DJ Unknown is strategically playing the field

Local selector and football coach Kemar Edwards, professionally called DJ Unknown, says he will be making a strategic "power play" now that the events sector has reopened.

"I'm a natural goalscorer and it takes a certain level of skill to play the field. Right now, I am choosing the events wisely, and for those that I am booked for, I make it my duty to show up and observe the environment and the audience," DJ Unknown told THE STAR.

He said that using the skills that he learnt while playing football at the schoolboy level has helped him tremendously in the highly competitive and busy music business.

VIGILANT

"As a coach and as a player, you have to be vigilant, you have to have insight and see the play before it happens. I guess you can say is the same way selectors have to be to be on top of the game," he said. "My way of working is to analyse. I analyse the sound system that set up, observe and listen to the selector or disc jockey and MC that play before me and the audience reactions. Also, the music is changing and the way people play them is changing."

DJ Unknown, who has been working with football youth development programme Ballaz International for more than 10 years, is the founder of Road Karma Music. He, along with Jevon 'DJ Jevon' Wigg, has entered the Guinness Sounds of Greatness competition three times but is yet to win. His foray into sound systems and selecting happened by chance, after he was entertaining guests at a friend's cookout when the selector who was booked never showed up.

"Dem time deh me a mek everybody know say me a baller and me a go mek it. But the people encourage me to become a selector. I continued playing football, up to Under-21 for Arnett Gardens but when me never see a national contract a come my way, cause me did waan play for Jamaica, me vibes change," DJ Unknown shared.

He said that when he started playing music, he wanted to work with the popular Stone Love and Metro Media sound systems, but that did not materialise. However, he thinks things worked out for him.

"I am here balancing a job as a football coach, still doing what I love, sharing that love with the youths and I have the respect of the promoters and it's been hectic as the bookings keep coming in," he said.