New York, what’s up?
Meet Erica Tandoh, aka DJ Switch Ghana.
She's an 11-year-old award-winning DJ.
I can switch peoples' mood.
When someone is sad, I can make the person happy.
And they gave me the name Switch.
I started DJing when I was 9.
In 2017, Erica was auditioning as a poet for a competition called “Talented Kidz.”
My parents were like, “Erica, can you try your hands on something extraordinary?"
Her parents hired her a DJ coach, and it only took her five days to pick it up.
I make sure I press any button I don't know.
When the trainer comes back, I will tell you, "Oh, so this button does that?
It does this and that."
So that's how I got to learn DJing in five days.
Erica didn't just compete on “Talented Kidz.”
She won.
She was also the youngest-ever DJ to win at the Ghana DJ Awards 2018.
Erica caught the attention of Jay-Z's Roc Nation and she played for Bill and Melinda
Gates at their Goalkeepers 2018 event.
It was so fantastic DJing there.
Making people dance, moving them here and there, giving them energy.
It was so fantastic and I loved being there.
I was not nervous, I felt happy.
That was a great opportunity I had.
In May 2019, she hit the stage with Wyclef Jean for a performance at the Room to Read Gala.
DJ Switch, I’m about to call DJ Khaled right now and tell him he’s got some competition!
I like all types of music, and I love music a lot.
I love all music, but my favorite music, my favorite song, is my song "Deceiver."
And then "Pardonnez."
I sometimes write my own song and sometimes my parents, my team, share ideas.
It's sometimes easy and sometimes difficult.
But not that difficult writing the song.
Just get some words and then it will be polished by my team.
She's also very passionate about education.
Research indicates that in sub-Saharan Africa, over 12 million people are at risk of never
receiving an education, and 2/3 of these people are women and girls.
So today's youth are the future generation of leaders, journalists, the next inventors.
So, our journeys begins with an education and it starts now.
Erica works to balance her DJing career with her education.
I like reading a lot.
I like learning a lot.
And then when I'm DJing, I can DJ for some short period in the house and then go and learn.
Besides performing, Erica uses her platform to help those in need.
The DJ Switch Foundation was founded in the year 2018.
The slogan is, "Charity through music."
I sometimes celebrate my birthday with the disabled.
I go to the orphanage home.
I give something, although I don't have anything.
But, I try and give out something and it is very heartbreaking when you go to some schools
and you see that they don't have chairs to sit on.
So I use my DJ Switch Foundation to help.
When Erica grows up, she wants to be a gynecologist.
I want to be a gynecologist to help the women in my community, to help women and make delivery
easy.
Something like, when I grow up and I have my own hospital and then a woman comes and
the woman is pregnant and wants to deliver, I will just go behind my DJ , my console,
and then play a song and the baby will be like, "Who's playing that song?"
And the baby will rush out.
I want to motivate people by writing some books, being an author.
To write some inspirational words, especially to girls.
Because so far as our skin is soft, it doesn't mean our bones are weak and it doesn't mean
our brains are weak.
We have sharp brains so that means we have power.
You are not too young to achieve your dreams.
No matter the situation you find yourself in, the circumstances, your surroundings.
Whether you are old or young, see yourself as a great person because you can achieve
anything.