#ProducersCorner – DJ Fortee

DJ Fortee is one of the most hard working DJ/ Producers in South Africa; was born in Ga-Rankuwa and raised in a small township in Pretoria called Soshanguve.

His DJing career started just after he turned 16 hanging around neighborhood friends who were DJs and simply tagging along while they play at small events/parties – and this had a huge influence on his growth as a DJ.

According to DJ Fortee, becoming a young determined DJ was perhaps the best decision a youth could make. DJ Fortee bought his first DJ mixer from a friend and a pair of CDJs, because he wanted to be known and fast. He strategically made mix tapes and handed them out for free which earned him the notoriety he needed.

Soon after he found himself playing alongside House Legends such as: Black Coffee, DJ Christos, Vinny Da Vinci and Oskido just to name a few. At the age of 20, DJ Fortee began to vision party goers grooving to his own originally produced music. So in the studio he went to begin self-learning the art of music production and out came the beginning to a music producing career.

A few months down the line he produced a song “Ngoba Nguwe” featuring a local vocalist named ‘Tshepo’, the song blew up in his neighborhood and the excitement only increased his determination after being approached by one of then Universal Music’s artists ‘DJ Choice’, who was interested in featuring the song on his album “Casanova vol. 2”. He also worked together with DJ Choice on more songs for the album.

Early 2012 DJ Fortee joined forces with the talented vocalist ‘Komplexity’ to launch a unique sound, their first track collaboration was released on ‘The Evolution Of African House’ album mixed by ‘The Moodyfreaks’ – the track titled “The one”. DJ Fortee & Komplexity kept working together for months till they decided to come up with one creative name for themselves “KomFort Blendz”.

They released their first album as “KomFort Blendz” titled “Keep Walking” in 2013 under Sony Music as part of the compilation ‘House Afrika Sessions 3’, a five bumper pack release including other artists/producers; namely – Problem Child, Brazo WA Afrika, Dvine Brothers and La-Shad.

Their album featured a host of both great male and female artists, such as Akhona, Rethabile, Petmuso and Tebogo J, as part of an array of original works. DJ Fortee was granted the opportunity to work on an international remix, by “William Reelsoul” titled “Searching” featuring a South African Born vocalist ‘Kaylow’. The track made it to “Jungle Fever Vol.1” as well as two of his other tracks mixed by “Wishingsoul” released by DeepForest SA.

DJ Fortee also worked with Mr. O to bring out a soulful groove album which made waves internationally. The inspiration from family, friends and fans kept his creativity evolving.

Today DJ Fortee has a very contemporary sound that fuses a combination of Ancestral and Soulful house, coming together to form sweet and groovy Afrosoul House. DJ Fortee has now released his 1st Solo Double CD album “The Murmur” featuring a host of great male and female artists. The album is released through Motherland Distribution and currently available in all Musica stores Nationwide.