In his younger years, Fredrick Karumba hated DJ-ing with a passion. He says:
“I hated the way DJs carried themselves, and while I’d go clubbing and enjoy the mixing, the DJs themselves didn’t impress me at all…It never crossed my mind that I would ever be a DJ!”
So what would change this man into the passionate and remarkable DJ that we today know as DJ Krowbar? What paths eventually led him to the turn-tables? We set to find out the story behind this latest addition to the ProJekt DJs unit.
Krowbar traces his love for music to very early in his life, and to his mother. A prisons officer, she was part of the famous Prisons Choir, and music was like second nature to her. Krowbar remembers growing up surrounded with music from all sorts of artists. When he was about twelve, he got interested in song instrumentation and started studying tracks.
“I remember listening to a Timberland-produced track, and thinking…how did he do that? It was then, in Class 7 and 8, that my passion to get into music production was born”
High school afforded him opportunity for the interest to grow, and by the time he was choosing careers, three options were foremost in his mind – music producer, broadcaster or accountant, the latter because he was actually good in math. The plan, like it is for many young people, was to join Strathmore and pursue the ‘logical’ option – accounting. But as fate would have it, that was never to be.
 Looking for something to do before enrolling at the school, Krowbar stumbled upon the newly founded Homeboyz School of music production. He was advised that the best route to doing well in the course would be to take all three classes available, two of which were DJ-ing and advanced DJ-ing, before taking the music production class. Seeing the two as necessary stepping stones to his dream, he got into the classes with passionate zeal. And in his own words, fell in love with the turntables.
He would go ahead to finish at the top of all his three classes, and land a job with the prestigious Homeboyz DJs unit, starting off as the ‘speaker boy’. Towards the end of 2004, he started making regular appearances as warm-up DJ for Homeboyz gigs. He was now part of the very establishment he’d once loathed, and was thoroughly enjoying himself.
It was also in this year that Krowbar met up with a childhood friend, Paul. Now a believer, Paul started reaching out to him, slipping him Gospel music to listen to. Slowly, his attitude towards Christianity started shifting. Among other things, he started becoming uncomfortable with his work environment, and it was a bittersweet pill when he lost his job at Homeboyz in early 2005. Krowbar went ahead to give his life to Christ in this year.
He joined K-Krew as a volunteer soon after, and got his hands on the decks at several outreaches, as well as K-Rave events. In mid-2006, he got a job teaching DJ-ing at the Wynton Music School. He has since risen to managing both of the school’s campuses, at the Village Market and Church House.
 Krowbar became part of ProJekt DJs in 2007, joining DJs Riq, Touch and Kagz. He's had opportunity to DJ at several events, including the Xtreme Weekend and more recently, the GospoEpic-sponsored Class Of 07.
Yet despite all these, DJ Krowbar points out that he’s just scratched the surface of his journey. He still hopes to become a full-time radio DJ someday, besides venturing into his original love, music production. He is also passionate about bringing up top-class DJs both out of the music school and as part of ProJekt DJs.
Krowbar can now look back on his journey to today with a smile, giving huge props to his mum ("Thank God for a praying mum who always believed in me", he explains), as well as Paul, whom he says keeps him on the straight and narrow. He’s full of advice for upstarts, urging them to believe in themselves and depend on God.
Now, says Krowbar, his ministry is all about living the Word:
“I want people to be changed by the way they see me live…I want my lifestyle to have a lasting impact on people’s lives. That’s why I do what I do.”
With the passion for excellence that he has, it is unlikely that anything will stand in the way of his getting everywhere he wants to go!
» Post Comment
» 4 Comments
1"Chosen one"
at Friday, 28 November 2008 17:09
Hi Krowbar congrats for the good job u r doing u r blessing 2 many n stay there believing in God for He alone we long 2 worship.
I normally here u in Kubamba Radio(K-crew) on Sato.
Baraka tele tu sana.
2"HHHHHWWWWWHHHAAATTT!!!!!!"
at Thursday, 15 January 2009 20:45
Well, well, well...... Krowbar!!!! My boy!!!!!
Tumetoka mbali!!! From that ka-room, eh?.
Well, is God I tell you!!!! I have seen you rise and it aint just you. Its The God in you too. Awesome man!!!! Shikilia vivyo hivyo!!!! I am so proud of you.....cant say more!!!! For true, I have learnt much more than I thought I would from you. Pendo mob!!!!! Baraka kibao!!!!!
3"how is it now"
at Saturday, 21 February 2009 13:35
congrats mzeiya for the good job.i love listening to you do the mix,one question though, what propelled you to go for the pilsner dj competition n how is your life after? by the way i loved you courage to proof to the world that church rocks
4"`REAL ONE`"
at Friday, 29 January 2010 09:06
Congrasts Krowbar.ur lifestyle has an impact alreaady!Thanks
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