Another year of Ultra cool

HOWARD SACKSTEIN

Legendary names such as DJ Snake, Dash Berlin, Afrojack, and Steve Aoki jetted in to grace the stage. They were joined by local names like Black Coffee, Fresh, and Euphonik, while DJs Guy Herman and Abby Nurock added a little bit of Jewish flair.

But Ultra is a business and, the person behind the South African franchise of Ultra is Shaun Duwe. On the eve of Ultra, Duwe took time out of his schedule to speak to the SA Jewish Report.

How big is Ultra?

Ultra is all over the globe. It’s present across six continents, producing events in 26 cities and 29 countries. Ultra South Africa is the country’s biggest electronic music festival, and attracted more than 60 000 fans through its gates in 2020.

Your name has been synonymous with music in this country for decades. How did it all begin, and how did it land up at Ultra?

It began when I was a young child. My dad and his mom before him were both in the industry, so the love for music and club culture is clearly in the genes! I started DJ’ing in my teens, moved into promoting, then owning venues, and eventually into festivals. I was lucky enough to be granted the opportunity to launch Ultra South Africa, and we’re now one of the longest running Ultra in-country events in the world.

You have been nominated a few times for the Absa Jewish Achiever Awards, you haven’t won yet, but Hazel Feldman, with whom you work closely, won the Art, Sports, Science and Culture Award two years ago. This sort of music doesn’t fit so neatly into the other type of shows Hazel is involved in. Is it an easy relationship?

I have all the love and respect in the world for Hazel and Tony Feldman and the Showtime team, and I consider myself lucky to have them as partners.

How do you balance all of that with your wife and family?

I’m lucky to have a wife that loves the industry as much as I do, so she enjoys being a part of it, and encourages me to travel and take full advantage of the opportunities available to me. Sometimes she comes along.

Who is your favourite EDM (electronic dance music) artist that you have brought to SA?

It’s hard to nominate just one, but right up there would be Skrillex (and he’s the nicest guy), Duke Dumont (our first Corona Sunsets Festival, and such a magical moment when he played Ocean Drive at probably the world’s most beautiful venue), and The Chainsmokers at Ultra South Africa 2019. The list continues.

Is there anyone you still hope to bring to South Africa?

Disclosure, Daft Punk, Solomun …

With the rand at R15 to the dollar, is it still possible to bring the big names to South Africa?

It’s not easy, but we somehow manage to pull it together. We understand it’s a big spend for youngsters, but compared to the cost of seeing these artists individually, it’s a bargain.

How do we get more South African artists onto the international music scene?

Focus, discipline, and serious drive. They must put their heads down, and not look up or get distracted until they’ve made it.