Joy 'MamabearStephs' Stephens found solace in music after her son Dylan lost his battle with a rare form of cancer at the age of 22.
It is said that a mother bear's strength is measured not by her cry, but by whether she silently sacrifices herself for her cubs.
Joy Stephens embodies the above quote. The 64-year-old, affectionately known as her mama Bear Steph, turned to deejaying to uniquely honor his musical aspirations and ambitions after the death of her son Dylan, who wanted to be a DJ and producer. technology has started.
“After his death, the immense healing I received when I listened to music took away the pain I felt as a mother,” Mama Bear Stephs said. citizen.
healing
Dylan was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of liver cancer and died in 2016 at the age of 22, before he could realize his dreams in the music industry.
“He had not yet started deejaying in front of crowds, but when he was alone at home (he had already been diagnosed with cancer), he enjoyed practicing with his deejay friends.”
Dylan adopted the nickname DJ Stephs, which was derived from Mama Bear Stephs. “This is why I call myself Mama Bear Steph. I was Mama Bear and he was Steph.”
Although her son had not yet reached his prime, she was already making a name for herself in the disc jockey field at the age of late 22.
“[He] I did a mix on 5FM one night when Fix Moetti was still around. He didn't even tell me, but I turned around in bed and I heard her say, “There's Jestef,'' Mama Bear Stephs recalled laughing.
“I sat up in bed, listened, and then called him and asked him what I had just heard. He laughed and said, 'It's just a mixed mom'…a very humble man. I did,” she said.
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music head
Mama Bear Stephs has been an avid music fan her whole life, but it wasn't until she enrolled at Pioneer Deejay School in 2018 that she started deejaying.
“I think I just needed time to process what happened. I did my first mix in 2018. It was titled first time in everything”.
“I literally slept with 5FM in my ears all my life, and then one day I heard a soccer fan[on the radio]mixing it. I thought it was really cool, so I “I wanted to learn how to do that,” she said.
When she entered the facility, she was overcome with a flood of emotions.
“I literally broke down and cried and wished only Dylan could be here to see this,” Mama Bear Stephs said.
“I felt an incredible sense of belonging, and when I got to the deejay school, which is inside this huge complex, I knew this is what I have to do to keep Dylan's dream alive. I realized that.
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Favorites from your favorite DJ
The sense of belonging remained and her mixing skills improved over time. She has such a sense of belonging, she has been accepted by some of the prominent players in the industry, and she now knows most if not all DJs. She says there is.
“I have to say I know almost every deejay in the industry. I always show my love for their talent on social media and I always have fun, but also Don’t let it control you,” she wisely said. mother.
After losing Dylan, Mama Bear Stephs started doing mixes on various radio stations and this is when she got to know all the deejays.
“I've met some of the most amazing deejays and producers, and because of my age, they have held me with such incredible respect and love that it warms my heart so much. I always joke that my bank account is empty but my heart is full.
One of her favorite gigs at Simuza's Kunye, she mentions the Tembisa DJ as one of her beloveds in how Simuza treated her at Kunye's shows.
“He came to greet me and handed me a family band to get into the VIP area. When I bump into someone, they say, 'Hey, aren't you Gogo from Kunye?' It's also really cute. we love you. '”
Grammy Award winner Black Coffee is also someone he has shown love to in the past.
“My experience when I first met Black Coffee was incredible. If my hands were shaking, it was the day he was deejaying in one of his stores. '' confessed Mama Bear Stephs, who also met Euphonik on the same day.
“I've since met his mother when he was a deejay at Fourways Mall. I love going to support DJs when they're playing at festivals and venues.”
“Chymasmusique is one of my favorite producers and I met him one evening in Sandton at a ‘listening’ session with producer Jazzuelle. ”
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passion for music
Her passion for disc jockeying isn't performative, and it doesn't seem like a midlife crisis. It's a real recognition of music and people who excel at mixing those specialties.
Her passion is so strong that she has a hard time saying which songs and artists are her go-tos in her sets. She ranges from famous DJ Fresh, ShonaSA, Dr Feel, Thandi Draai to Kenyan Afro house producer, DJ Saint Evo.
“I love finding other producers all over the world, but I love Ennu Napa, Da Capo, Lemon & Herb, Chilled Armadillo, Cususa, and so many others that appear on my set. There are too many to name.”
“It's because of this journey for Dylan that I've been able to be such a free-spirited person. I was definitely given a good name by my parents. I focused on being Joy.” It’s not like I put a , it just happened naturally,” she said.
She scratches her disc jockey itch on the weekends and focuses on the 9-to-5 real estate industry during the week.
“But there are nights when I have to go home to practice my set or prepare for the next gig. Save and leave.”
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her cancer journey
During her deejaying journey, Mama Bear Stephs had to battle melanoma, a type of skin cancer.
“When I was younger, I played a lot of sports and didn't always take care of my skin, so I was very fair-skinned. Maybe I only applied sunscreen once and never again,” she said. Ta.
“I had melanomas removed from both arms and basal cancer from my neck. The doctors were great and I feel better.”
She is scheduled for a medical exam in June, but will have her discs rotated until then.
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