S
ho!Mag : Thank you for
taking some timeout
for us, so who is Vesta
(your birth name and
surname) and where
are you from?
Vesta : Well Vesta is actually an
ordinary guy named Willie van
Biljon from Johannesburg, residing
in the East Rand, in a small place
called Alra Park .
Sho!Mag : So Vesta, this music
journey tell us about it.When did
it start and how did it start?
Vesta : Well music has always
something intriguing to me from a
young age. I still remember sitting
in a Maths lesson in grade 7 saying
to myself “I’m going to be a DJ” At
that moment I thought of a name
and gave myself the name ‘Vesta’,
weird I know, but that’s how I got
the name.
Getting to High School, a lot of
opportunities came up; there were a
lot of events and DJ’s. I met Dawood
Bay (SonicTouch); we shared the
same aspirations and dreams. We
started sculpturing our talent and
putting it to practice at school.
Due to this exposure at school we
started doing gigs around our home
town and people started recognising
us. The year 2014, my matric year,
I decided to start my own online
radio station, I told Sonic about the
idea and he thought it was fresh and
unique! Alra Park Radio was started
and we ran with the idea and we
turning two years old this year.
Sho!Mag : Honestly, how has your
journey been within music so far?
Vesta : The music industry is
very harsh I must say. Whe n you
passionate about what you do,
some people tend to take advantage
of your passion. It gets to a point
where you just care about the
music and everything else is just
blurred out totally. From being
exploited, used, mistreated and
people underestimating you; It has
been a very rough journey, but all
these things teaches you a lesson
and you surely learn from them.
Sho!Mag : What is it that you
do musically? Are you a music
producer or a Deejay?
Vesta : First love was DeeJaying,
but I discovered that I had a ear
for music. I started learning the
basics, but I saw that there was a lot
I was lacking, I made the decision
to study Sound Engineering. After
matric I enrolled into Cape Audio
College in Cape Town, where I
learned the fundamentals of sound,
music production and also radio
production. I studied for a year only,
and then jumped to the University
of Johannesburg. Long story short; I
am a DJ and Producer
Sho!Mag : Besides being in the
music industry, what is Vesta
currently busy with.
Vesta : I’m a guy that loves exper-
imenting new ways of innovation
and just trying to find new ways
of doing things. I have a clothing
range I am developing which is
called ‘Influence Clothing’ I am also
currently a student at the University
of Johannesburg, studying Business
Management.
Sho!Mag : Any musical projects
you have been part of and are
there any current ones you are
involved with?
Vesta : Well not really, but me and
Sonic Touch have been speaking
about doing something together
so that is just something you’ll will
have to wait upon.
Sho!Mag : Future or planned
musical projects. What does Vesta
have instore for us in the future?
Vesta : Yes for sure! I believe in
taking your time and being satisfied
with your music before you let it out
to the public. I got a few hits I have
not released yet, but those who have
heard me playing live can support
the statement. Alra Park Radio will
soon be recruiting artist to sign as
we in the process of becoming a
music label; APR Recordings. We
also have our Second Annual Birth-
day Celebration coming up on the
third of September.
Sho!Mag : Looking back on it all,
what would you say have been
your Career highlights so far?
Vesta : Oh man it has to be our first
events hosted as Alra Park Radio
with EmoBoys, Kenny Kunene and
also our live broadcasting on the ra-
dio from huge events such as Hype-
soul’s birthday celebration where we
had Shimza’s set broadcasted live
and also broadcasting at Khomza’s
event where we had DJ Thakzin,
Mash.O and various DJ’s spinning
live. Not forgetting the Annual
Ekurhuleni Easter Festival in our
home town where we broadcasted
live and had Yfm Dj’s; DA Kruk and
Zayi Maya, we also had Kwesta, DJ
Ganyani and local acts.
Sho!Mag : Any last
words for the young
ones looking at mak-
ing music a career?
Vesta : Never let
anyone tell you
that there’s
no money
in music or
you wasting
your time,
it’s not
always
about the
money.
Follow
your heart
and stay true to
you. Sho!