1 on 1 with Carl Wastie

Carl Wastie and I.

Carl Wastie

1 on 1 with Carl Wastie

So, I got to sit down and have a good chat with energetic media personality, Carl Wastie at a popular restaurant in Cape Town. Known for his dynamite (literally, after all, dynamite does come in small packages), who cam miss his funky mohawk? Carl is friendly and super-humble .

Who is Carl Wastie in a nutshell?
He is a Cape Town-based individual that feels that humility is more important than talent. I studied psychology at UCT and later worked at a video shop. People from Good Hope FM saw me at an MC gig, all thanks to the people at the video shop. So, I could say, I started my career in the entertainment industry out of a video shop. You can't believe in luck and hard work at the same time, because lucky people are those who are at the right place, at the right time. Hard workers put themselves in the right place and get there at the right time. Since then, people Good Hope FM spotted me and then Expresso.
I'm about humility, family, youth and fun.

A few things people do not know about you?
I am a fully-fledged water polo coach, as well as a football coach. I used to coach in high school and during my gap year. I started my radio career by doing an advertisement for a bank. I'm also missing a tooth in my lower jaw. I am also a bit of a nerd because I love gaming. I am a Fifa 15 and 16 fan. My happy place is either playing Xbox or visiting Hermanus, Franschhoek, or somewhere on the West Coast.

When you're not on radio or TV, what do you do for fun?
I enjoy visiting high schools and doing motivational talks, because not a lot of people know what my story is like, especially youth. They think some person spotted me and that my parents are rich. I think the youth need to know there's a journey. It's not the result that's important, but they journey they take.

What music do you listen to?
Thirty Seconds To Mars, Linkin Park, The Weekend and some old school Motown and Stevie Wonder.

How would you define your style?
It's just expressive. The people that question it are like "Why the hairstyle?"People who love it are like "Wow, it's unique, it's cool. It makes you recognizable." My hairstyle is all inspired by Jared Leto's Closer To The Edge video. I love what that stood. It's about how society pushes youth to lengths that they are not really equipped for and that we should be more careful about the way in which society conducts itself in front of the youth. The perception they have right now is the way they will respond when they're adults. I was in a bad space at the time, checking out the video. Jared Leto had a large mohawk and I thought why not just do it? I did it and I have not looked back, I think it's cool. In the entertainment industry, they're always looking for something unique. I haven't done it on the basis of that.

Have you had any awkward moments on air?
No, but during a Jive Cape Town Funny  Festival Show a few years ago, the MC played a prank on me. After interval, I had to hide in a box as part of my act. The MC kept me in the box for 45minutes. Thereafter, I pranked the producer and told him I'm not coming back again.

You host your own show, Afternoon Live. Please tell me what the experience is like thus far?
Listeners are fee to call in and express themselves. I called my show Afternoon Live, because it is after all about the Cape Town listeners. It expose peoples realness via WhatsApp voice notes. People are able to send voice notes. It is reality in the most entertaining way. In this day and age, DJ's are focused on how popular they can become. Its not about us, it's about the listener. We owe it to them to stop and take a selfie in the mall.

If u weren't on radio what would you be doing?
I really love people. I would work in the psychology field and be a motivational speaker. I would also love to be a professional footballer. I love football and would definitely want to play for Real Madrid or Bafanna Bafanna.

Future plans?
The future lies in developing youth and for them to express themselves. I have this vision, to create a agency which taps into different mediums musically and entertainment wise. I want to create something that is sustainable for the youth.

Carl can be heard weekdays on Good Hope FM, hosting #AfternoonLive between 2pm-4pm. He also hosts the Good Hope FM Top 30 music countdown on Saturdays between 9am-12pm and can be seen as a gossip guru on popular youth show, Hectic Nine-9 on Fridays.


Twitter:@sheerahdediva