Lulama was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. From a family of an extraordinarily rich musical background, music has been an all-time friend and a remedy to get through life from a very early age. It was through during the political transition of power in SA that House music caught his ear. This was because of the new democratic dawn within the country, and all kinds of music flocked into the townships. El Jey was brought up by a very musical grandmother and mother, with uncles who were collectors of House Music and close associates of DJ’s back then, including aunts were gospel music vocalists. Growing up in a background that was clouded by music, El Jey knew how to dance at a young age and House Music was the only upbeat music to which he would exercise and practice his dance moves.
In the year 1999, at an age of 11 years old, he was put in charge of his first ever task of playing music at a family gathering with a playlist of everybody’s favourite tracks. It was from this day whereby he got to understand the role of music in people’s lives, which was all about having a good and memorable time. The year 2000 saw his grandmother getting in and out of hospital and preparations were being made for him to get enrolled at a boarding for the following year. In 2001 while at boarding, his grandmother passed on and it was during this year that House Music became a pillar of strength.
By the time he got to high school in Pretoria, he would participate in music related initiatives such as being an assistant to the operator of the school’s PA sound system. Also sang bass in the choir and would actively participate in talent shows. El Jey first got his hands on turntables in the 2004 when he and a friend bought a mixer and one turntable and practice mixing using a turntable and a CD Walkman. The year 2004, at the age of 16, also saw him getting into a club for the first time even. This day had a huge influence of considering DJ being a side hustle later in the following years.
When he got back to Johannesburg to further his tertiary studies, he got introduced to night life, as he now could juggle academic commitments and with being a DJ on weekends.
This was because he already knew how to DJ and was coming across fellow DJ’s from all parts of the country who had also come to Johannesburg for furthering their studies. Studying Advertising Management, El Jey got to harness his creative thinking and abilities when covertly planning for the entertainment industry.
As a DJ, he was busy making a name for himself in Melville, one of Johannesburg’s urban areas which has all sorts of night clubs one could find and got into music production. This was mainly influenced by what he would play at parties because he’d sometimes feel that a certain sound would evoke certain moods in crowds. By the time he obtained his Advertising Management diploma, El Jey was making music on a full-time basis.
In 2018 he founded Leondale Radio, a House Music Online Audio-Visual Magazine which serves a global platform for DJ’s and Producers throughout the world. On it, he produces and presents a show titled the Deep Diggers Instalments. It is here that he show cases the DJ skills he possesses and tends to include some of his tracks on his mixes. Through this initiative, El Jey has managed to make key House Music contacts throughout the world and has been certified by many as one of the best unique House Musc Dj, Podcaster, Publisher, Composer and Producer.
Now back at making House Music, El Jey has partnered with a long-time friend, Turner Soul who is a pianist and have decided to fill in the versatility gap in terms of composing and producing House Music. Both have extensive background in the making of music as they also have music that they have made together in the past. A musical partnership that promises to bring the world the best of our creative abilities.
