Meet Sunrise FM’s Dez Govender
The Rising Sun team recently spoke to Dez Govender, the anchor for ‘The Weekend Wake-Up with Dez’ show, which airs from 9am to 12pm every Saturday and Sunday on Sunrise FM. We asked him about his background, his radio interest, goals and impressions of Sunrise FM.
Tell us about your background.
I am a qualified journalist and radio broadcaster with a BA (Hons) and an MSc diploma in corporate communications from the University of West London in the UK. I spent most of my adult years working abroad in retail, logistics and digital marketing. In addition to my radio career, I am also an entrepreneur and owner of a digital marketing business namely, Digital Dez Media, that specialises in web design, SEO (search engine optimisation) and content marketing. I also established a local business network specifically for Chatsworth namely, ‘The BizNiz Network’- which encourages other businesses and the community to support and champion local products and services by passing business onto each other.
Why do you have a passion for radio?
Radio has always been my core passion since childhood. I also love music, which I believe is the language of the soul. I recall always having a natural affinity to radio and music from when I was five-years-old. I also warmly remember the first time I was gifted a HiFi for my birthday. I suppose you could say the HiFi was the iPod ‘equivalent’ of yesteryear. I spent most of my time using my HiFi listening to music and some of South Africa’s most eminent presenters in the radio industry including Zuraida Jardine, Kenny Maistry and Damon Beard to name a few. In the UK, I was inspired by BBC’s Scott Mills and Greg James, along with Kiss FM’s, Melvin and Ricky. These presenters grew my enthusiasm for radio. No matter where life takes me, I am always drawn home to radio. Radio is embedded in my DNA somewhere!
Why did you join Sunrise FM and what makes the station different?
Since radio is in my blood, when the opportunity at Sunrise FM arose, I knew it was something I needed to explore. I was excited that Chatsworth now had its own radio station. This opportunity also came at a time in my life when there was a lot of confusion and deep sadness because I lost my dear mum, coupled to the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sunrise FM was unlike any other opportunity that presented itself previously, but I enjoyed the vibe, values and vision that managing director, Althaf Suleman had for the station. I was so ecstatic to be chosen as part of the team. My only wish is that my mum, Padmani, was around to share this with me as she was always my number one supporter.
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What skills and strengths do you bring to Sunrise FM?
I bring to Sunrise FM my public speaking skills, which I acquired over the years. I also bring my technical knowledge and abilities as well as radio techniques I’ve learned from university while doing student and community radio in the UK. I spent over seven years honing my broadcasting skills in the UK and I am excited that I can use these skills at Sunrise FM. I think my confidence, self-awareness, spirituality as well as embracing my authenticity help more people connect with me.
How would you describe your show, ‘The Weekend Wake-Up with Dez’?
The show is original, quirky, a little tongue-in-cheek but fun! I choose to bring an uplifting energy, lightness and exuberance to the show. For me, radio and music is a feeling. It’s about how you make people feel that really matters and that is the main aim for the overall vision, vibe and content of my show. I choose to give it a lighter spin to various topical issues. We probably live in the most stressful era ever known, so my aim is to create escapism for listeners through good vibes, good content and good music.
Tell us more about Digital Dez Media? How can people contact you regarding your business?
Digital Dez Media is my digital marketing business where I utilise my journalism skills to write content from business profiles, blogs and articles to web content and everything in between. You can find more information at www.digitaldez.co.za or email hi@digitaldez.co.za. You can also send a WhatsApp message to 076-065-9786.
Name a notable accomplishment of yours?
Starting my own digital marketing business two years ago is one of them. At Blast Radio, which was my own student station in the UK, I was also the first presenter selected to host the National Student Radio Chart Show on our station which the Student Radio Association broadcasted to other university stations online across the UK and Ireland.
What are your future goals specifically with regards to your career at Sunrise FM?
Sunrise FM will definitely create waves in the future. A dream would be to see this station grow from its infancy to really being a force to be reckoned with locally. It will be great once the station shortly expands online as this will open so many opportunities for the development of the station. I would love to see my show evolve and for it to really connect with, and be embraced by households in Chatsworth as well as the online community eventually. This would truly ignite my soul with absolute love and joy! The passion and drive of my colleagues contribute to the wider vision of Sunrise FM, and we will create a blueprint that other stations can appreciate and learn from as well. We are proudly Sunrise FM.
