Possibly one of the most recognisable voices on radio today, is that of Keiko – The bubbly female radio personality on Gold FM.
Her real name being Nimesha Keiko De Silva (28), Keiko has been on radio for the past 10 years. It all started while she was studying for her A/L Maths paper as she studies Maths and Physics – “I called in to make a request and when I called another day, the DJ on air recognised my voice,” she said, adding that he had suggested it would be perfect on radio. So that’s where it all started. “It all happened by chance because I initially wanted to go into psychology,” says Keiko.
Keiko happens to be the only female DJ at Gold FM at the moment as well. “It didn’t strike me before,” she says. “There is nothing good or bad about it – it’s like being with family and you have people looking out for you,” she said, adding, “We’ve got a very good team.”
Her home was Zambia for 12 years, and until the age of 17. She along with her family lived in Kitway, where her dad worked in the mines. He was a medical instrumentation instructor – he would train students to fix the machines in the hospital at the mines, while her mum was a housewife. Interestingly her mum had a little business of selling samosas – “it took off really well, she even supplied the school tuck shop and a few other places,” Keiko says, through which her mum realised the value of being a woman who was financially independent.
“Hooray for Facebook,” she says as it is helped her keep in touch with her Zambian friends, adding, “I’d love to go back one day.”
Keiko now has a family of her own and has been married for eight years and they have a son. Her husband is a hairstylist at Ramani Fernando Salons at the Hilton. “He’s a fantastic guy and extremely supportive,” she says.
Her day starts off with yoga, then drops her son, soon to be five years, at Montessori and takes the train in to Colombo to get to work on time where she sits in for the Gold Request Show which airs from Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 10am to 2pm. “The show is challenging but I am very obliging,” she says. “It’s difficult to manage my time with home and work, but I know I have to strike the right balance and my work place is very understanding,” Keiko said.
She started off at Sun FM and would play trance and dance music so going on to do a show on Gold FM, “was like being chucked in the deep end...” she says, adding that the transition was tough but has now developed a great appreciation for the music on her request show.
Keiko went on to say that being a DJ is fun and is a great feeling to know that people are glued on to her show, “ I can relate to my listeners and they even give me handy hints and solutions!” she quips.
“I love work,” Keiko says, adding, “I need to be challenged and I was thrilled to be back at office after my maternity leave.” She does everything on the show and also realises the importance of knowing what’s happening around her in the country and around the world.
Keiko is passionate about food so she loves cooking and writing down recipes off TV shows. All this aside she loves crossword puzzles and Sudoku. When asked if she has ever been lost for words on air, she says that after all this time, the words just flow.
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