Keren Onay Live Recording 2024

With over 20 years in the industry, Keren Onay has solidified his place amongst the heavy weights in the

South African electronic music industry. Always staying true to his influences having deep roots in techno and

the progressive sound spectrum. Keren follows his instincts to charge the crowd with positive energy, leading

him to be/selected as the opening performance for international acts such as the ingenious Trafik from Global

Underground as well as Tiefschwarz from Souvenir Music to name a few.

We have heard his cutting edge sound across dance floors at Truth Nightclub in Johannesburg and the majority of night clubs across Cape Town and Durban, and at/all leading music festivals.

We also tuned in to 5fm regularly to hear him being aired on Friday & Saturday nights to hear him being aired on South Africa's broadest dance music radio shows as well as youth radio station UJFM for many live

radio interviews about dance music history and it's future in South Africa. A regular feature at the Ultra Music Festival SA on the Resistance Stage and the legendary H2O festival, the latter of which he also hosted a crowd favourite - The Sunday Funk Floor. Keren Onay is also the mastermind behind the Sunday Funk brand cementing itself as one of the biggest Sunday events in Johannesburg. Sunday Funk has maintained it's spot as the place

to be since it burst onto the scene in 2013. Hosting incredible renowned international artist from around the globe

such as Alex Stein from Brazil as well as Raxon and Shall Ocin from Maceo Plex's imprint Ellum Recordings. Major headlining techno artist: Hatzler - Senso Sounds and the esteemed main stage act ANNA (Brazil)

- Kompakt Recordings.

Having risen through the ranks with pure passion, insane skill and determination as his driving force, Keren yet still considers himself honoured to have a place as a regular act at most of the major events in South Africa.

Purveyor of the groove! Perverter of the senses! Slick, Passionate, Hedonistic, it's all about the bright lights and big city nights! There are many ways to describe a person but none more accurate in describing Baltazar Marques... If he isn't providing the vibe with quality house in all it's guises, he would certainly be seeking it... and lucky for us... find it he will...

"I'm a lover of music, not a purist! If it's good, it's good. Play to your audience, play what you love. Don't let genre snobbery rule your sound..."

As well as two years playing locally in South Africa before moving overseas to get involved with international sounds and events, his experience on the European DJ Circuit for 9 years was spent mostly in the mecca of dance, London. Baltazar has spanned a musical journey which includes playing to packed crowds at some of the most renowned clubs including The End, Turnmills, The Egg, Ministry of Sound, Koko and many a dark basement and club in-between. Playing Festivals in Russia, Gala Nights in Ibiza, and consistently selling out Boat Parties and club nights under his own brands, Comfortably Numbed which has just celebrated it's 8th year and Elek2ronik together with his 2 PhUnKeD uP partner in crime Greg King. Some feat for any promotion and it's no surprise to hear he has supported & touched wax in the company of many local UK and international Big Name DJ's and Artists including Erick Morillo, Tim Sheridan, Paul van Dyk, D'Julz, Mike Monday, Sebastien Leger, Stanton Warriors, SOS, Herve and King Roc to name a few.

The past 11 years has been a manic arrangement of twisted, mashed up, phatt beat filled week-ends and late week nights spent promoting, DJ'ing and producing as one half of the DJ Duo's 2 PhUnKeD uP and more recently, Deft Deuce. Winning multiple mix competitions as well as iDJ Magazine's RAW TALENT, releasing tracks on record labels such as Chameleon Muzik and Navida Records, hosting various online radio shows and running their own nights and music label, they, through their music created a following of like minded people that became more of a family than just clubbers & friends. Their own nights Comfortably Numbed and Elek2ronik played host to DJs such as D.Ramirez, Deepgroove, Alex Kenji, Jaimie Fanatic, Azzido Da Bass, Roman Pushkin, HiJack, Jan Driver, Lee Mortimer & Paul Bingham at various quality venues around the capital. 

"For Greg and I, it was never about drawing the biggest crowds, we just wanted to invite & play alongside some of our favorite DJ's & Artists and we were lucky to have such a great turnout from everyone that happened like what we were into."

"Challenge your ears to take in the aural delights that sit delightfully heavy on your soul and keep you skipping to the beats long after the lights have come on…"

The Early Days

With music in his blood, ambition and a rare talent, James was determined to create and forge his own individual style on the heady world of EDM. Right from the start he took the music industry by the horns and has successfully managed to make a name for himself.

His first public performance saw him as a guest at Derek The Bandits' (a well known South African Radio personality) "Sound Republic" party. Slightly raw but eager he left his mark and was offered a residency at one of the original "all weekend" clubs in Johannesburg, Sunnyside Up.

He has also been one of the top resident DJs at South Africa's longest running and most successful club, ESP.

Identified as having something out of the ordinary, the management of ESP invested heavily in James and his international career, initiating a DJ exchange with other promoters around the world and so far he has proven his worth to audiences at a number of prestigious clubs and events on the international circuit including countries like Austria, Spain, Poland, the UK and Switzerland!

Warming Up

He took part in the 2006 Zurich street parade as part of the South African representation and showed one million people that the southern hemisphere is a force to be reckoned with.

Experience comes in many forms and James has had the honor of playing alongside some of the biggest names in the dance world. He opened for Armin van Buuren during a 2006 South African tour as well as closed for the world’s number one on the South African leg of the highly acclaimed Godskitchen Boombox tour in 2009.

