The City Review’s entertainment master BOKA Jr speaks to DD Dawoody in this week’s Showbiz corner. The singer explores his journey to fame and how he beat the obstacles to get to the top. He speaks of struggles in the industry and what it takes to remain on top of the recording charts. Here is the interview.

BOKA Jr: Thank you for honoring an interview with The City, kindly introduce yourself to us.

DD Dawoody: My name is Dominic Dau Deng Mathiang, musically known as (DD Dawoody)  I am a singer, a songwriter, an activist, a student, and an entrepreneur.

BOKA Jr: Thank you very much. Kindly tell us where you were born and where you grew up

DD Dawoody: I was born in Wau, Western Bahr El Gazal, Sudan (now South Sudan).  While growing up, I was involved in church activities and I joined the choir and then began creating music. I was leading a music group in performances of African traditional music and dance.  I incorporated these influences based on my personal experiences rather than theoretically approaching African music. I continued to perform with groups and as a solo artist; the performance has been a major part of my life’s work. 

BOKA Jr: Which was your first song?

DD Dawoody: I released my first hit in 2011 called South Sudan is my home and also launched an album in 2012 called Inti Wahit.  In 2016, I released my third album, I love my nation.

BOKA Jr: Do you have other skills or work apart from music?

DD Dawoody: Yes, apart from music, I am a composer, a performer, and solo musician, I am one of the first artists whose music videos trended on national TV (SSBC or SSTV) during the independence of the Republic of South Sudan and contributed on live performance the same day.

For sure, I have been participating in Artist Initiatives for Peace and Response to Oppression, which includes ANATABAN ARTS INITIATIVE; I AM PEACE and THE JÜDISCHE KULTURBUND PROJECT. 

And I am currently a member of The Jüdische Kulturbund Project’s COVID-19: The Oppressor-an initiative that explores and collects artists’ responses to COVID- 19 from Africa, the US, Asia, and Europe.

BOKA Jr: Would you mention some challenges you might have experienced especially in music? 

DD Dawoody: Coming to challenges, I may talk of lack of promotion, tribalism at radio stations, and ignorance. Another issue is a crisis that caused financial difficulties to facilitate all music requirements and to keep up musicians.

BOKA Jr: So, as you mentioned; how hard it is for artists to promote their music and benefit from it during this time?

DD Dawoody: It depends now on who understands you, and who knows your work to support you, but the rest who are not having connections do not have the promotion of hidden agendas which includes tribalism among some radio presenters.

BOKA Jr. Talk to us about anyone or a company that recognized and promoted your talent

DD Dawoody: Meeni Meen of cocozos clan is a good mentor in South Sudan music likewise to MTN and my hard-working brother Jonny B and many more others that I didn’t mention. All of these great musicians you have not heard are always there doing their best.

BOKA Jr; Okay, but you have been away in the music industry, what’s your latest song?

DD Dawoody: My latest song now is WOLOLO. It involves collaboration between WITTY MILES X, ANDREW KAYS, and me. This WOLOLO is available on YouTube, just search WOLOLO to listen to it and you feel the good vibe.

BOKA Jr: How do big artists bring up upcoming musicians in the music industry?

DD Dawoody: It depends on the person you are working with because the conditions are never the same.

BOKA Jr: How do you see South Sudanese music in 5 years to come and what is needed to make it better?

DD Dawoody: There will be so much prosperity and competition at the regional and international levels. So, there is a need to digitalize our local music and let’s start encouraging our fans to join us to listen to our songs online. We artists should also start earning some little amount of money so that we can keep on producing more and give the best work.

BOKA Jr: What project are you running now?

DD Dawoody: Good question. I forgot to mention before that I do run studio management now at Asun Records studio Nyakuron West, opposite, MCC General Trading and Investment Centre

BOKA Jr:  Any encouraging message for the talented youths out there?

DD Dawoody: My message to talented youths across the country is that, let us start believing in our own talents, and let’s try to push it to reach out to our neighbors. Remember always if you do not believe in what you are doing then no one will come and start believing in you before you.

