Khotso Moleko’s journey started with collecting cassettes & CD’s from Platform CD Shop in Lanesia, South of Johannesburg. It is during this time he taught himself how to mix using Deck A to Deck B and admits that there was no syncing but his audience thought he was a wizard. He also goes by the name KhotosBFR when deejaying and began his vinyl collecting journey with records back 2002 and has never looked back. This journey meant visiting record stores at least once a week, sometimes walking from varsity in Braamfontein to Rosebank to listen to records at SoulCandi. He got meet DJ Claude at SoulCandi who at times paid for his taxi fare back home when he had maxed his travel allowance. when it comes to music, he follows no process but buys what he likes, especially because he listens to many genres.
I caught up with Khotso to hear more from him about his journey with music and vinyl records.
Is your story regarding your journey with music the common one of family having had a great influence on your love for music and you becoming a dj?
Yes and no! Just like in most families, music is always a common theme especially if this is synonymous with great or happy moments. My dad is quite a jazz collector and he always played music that even though I was quite young, I knew this was to lift the mood for the day. This made me gravitate to music in a deeper way than just up-lifting my mood but I wanted to share this feeling with others too.
As a record collector myself, I have my reasons why I buy and collect records. What made you want to collect records at first? And with all the technological changes that affect the music industry, what keeps you motivated to continue collecting?
I used to collect underground hip hop cd’s since high school. My house was broken to one day and all my CD’s were taken. The only disc I had left was Mekonko Vol.3 which was luckily in a friends car. So the girls dug this vs my underground hip hop so that made me pay closer attention to house music. I also vouched from that day that I’d never buy a CD again and opted for vinyl ever since.
Do you have a system of how you store/file your records?
Not really, I just keep my alternative/hip hop stuff separate from my house music.
Here in Jo’burg we have a few spots you can physically walk in to buy records and most are online stores like Oh OneOne Vinyl. Which are your favourite shops to buy from and why?
Oh OneOne Vinyl of course, Juno, Deejay.de and Bandcamp. So this best because in the comfort of my own space with no peer influence all my purchases are personal and not about what’s trending on the streets.
Diggin or buying records isn’t just about buying the actual vinyl. It’s about the people that we come across doing this. Any particular person or people instantly come to mind when you think of vinyl?
My BFR family, Dj Smash, Slaka, Mbuso, Claude, China, Tumi, Zakes, Nkanyezi, Scratch and Zakes.
Is there record/s that keep missing you or you miss them that you really want as part of your collection?
I end up getting them all hahahahahaha… It’s mostly those that I don’t know the titles to that I miss so cant really name them right now.
Who would be the one person, if granted, you would go record digging with and why?
Dj China – I used to spend a lot of my young days record shopping with him and he’s played a big part in my style and he’s still quite ahead of the game in my opinion.
When searching for records to buy, both online and in stores, is there a process you have formulated for yourself?
Not really, its always super random. I always fill my cart and have serious regrets why I logged on in the first place 🙂
Lastly, what is on the horizon for Khotso?
Nothing special, A Luta Continua!
Connect with Khotso on Instagram and mixcloud below: