Personal life
Early life
Qness grew up in Palm Springs, Johannesburg in the Vaal. He excelled at school and was also very good at public speaking and debating.Musical career
It has been previously reported that Qness can't even remember when he started doing music but he was at it from a very young age. At age 17, he and his childhood friend drafted a proposal and approached a local bank to secure funds to set up a recording studio. They went to the bank dressed in high school uniforms and carrying school bags, and did a presentation on why they needed the funds. The bank officials were so impressed and the loan was approved the next day.Debut Album
''On Cue Vol. 1'' is the debut studio album by DJ Qness, which was released by Sheer Music in 2009. This album remains one of Qness's most successful albums to date. Shortly after releasing the album, Qness announced that he had originally wanted to work with established acts likeOther Albums
''On Cue Vol. 2'' is the second studio album by DJ Qness, which was released in 2011 by Universal Music. Like its predecessor it did extremely well on the market and spurned hit singles such as "Time", "Believing", "Imiyalo", and "I Do" just to name a few. Qness also matured in terms of production compared to his first record and also managed to realize his dream of working with acts he had always wanted to work with from the start such as Simphiwe Dana and Zamajobe. The recording sessions for the album predominantly took place at his new home in Ferndale as well as his permanent studio in the Vaal and he recorded the project over a period of two years before finally conceding that it was ready for the market. ''On Cue Vol. 3'' is the third studio album by DJ Qness. It was released in 2013 by Soul Candi Records and featured collaborations with prominent acts such asAssociated Acts
Qness is associated with acts like Dele Sosimi, Monkey Safari, FNX Omar, Lazarusman, MoBlack,Television
DJ Qness is currently an Executive Producer for the South Africa Amapiano Awards (2021) and Amapiano's Next Superstar (2022).Personal life
Qness has a son named Loyiso, the mother to whom they separated before the child was born.Discography
Albums
* ''On Cue Vol. 1'' * ''On Cue Reloaded'' * ''On Cue Vol 2'' * ''On Cue Vol 3''''On Cue Vol. 1 (Album)''
Tracklisting
All songs produced by DJ Qness.Album Reception
The album was a resounding success and the lead singles like "Time" and "Believing" went viral and became very popular on radio as well as on the club and party circuit and it served as a pivotal introduction to what was going to be his next project "On Cue Volume 2".Singles
* "Fugama Unamathe" (2009) * "Uzongilinda" (2009)= ''Fugama Unamathe''
= Single by DJ Qness from the album "On Cue Vol. 1" Released: 2009 Recorded: 2008 Genre: Afro House Length: 07.43 Label: Sheer Music/ Cue Ness Communications Writers: Qhubani Ndlovu Sukoluhle Ncube Producer(s): Qhubani Ndlovu Music VideoBackground Fugama Unamathe was Qness' first single to be released commercially. It is also one of his most successful singles. In 2008 after dropping out of law school Qness was forced to move back to his parents' home South of Johannesburg where he spent countless hours on the computer making music. It was during this time that he created the music for the song that would later be named "Fugama Unamathe". After completing the song he needed vocals and after struggling to get the vocalists he wanted for a feature he advertised on Facebook that he was searching for a vocalist. The advert was then seen by UK-based Mthulisi Patrick, who was managing UK-based upcoming singer Oluhle at the time, who then responded to the ad requesting Qness to send the music. Qness sent him the music and months later the song "Fugama Unamathe" was born. Thereafter Qness secured a job in the marketing department of Sheer Music where he played the song to DJ QT, who then played it t
Writing & Composition The music to the song was created by DJ Qness and the lyrics written by Oluhle, of which she adapted from a traditional ethnic African song which was mostly sung in funerals to try and bring comfort and healing to bereaved mourners.
Reception The song was met with very positive reactions and made it to the top charts of many of the country's prominent radio stations includin
= ''Uzongilinda''
= Second radio single from the album "On Cue Vol. 1 by DJ Qness Released: 2009/2010 Recorded: 2008 Genre: Soulful House Length: 06.07 Label: Sheer Music/ Cue Ness Communications/Soul Candi Records Writers: Qhubani Ndlovu Vincent Tinashe Mushapaidze Producer(s): Qhubani Ndlovu Music VideoBackground In 2008 while working as a Copyright Assistant at Sheer Publishing Qness met Maleh who was part of Bloemfontein-based group Kaya at the time. Upon hearing that she was a vocalist, Qness requested to hear her material. The first time he heard her voice was on the song "Bayethe" which she did with Kaya. Qness lamented that he had "never heard such an angelic voice" in his life before. He requested to go into the studio with her and the result was the song "Uzongilinda".
Writing & Composition The music was composed by Qness and the lyrics to the song were written by Qness alongside his childhood friend Vincent in Cresta, Johannesburg North, at Qness's then one bedroom apartment. They recorded it at his studio in the
Reception Immediately after release it went on to chart nationwide causing waves on stations such as Ukhozi FM, YFM, & Metro FM, to name just a few. Maleh still credits Qness as having played a pivotal role in helping shape her career to what it is today. The single was later remixed by Israel's UPZ aka Avi Elman, along with Abicah Soul, Rancido from Netherlands, Euan Mitchell from the UK, and upcoming South African producers Sbonza, Mindlo & house music duo Infinite Boys.
''On Cue Reloaded (Album)'' On Cue Reloaded
was the repackaged deluxe album of DJ Qness's debut "On Cue Vol. 1" album. The album featured remixes from the initial volume one and also introduced some new singles that were going to be later found on his volume 2 album.
Background
After the success of Volume 1, Qness wanted to release some remixes of some of the hit songs from the album but he didn't know how he would do it and that is how the idea of releasing the "Reloaded" version came up. These remixes had been previously released on digital platforms likTracklisting
All songs produced by DJ Qness.Reception
The album was a resounding success and the lead singles like "Time" and "Believing" went viral and became very popular on radio as well as on the club and party circuit and it served as a pivotal introduction to what was going to be his next project "On Cue Volume 2".''On Cue Vol. 2''
On Cue Vol. 2 is the second studio album by DJ Qness, which was released in 2011 by Universal Music. Like its predecessor it did extremely well on the market and spawned hit singles such as "Time", "Believing" "Imiyalo" and "I do" just to name a few. Qness also matured in terms of production compared to his first record and also managed to realize his dream of working with acts he had always wanted to work with from the start such as Simphiwe Dana & Zamajobe. The recording sessions for the album predominantly took place at his new home in Ferndale as well as his permanent studio in the Vaal and he recorded the project over a period of two years before finally conceding that it was ready for the market.Tracklisting
All tracks produced by DJ Qness (Qhubani Ndlovu), except for "Time", produced by R.B. Mahosana & T.R. Mabogwane, and "Ematholeni", co-produced by S.W. Nhleko.Singles
* "Time" (2010) * "Believing (DJ Qness Remix)" (2011) * "I Do" (2011) * "Imiyalo" (2012),= ''Time''
= Single by DJ Qness from the albums "On Cue Reloaded" & "On Cue Vol. 2" Released: 2010/2011 Recorded: 2010 Genre: Soulful House Length: 06.19 Label: Universal Music/ Cue Ness Communications Writers: Qhubani Ndlovu Producer(s): Qhubani Ndlovu Music VideoBackground In 2010 after the successes of "Fugama Unamathe" and "Uzongilinda" with Maleh, Qness decided to record another single with the latter as his strategy of moving forward from where he had previously left off. He reached out to Maleh and they got back into the studio to record the multi-chart topping hit single "Time".
Writing & Composition Both the lyrics and music for the single were written by Qness. He sent Maleh a reference of the song which he had initially recorded with another vocalist and Maleh sessioned in studio and re-did the whole song. The results were beyond impressive and Maleh took the song to a whole new level.
Reception In less than a week of being sampled to radio, the song was put onto high rotation on radio stations like Yfm, Metro FM, Lesedi FM, Ikwekwezi, Motsweding, Munghana Lonene and Ukhozi, etc. Qness shot
= ''Believing (DJ Qness Remix)''
= Single by DJ Qness from the albums "On Cue Reloaded" & "On Cue Vol. 2" Released: 2011 Recorded: 2010 Genre: Soulful House Length: 07.18 Label: soWHAT Records Writers: Avi Elman, Kafele Bandele Producer(s): Qhubani Ndlovu Music VideoReception The song did exceptionally well on the market and Qness received a nod from the "deep" heads who now believed in his ability to switch from "commercial" to "deep" house and still deliver exceptionally well.
