Miss Pam makes a living through her passion Miss Pam
Miss Pam

Miss Pam

Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
Female DJs in Zimbabwe are beginning to blossom as well as prove that they can rise to the occasion and Miss Pam the DJ is one of them.

Being looked at as feeble, meek and timid is not part of Miss Pam the DJ’s repertoire when she is on the decks.

The Bulawayo born wheel spinner is slowly carving out a name in the music industry.

Miss Pam has joined a pool of prominent female DJs that headline international acts such as DJ Liz, Noma that Girl and Harare’s DJ Naida.

Born Isabel Pamela Tshingwana, the 24 year old is one of the entertainers that are expected to bring the house down on Saturday in Bulawayo at the Castle Lite Block party.

Miss Pam, who describes herself as a mix DJ, said deejaying was more than a passion.

“This is where I get my money to put food on my table. I chose deejaying so that I can make money and be as famous like David Guetta who is internationally renowned. I’m at school pursuing my studies so that I can better understand the business side of making money from my talent,” said Miss Pam.

She said at first she wanted to specialise in house music but later realised that not everyone enjoys the music.

Miss Pam said she was in deejaying to change perceptions that women were inferior to men.

“I can play at par or better than most male DJs and they know that but won’t admit. Honestly people still have the perception that women can’t perform better or at par with men. At times we are paid less money for gigs compared to what is paid to our male counterparts, a confirmation that even some promoters believe we are inferior,” said Miss Pam.

She said like any other profession, there were many challenges that come with deejaying.

“I’m still not being taken seriously by some promoters. One example is when I called someone to find out how I could be part of a gig, they said I should come for trials. I don’t think if I was male he would’ve said that to me,” said Miss Pam.

She said others book her and pay for her transport out of the city and when she is done with the gig, she is told there is no accommodation.

“The sleeping arrangements will now be the promoter’s house, which isn’t a good idea,” she said.

Miss Pam has been in the industry for the past two years and said she stumbled onto the trade after high school.

“I had just completed my high school studies at St Columbus and I was waiting for my results when fellow school mate DJ Ryan Synth introduced me to the decks.

I saw a poster from Ingwe Studios which was offering lessons in deejaying. After I enrolled at the school I was taught by DJ Scooby and that’s where my interest in deejaying developed. Ryan Synth had been turning tables for some time and after my lessons at Ingwe Studios I approached him to help me perfect the skills I had learnt,” said Miss Pam.

“Through DJ Scooby I got my first gig at Horizon in 2014. It was a Millar Draught Beer promotion and I was petrified. It was my first time to be in front of a huge crowd but to my surprise I rose to the occasion and fans danced throughout my one hour set,” said Miss Pam.

As Miss Pam’s confidence grew the same year she was called for another gig this time at braai spot 747 in Queens Park East where she said she got her first meaningful wage.

“The memorable gig was in December 2014 at 747 where we were promoting Delta Beverages and I got so much money that I bought my first touch screen, Lumina. I bought clothes, did my hair and nails,” said Miss Pam.

Apart from being a DJ, Miss Pam is a singer at heart and started singing while in primary school.

Meanwhile, Ms Pam said her most distressing time was when she lost her mother when she was 20.

“My mother’s passing on wasn’t easy because she was my all. Even now I still miss her and I wish she was here to advise me on things that I don’t understand in life,” she said.

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