On the clock - Case of right place, right time for DJ Clock

By Tshidi Mametsa , 04 Oct 2008 | One Comment

As the festive season knocks at the door there seems to be only one tune securing a place for itself as a summer hit – Umahamba Yedwa, written and produced by Kholile “DJ Clock” Gumede (22).

The song is from his debut album The First Tick.

“That’s why I say everything is controlled by time and that is how my name came about,”
-Dj Clock

Clock tells Hola how time rules the world.

“Time is money. When you are playing in a club you need to know how to time the audience. And when one gets a gig the first thing you ask is ‘how long do you want me to play?’

“That’s why I say everything is controlled by time and that is how my name came about,” says the soft-spoken Gumede.

He gatecrashed at gigs, where he often negotiated his way into doing what he loves – spinning the discs.

During one of his gatecrashing adventures he met DJ Chynaman.

“He asked me to write a song for him. So I presented him with what is now known as Chynaman in Africa.

“One day when I was playing the song in Sky Bar in Durban, Euphonik asked me if I’d work with him on his album Definition of House 3.”

“I was new in the industry and knew jack about how things operated”
-Dj Clock

DJ Fresh liked Chynaman in Africa, so he asked Gumede for permission to include it on one of his compilation cds.

“I explained that the song was made for DJ Chynaman so he had to ask him. Then I wasn’t sure of what I was doing. I was new in the industry and knew jack about how things operated,” he adds.

Gumede met DJ Ganyani last year and contributed to his Ganyani House Groove Vol 5 – the songs Sea Breeze and Ubumnandi.

He also wrote, produced and mixed several songs on Dj Cndo’s album Finest Lady Of House Vol 1.

Gumede has also worked with Durban’s Finest and Big Nuz.

The fast-rising music timebomb says his other passion is the church.

“I’m a member of Benjamin Dube’s church High Praise. I’ve been part of it since I was a very young kid.

“Till today when I’m not playing, I’m in church.”

Gumede tells Hola he is saving money so that he can go back to school next year: “I’m planning to study sound engineering.”

He is also getting together his own company called AMPM.