See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muUE8nYKmnU to view the video clip also see related article http://nehandaradio.com/2009/09/07/sniper-winky-dee-steal-zimfest-limelight/. Soon after the Festivals fever I was approached by Y2K Promotions who host the S.AM.A Festival & promote big artists like Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi & Thomas "Mukanya" Mapfumo. They told me that they were so impressed by the work I had done with at Zimfest & S.A.M.A. that they would like me to be their main DJ for all the S.AM.A. Festivals & forthcoming major promotions. I took the opportunity & I was the main DJ at the shows that Thomas Mapfumo & Oliver Mtukudzi performed at in the UK. I played in between their breaks & when they were off stage. Starting 20th November (Athena, Leicester) where Tuku & Mukanya performed together, then at Mukanya's show 21st November (Music Box, Manchester), followed by his last show at Stratford Rex (London) 27th November 2009. It was an amazing experience!
2009 also saw me getting involved in an event somewhat different form the usual, yet one of the most fulfilling for me personally. Like many people, I had read of the plight of 18-year old Zimbabwean girl Taremeredzwa Mapungwana who was due for a lifesaving operation in the UK. On Sat 2nd October I received a call from one of my colleagues in music Simple Dread who was covering her story for Dandaro TV. So I went to visit her in hospital that day was just touched but what I saw. I spoke to Betty Makoni & Tare's Mum who informed us that due to complications, further funds were required for the operation to be a sucess. So together with Simple Dread we teamed up to organise a fundraising gig for the following Saturday 9th October at Club Escape, London. Supported by various Zimbabwean artists & DJs in the UK who came to perform & play free of charge and everyone from all walks of life who came to support we managed to raise £1,008 for her. Not nearly as much as was needed at the time, but hopefully went some way in helping out. Thanks to everyone who came & all who coudn't make it but were sending messages of support from wherever you were. I'd never seen such a display of love & unity among Zimbabweans. It was quite a moving time for me. Tare is doing fine now and is like a little sister to me. On 14 March 2010 I attended her Farewell Party in Beckton, London. It was a brilliant & and also an emotional send off.
My last promotion in 2009 was my birthday once again, December 12th @ Club Dfusion, Leeds. After Blue-Ice in 2008, the dress code got crazier "The Green & White Affair" it was one packed, crazzie party!! To be fair I didn't think anything would surpass Blue-Ice but this one certainly did. About half the people who attended were not even from Leeds but travelled from all over the UK, some arriving the day before and booking hotels! My fellow DJs did not disappoint either. The industry really came forward in support. Over 10 DJs in tha house from all otver the UK including the South, Birmingham, Liverpool, Sheffield & Leeds. Also present were the very talented duo Bkay & Kazz from Milton Keynes who put on a spectacular LIVE performance for the 1st time ever in Leeds. I just thank every single person who came to help celebrate my birthday & all my fellow DJs. After my birthday bash, my 1st promotion in 2010 was "The Big Ladies Night 2010", the biggest international all-female dj collaboration ever done featuring myself Lady G2 representing Zimbabwe, Lady K (UK) & Lisa British (Jamaica) on Sat 29th May, Bar 4, Leeds (see pictures in gallery) It was very successful prompting me to do Part 2 in London! So on 10th July 2010 "The Big Ladies Night 2010" came to London this time it went 'Inter-continental' featuring Lady TT (India/Asia), Lady K (UK/Europe) & myself (Zimbabwe/Africa) @ Funbay Nightclub, London. Big up all the lovely ladies (& gents) who turned out to support. In no time it was time for "The Sunglass Affair 2010" Held Sat 7th July @ Bar Dfusion, Leeds. For the 3rd year running, the 2010 Sunglass Affair got even bigger. We had DJ JAM JAM, one of the country's top Naija & Afro-Beats DJ's who, days before the day had just returned from his Nigerian tour. Alongside myself & Yorkshire's finest SA house DJs Ayobaness Crew it was one Crazie party!!! I would like to thank once again the masses that attended from all over the country & especially those that have attended all the Sunglass Affairs since 2008. Next gig was "Zim Champions in Action" bringing together all all Zimbabwe Cup Clash UK Winners since 2006 DJ Marky Mark (2006/7 Wolverhampton), Bobo Hill Sound (2008 Birmingham), Black Heart Sound (2008 Sheffield), myself Lady Gee2 (2009 Leeds) & Firesound Crew (2010 London) on 9th October in Leeds. This had never been done before and to make it even better we had the original Major E & Booker T LIVE in perfomance!! (Search Youtube for the video clips). Finally to conclude the year it was my Official Birthday Bash 2010. This year's theme was "Purple Rain" and to make it my biggest birthday bash ever we had some of Zimbabwe's biggest stars DECIBEL, BKAY & KAZZ, MAJOR E & BOOKER T who put on a First Class perfomance with solo performances and madd collaborations of songs they had done together. The performances were nothing short of spectacular including their all-time hit tracks and brand new tunes like "Mukuru Ndiani" currently rocking Zimbabwean airwaves and Zim internet radio stations all over the world. Massive thanks to all who turned up and made it all possible.
In the meantime, having been out of radio DJ-ing for so long, I decided to get back to broadcasting. I had to think long and hard about this due to work and other commitments and the main reason for doing so was to reach out to my supporters worldwide who are otherwise unable to come and see me play out at the clubs, as well as help to promote Zimbabwean Dancehall Artists. So on Thursday 25th Feb 2010 I launched "The Big Reggae/Dancehall Session" 7-9:30PM GMT (UK Time) and every single Thursday same time. I play mainly old skool Dancehall, Zimdancehall, big reggae vybes, lovers rock etc & the response every single week is overwhelming! So do tune in to www.zimnetradio.com every Thursday night. Also join me in the chatroom www.zimnetradio.com/mychat email requests to ladyg2@zimnetradio.com or text +44 893 88185. If you miss any show, you can download all past recorded shows here. As a singer as well I am finally working on releasing a few singles next year so watch the space, big things popping in 2011!!!
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the people who have supported, encouraged and elevated me to where I am today. Fellow DJs Smoothspinner (USA), McBonde (Canada), DJ Candyman (Canada), Micky-Dee, Stansplash, Bizzy T and many others. Artists Mr Easy, Pauline & M'afriq, Winky D, Sniper, Roki, Major E, Booker T and Danny Kaya for all your support. Big up Pascalle & Red Rat (USA) also Allianz Crew & Silverstone (Leeds). Most importantly, I acknowledge my listeners and members of the public who support me all the time and provide a lot of positive feedback. I enjoy talking to and mingling with the crowd wherever I go and have learnt a lot from them through the years. I would like to thank my family, whose support in everything I do remains unwavering. I have a long way to go still but above all else I would like to thank the Lord my God for elevating me and getting me to where I am. Without Him I am nothing.
| ||||