The City Review’s entertainment master BOKA Jr speaks to DD Dawoody in this week’s Showbiz corner. The singer explores his journey to fame and how he beat the obstacles to get to the top. He speaks of struggles in the industry and what it takes to remain on top of the recording charts. Here is the interview.

BOKA Jr: Thank you for honouring an interview with The City, kindly introduce yourself to us.

DD Dawoody: My name is Dominic Dau Deng Mathiang, musically known as (DD Dawoody)  I am a singer, a songwriter, an activist, a student, and an entrepreneur.

BOKA Jr: Thank you very much. Kindly tell us where you were born and where you grew up

DD Dawoody: I was born in Wau, Western Bahr El Gazal, Sudan (now South Sudan).  While growing up, I was involved in church activities and I joined the choir and then began creating music. I was leading a music group in performances of African traditional music and dance.  I incorporated these influences based on my personal experiences rather than theoretically approaching African music. I continued to perform with groups and as a solo artist; the performance has been a major part of my life’s work. 

BOKA Jr: Which was your first song?

DD Dawoody: I released my first hit in 2011 called South Sudan is my home and also launched an album in 2012 called Inti Wahit.  In 2016, I released my third album, I love my nation.

BOKA Jr: Do you have other skills or work apart from music?

DD Dawoody: Yes, apart from music, I am a composer, a performer, and solo musician, I am one of the first artists whose music videos trended on national TV (SSBC or SSTV) during the independence of the Republic of South Sudan and contributed on live performance the same day.

For sure, I have been participating in Artist Initiatives for Peace and Response to Oppression, which includes ANATABAN ARTS INITIATIVE; I AM PEACE and THE JÜDISCHE KULTURBUND PROJECT. 

And I am currently a member of The Jüdische Kulturbund Project’s COVID-19: The Oppressor-an initiative that explores and collects artists’ responses to COVID- 19 from Africa, US, Asia, and Europe.

BOKA Jr: Would you mention some challenges you might have experienced especially in music? 

DD Dawoody: Coming to challenges, I may talk of lack of promotion, tribalism at radio stations, and ignorance. Another issue is a crisis that caused financial difficulties to facilitate all music requirements and to keep up musicians.

BOKA Jr: So, as you mentioned; how hard it is for artists to promote their music and benefit from it during this time?

DD Dawoody: It depends now on who understands you, and who knows your work to support you, but the rest who are not having connections do not have the promotion of hidden agendas which includes tribalism among some radio presenters.

BOKA Jr. Talk to us about anyone or a company that recognized and promoted your talent

DD Dawoody: Meeni Meen of cocozos clan is a good mentor in South Sudan music likewise to MTN and my hard-working brother Jonny B and many more others that I didn’t mention. All of these great musicians you have not heard are always there doing their best.

BOKA Jr; Okay, but you have been away in the music industry, what’s your latest song?

DD Dawoody: My latest song now is WOLOLO. It involves collaboration between WITTY MILES X, ANDREW KAYS, and me. This WOLOLO is available on YouTube, just search WOLOLO to listen to it and you feel the good vibe.

BOKA Jr: How do big artists bring up upcoming musicians in the music industry?

DD Dawoody: It depends on the person you are working with because the conditions are never the same.

BOKA Jr: How do you see South Sudanese music in 5 years to come and what is needed to make it better?

DD Dawoody: There will be so much prosperity and competition at the regional and international levels. So, there is a need to digitalize our local music and let’s start encouraging our fans to join us to listen to our songs online. We artists should also start earning some little amount of money so that we can keep on producing more and give the best work.

BOKA Jr: What project are you running now?

DD Dawoody: Good question. I forgot to mention before that I do run studio management now at Asun Records studio Nyakuron West, opposite, MCC General Trading and Investment Centre

BOKA Jr:  Any encouraging message for the talented youths out there?

DD Dawoody: My message to talented youths across the country is that, let us start believing in our own talents, and let’s try to push it to reach out to our neighbors. Remember always if you do not believe in what you are doing then no one will come and start believing in you before you.