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DJ Slahver: This is what it is like to manage top celebrities
What you need to know:
- I manage different characters differently. For example, a character like Vera and one like Nameless are very different.
- When I'm pitching for Vera I have to consider her targets, preferences and all that.
- If Nameless wants to release a video, we have to figure out how to make sure it doesn't get leaked. You need to know how to target the different brands and the target audience.
Slahver Lwangu Kinangoi, better known as DJ Slahver, is not just a DJ, he is also a skilled publicist and talent manager who has collaborated with top figures in the entertainment industry, locally and internationally. In this interview, Slahver discusses the challenges he has faced in his 18-year career and shares insights on common mistakes artists make when working with managers and publicists.
1. As one of the prominent artist managers in Kenya, can you name some of the artists you’ve collaborated with?
I've worked with so many top celebrities in Africa. I have engaged with all Wasafi signees including those who have left like Harmonize and Rich Mavoko, and with most Tanzanian artists. I've also worked with DJs like Romy Jones. From Nigeria I've worked with Jay Martins, Rude Boy, Patoranking and also some South African artists. Most people who call themselves publicists are not, they are just trying to make money. To be a publicist, you have to be well-connected. This is my 18th year in the game.
2. You have worked with Nameless and Wahu for long, how did you meet?
I first met Wahu when I was working at K24 in 2011. She was the head of features and I was a correspondent there. I was a street artist and I knew the DJ who used to make some mixes because I was among them, so I helped Wahu to push her song Sweet Love and the rest is history. We created our relationship and she later introduced me to her husband, Nameless. I am the couple’s tour manager and a stock DJ, so any time Nameless or Wahu is on stage, you'll see me there.
3. How do you maintain a lasting work relationship with various celebrities?
I manage different characters differently. For example, a character like Vera and one like Nameless are very different. So, you have to understand them. That's where experience comes in. When I'm pitching for Vera I have to consider her targets, preferences and all that. If Nameless wants to release a video, we have to figure out how to make sure it doesn't get leaked. You need to know how to target the different brands and the target audience.