''Imiyalo'' Single by DJ Qness taken from his On Cue Vol. 2 album. It was also the first radio single which wasn't included on "On Cue Reloaded" to be sampled from the full Vol. 2 album. Released: 2012 Recorded: 2011 Genre: Afro Tribal House Length: 07.42 Label: Universal Music/Qness Production/Cue Ness Communications Composers: Qhubani Ndlovu Writers: Nomalungelo Dladla, Muzi Ngwenya Producer(s): Qhubani Ndlovu
Background Imiyalo was originally an afro jazz song by prominent Swaziland songstress Nomalungelo Dladla, who was signed to Claiming Ground Records. Qness first heard the song from Mthulisi Patrick, incidentally the same guy who introduced him to Oluhle back in 2008. Immediately Qness fell in love with the song and he wanted to remix it. After several attempts, Claiming Ground Records CEO Muzi Ngwenya granted Qness the permission to remix the song.
Reception It was also very well received and they performed in on SABC 1 Live Amp, Yo TV, Shiz Niz, as well as Club 808. Radio-wise it charted exceptionally well and went on to become the official lead single of the "On Cue Vol. 2" album.
= ''I Do''
= Single by DJ Qness & Simi Ogunleye taken from his On Cue Vol. 2 album. It was also the second radio single from the album which wasn't included on the "On Cue Reloaded" deluxe repackage album. Released: 2011 Recorded: 2010 Genre: Soulful House Length: 07.42 Label: Universal Music/Cue Ness Communications Composers: Qhubani Ndlovu Writers: Simi Ogunleye Producer(s): Qhubani NdlovuBackground "I Do" was originally a song by Nigerian singer Simi Ogunleye. Qness first heard the vocals of the song online and immediately wanted to remix it.
Reception The general reception to the song was mixed to fair. This became the last single that he released from the album.
''On Cue Vol. 3 (Album)''
On Cue Vol. 3 is the third studio album by DJ Qness. It was released in 2013 bTrack listing
Singles
* "Everything" (2013) * "Look Inside" (2013) * "My World" (featuring former South African Idol finalist Kyle Deutsch) (2015)= ''Everything''
= Single by DJ Qness taken from his On Cue Vol. 3 album. It was also the first radio single from the album. Released: 2013 Recorded: 2012 Genre: Soulful House Length: 07.42 Label: Soul Candi Records/Cue Ness Communications Composers: Qhubani Ndlovu, Francisco V. Ndlovu Writers: Msimisi Sithole, Muzi Ngwenya Producer (s): Qhubani Ndlovu/ Francisco Ndlovu Music Video= ''Look Inside''
= Single by DJ Qness taken from his On Cue Vol. 3 album. It was also the second radio single from the album. Released: 2013 Recorded: 2013 Genre: Soulful House Length: 06.14 Label: Soul Candi Records/Cue Ness Communications Composers: Qhubani Ndlovu Writer (s): Marissa Nicole Guzman Producer (s): Qhubani Ndlovu/ Afrikan Roots Format: CD, Digital, Mobile Ringtone= ''My World''
= Song by DJ Qness (featuring former South African Idol finalist Kyle Deutsch) released as a single from Qness's 2016 yet to be titled studio album. Released: 5 August 2015 Recorded: 2015 Genre: Electronic Dance Music Length: 03.42 Label: Cue Ness Communications Composers: Qhubani Ndlovu, Francisco V. Ndlovu Writer(s): Kyle Deutsch Producer (s): Qhubani Ndlovu/ Muzi "Mozaik The Producer" Ngwenya Format: CD, Digital DownloadBackground On 30 July 2015 DJ Qness posted what seemed to be an artwork for a new single with the vague caption "#FYI #6". The artwork was labelled "My World" by DJ Qness & Kyle Deutsche. A week later on the 5th of August 2015 Qness dropped the single online along with a press release and immediately it went viral on social media.
Critical Reception The Global Spectator
Coke Studio
On 17 August 2015 Qness announced vaguely through an Instagram post that he would be part oReferences
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Qness, DJ 1983 births South African DJs Living people People from Vereeniging Tropical house musicians Electronic dance music DJs