The Sunday Mail
Andrew Moyo
SHE is among some of the most talented fashion designers in the country, but she has other gifts.
After launching her fashion label, ADNP in 2015, Amy Peters slowly established herself in the upper echelons of local fashion designing, featuring at a number of fashion shows that have been held in the country.
Besides designing, she has also modelled for big brands that include Econet, Truworths and Bella, among others.
Despite her success as a model and a designer, the 24-year-old beauty has decided to take another challenge, that of being a DJ. This comes as no surprise considering that her boyfriend, Raydizz, is one of the biggest DJs in the country.
Adopting the name Trill Angel, the DJ has been playing at various nightclubs around the capital including News Café, Maestro, Motor Club, Emperor’s Lounge and Blue @ 2, to name just a few.
She was also part of the line-up of DJs that entertained merrymakers during Fallin’ 2016 at Victoria Falls Rest Camp recently. Although her deejaying career is only starting to take off, she intends to continue lighting up the fashion scene with her breath-taking designs.
The Sunday Mail Leisure caught up with the designer-cum-DJ and she shared her life story.
“I was born and raised here in Zimbabwe but also lived in Zambia for close to three years when I was a teen,” said Peters.
Refusing to divulge her educational background, she said she fell in love with fashion and music when she was still young.
“When I was a kid I pictured myself being a vet (veterinary surgeon) because I have always loved animals and wanted to help them but when I was around 11 years old, I fell in love with fashion and that was the career path I decided to pursue.
“During my early teens, I started paying attention to music and used to think how cool it would be to mix songs so I also started imagining myself being a DJ.”
After finishing her O-Levels, she took up modelling, art, fashion and makeup courses, which would be instrumental in shaping her career. It was during her modelling years that she got to meet numerous fashion designers who began showing her the ropes until she decided to launch her own fashion line in 2015.
“Since 2010, I have modelled in many shows including the 2011 edition of Zim Fashion Week and it was at such events that I got to meet established designers who helped me out.
“I launched my fashion label called House of ADNP, which is simply my full name Amy Delree Nicola Peters. I have showcased my fashion line at numerous shows including Zim Fashion Week and I am happy to say that from day one, the response has been great.”
Her fashion sense proved to be on point when she was crowned best dressed female at the 2015 Zim Hip-Hop Awards. Hooking up with Raydizz rekindled one of her childhood passions, which was mixing music and entertaining people.
“I was 16 when I moved back from Zambia and that is when I met Ray and developed an interest in what he was doing but he only started teaching me when I was 19. During that period I was more focused on my fashion and other projects so I didn’t make much progress on the deejaying front until two years ago when I decided to take the craft seriously.”
Her versatility behind the decks has made it easy for her to play for the different crowds that she comes across at the various joints where she plays.
“I play all genres but I have found myself playing more dancehall and house music, which are among the major genres most people in the country listen to. I am grateful to have had a tutor like Ray because he taught me that being a DJ is not just about playing music but is also about reading the crowd and figuring out what they really want to listen to in order to align your playlist accordingly.”
The entertainment and fashion industries cannot be separated, which is why many brands across the globe engage artistes to market products for them.
For Peters, being a DJ and a fashion designer at the same time is an advantage as it means she will not only be looking good behind the decks but will also be using the platform to market her clothing line.
“I feel like music and fashion are one in a way because when I am playing, I will be wearing my own label, which gives it more visibility.
“There are people who know me as a designer and others who know me as a DJ so I believe that both my careers are feeding off each other because people who see me play and are interested in what I am wearing will get to know that I am the designer.”
The DJ, who is also a makeup artiste at MAC Cosmetics, says she is hopping to collaborate with other artistes and designers in the future as she aims to expand her influence both on the entertainment scene and in the fashion world.
Peters is currently working on a collection that she will be showcasing at the Fashion Designers Expo scheduled for News Café on February 11.
