With such an interesting name, tell us who is Sotiris Moldovanos and where did he grow up?
I was born in Jozi and have lived here my whole life. I’m South African with Greek heritage and as tradition goes, was named after my grandfather.
You’ve held various positions in the music industry, please tell us more about your journey?
I’ve always had a strong passion and knowledge for music, and my break came when I was offered to produce a music show at the campus station UJFM. I jumped at the opportunity, and soon developed a love for radio, working my way through various roles. From there I moved to 5FM as senior music compiler for six years.
I transitioned from radio into music streaming. Now, I’m a Music Editor for Africa at Deezer, a global music streaming service, and work with some of the brightest people in music and technology.
How has the transition of radio to streaming affected the way people experience and listen to music?
Streaming is becoming more mainstream as the preferred choice for many people, who want to listen to their personal playlists or discover new music. Streaming services give established and up-and-coming artists a platform to reach new fans. Music fans still look forward to new releases on Fridays and what was once limited to radio or physical stores, is now immediately available on streaming platform. Streaming services are also a great place to discover non-mainstream music as there are channels separated by genres, moods, mixes or easily listen to playlists curated by music editors. Streaming is so advanced nowadays that it has the ability to really personalize to the user’s taste based on one’s listening habits and history. For example at Deezer, we have a feature called Flow, which is like your personal soundtrack. It uses smart data and algorithms along with recommendations from editors to play songs that you want to hear and suggest new songs to help you discover new ones.
You are now the music editor for Deezer South Africa and Africa, what does your role entail?
I manage and programme content for South Africa and key African territories; from highlighting popular new releases, to curating relevant targeted playlists and providing the audience with the best possible content for a seamless entertaining experience.
We also have an artists’ first global program called, Deezer NEXT, where we select global and local artists that are up-and-coming and provide our full support in editorial, marketing, social and more. The 12 month program is a personal favourite of mine as I get to work and create content with some amazing young artists.
What makes for a good playlist?
A good playlist is one that engages with the audience and keeps them coming back. This can be done by selecting and positioning the right songs, adding in a few surprises, and regularly updating. Each playlist targets a different audience, much like different radio stations, and you need to know who you’re talking to. SA has a plethora of music styles and genres, and it’s both challenging and exciting creating content for them. There’s something for everyone.
What are your thoughts on the South African music industry and what trends do you foresee for 2019?
The SA music industry is vibrant and exciting right now, and keeps getting better every year. Some artists are not only being recognised and celebrated at home, but are also making an impact abroad with their fresh unique sounds. Gqom is the most talked about SA genre, and is becoming increasingly popular in Europe, with artists like Distruction Boyz securing slots in some European Summer festivals
2018 was a big year for SA House, and I feel 2109 will be even bigger. Black Coffee has done incredibly well, laying the foundations globally, and this year I believe we’ll see more of our talented house producers showcasing their music around the world .
Which local and international artists should we look out for in 2019?
There are many young local artists doing amazing things at the moment, and on the verge of greatness. Bianca Blanc, Muzi, and Easy Freak stand out for me, and are also our chosen Deezer ZA Next artists for 2018/2019. Internationally…will stick with Africa, I see big things coming from Teni, a Nigerian singer, and Kwesi Arthur, a rapper from Ghana.
The best concert you’ve ever been to?
There are too many to choose from, but my highlight for 2018 was seeing Paul McCartney in London. Paul still has so much incredible energy and presence, and it was a joy to watch him play so many classic Beatles and Wings hits. I had a lot of fun and I’ll never forget that night.