Firing Off

In October 2010, James played at the acclaimed Electric Mansion event held at Gallagher Estate. The line-up was unlike anything seen in South Africa until that point. James played alongside trance giants Sander Van Doorn, Marco V and First State. 

Shortly after that, James played at the Godskitchen Boombox Tour, when it returned to South Africa in November 2010, with Above & Beyond (rated 5th on the DJ Mag 100) as the headliners. 

In December 2010, James Damian launched a new concept in events called “The Darkest Forest”. James transformed ESP into a magical forest for the night complete with quirky performers, sultry dancers and advanced stage and lighting such which Joburgs club life had never seen. It was a huge hit, with South African based International Protoculture as the main guest DJ. 

In January 2011 James alongside partners Muzzi Muz and DJ Speedy started a new trance night aimed at bringing back the sound to South Africa’s capital city Pretoria: “Save The Last Trance” has been well received and attendance continues to grow with each party.

In 2009, James, along with Shane Halcon, hosted a “Trance Africa” floor at H2O. In 2011, he returned to the Main Stage at H2O, at the recent “2 Cities” party, which featured International DJ, Marcel Woods.

Affable and highly approachable, this gentleman of the decks has created a following of faithful fans eager to loose themselves in his musical magic.

Played Alongside/Supporting sets: 

Signum : Dave 202 : Cosmic Gate : Steve Murano : Scott Bond : Dumonde : Gareth Emery : Brian Cross : 4 Strings : Thrillseekers : Pulser : Ron Van Den Beuken : Mark Norman : Rank1 : PG2 : Above & Beyond : John 00 Fleming : Dave Lee : Menno De Jong : Kyau & Albert : Ian Betts : Adam White : Leon Bolier : M.I.K.E : Armin Van Buuren : Sander van Doorn : Marco V : First State : Shane Halcon : Protoculture : Marcel Woods : Paul Oakenfold : Lange : W&W : 

Missred Biography

Music Style: Deeper Sounds of House

Great DJs have three things in common: Passion, talent and that unmistakable X factor. Missred has all three in abundance.
The music drives her, the talent pumps through her veins and the X factor can be judged by witnessing her command behind the decks. She’s no amateur either.
With years of solid crowd-pleasing experience, Missred’s star is on the rise. She has performed in front of the most demanding crowds in South Africa as well as Internationally. Playing at top class clubs & capacity festivals. Missred has also been featured as a regular guest on radio & television shows.

Miss Red was part of an all-female DJ agency which was founded and run
by Lady Lea.Divas on Decks consists of the best female DJ’s in South Africa. The agency is set to promote, protect and book female DJ’s to showcase her full potential and music styles.

In order to grow further as an accomplished DJ, Missred is also involved with hosting her own events.Joined forces with 2lani’s label – Do It Now Recordings as Events Manager. She was asked to release her first album in 2015.Do it Now Records presents Oh So Coy – Mixed by Missred- Available on Spotify & most digital platforms

To add to that Missred also owned her own DJ School. This gives her a more intimate knowledge of the music she plays. Her passion fuels her ambition and she aims to release a few exemplary albums, with productions signed to overseas labels.

In her own words: "I play with soul and emotion. For the two hours that

I’m up there, I share a part of my soul with the crowd and vice versa, without ever saying a word to each other. Nothing excites me and makes me happier than to see so many people, regardless of age, gender, or race, coming together for the love of house music. I’m just grateful to be instrumental in that experience."

Her style of music is broad and reflects her educated and mature taste, taking inspiration from all genres and blending it into an aural experience that can only be described as sublime.
Whether it be minimal tech, electronic or instrumental...As long as we get deep. Depending on where I play and the energy I get from the crowd, that allows me to express my emotions & where I can take them, because as much as I like to educate and inspire, I always remember that we are all together for one reason & that reason is .... The Music!

"House music is the best way of expression for me. It feeds my mind, my
body, and most importantly, my soul!"

Big Events Played @:
H20 – Splash - Kiss – Hangar 51 - Hot Soup @ Emerald Casino - Touch
Sweet Sessions - Citrus Lounge Events – Defected
Clubs Played @:
Therapy Legends – PTA Co.Fi – Brooklyn - Roxy’s - Aruba - Fuel - Natural Groove - Groove Bar –Malabar – Submission – Nexus - ESP – Taboo - Su-da- da 115 - House 22 - PTA - Carfax - Truth -Sugar - Chicago - Voodoo Lounge Jolly Dolphin – J-Bay Raffles – Durban Chrome – Cape Town - Roosevelt – Cape Town - Finezz – Port Elizabeth Masquerades - Namibia
International Gigs:  Inigo - UK - Jan 2010

Radio Appearances /TV Appearances:
Jika Majika - Member of Deck-a-licious – 3 Years – 5fm Vinyl Frontier on 5fm Yfm – Guest Slots Metro FM – Guest Slots The Nightwatchmen on Good Hope Fm – Cape Town Erica Elle’s – Studio 55 Formed part of Diva's on Decks

Interviews: Channel O - Mr Spencer - Clubbers Guide – BPM – Mixed Apples – Pulse Radio

Contact Information & Pages:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7215855844 - Missred Group Page https://www.facebook.com/MissredDJ - Missred Fan Page 
http://twitter.com/MissredDJ - Missred on Twitter 
https://soundcloud.com/missred-1 - Missred on Soundcloud 
https://www.instagram.com/misread1 - Missred on Instagram
      
Lee-Anne aka MissRed 
(06) 44 34 35 24