Contributed:DJ Slim, winner of last year's Heineken Green Synergy DJ competition.

By Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

After the dust has cleared and the wheels of steel get cranking for this year's Heinekein Green Synergy competition, one wonders how the previous winners have faired the storm.

After testing their skills in numerous elimination competitions, then winning the finals and competing regionally, the past three winners of the Heineken Green Synergy competition have only continued to grow in popularity. In 2003, DJ Inferno took home the title, while in 2004 DJ Denvo was victorious. In 2005, DJ Slim proved his worth and last year DJ Nicco raised the bar as the Green Synergy winner.

So far, the winners have no complaints. According to DJ Denvo, who was a computer graphics designer before entering the competition, "it has been great, I have gotten nuff exposure and I can't complain."

Though still doing computer graphic work, Denvo is also now focusing more on his passion, which is music. Since winning the competition, he has numerous bookings and has played at Heineken Good Times, Retroactive at the Quad, Margaritaville just to name a few.

He says, "I would encourage anyone to enter. You can't lose if you have the skills and believe in yourself. All if yuh don't win, yuh get exposure and experience."

DJ Inferno also testifies that the competition gives one a diversity of experience. Before entering the competition, Inferno worked on what he calls a 'regular 9-5', now, however, he is a full-time DJ, working on FAME FM and has played at Asylum among other places.

"Since the competition I've been on to bigger and better things such as the club and party scene," he said.

For DJ Slim, entering Green Synergy was all about the competition to make his skills even better. Having won in 2005, he has been working full time as a DJ at the Jungle nightclub in Negril and he has been getting a lot of play outs at parties.

According to DJ Nicco, he is working harder than ever, he is still playing at Margaritaville, working on FAME FM, he has been on shows such as 'Kings of Remix' and has played in the Bahamas, Cayman and Trinidad.

He told The STAR, "the exposure is vital to any DJ, especially in Jamaica and the Caribbean because the people have realised that there is talent out there which may not seem present to the masses without the jump-start which the competition gives.

"Being the champion means that you are the best of the bunch and the limelight shines in your favour."

Not one who likes to compete, Nicco testifies that being it the competition has taught him the value of competing and learning more about your craft. He encourages any one to do the same.

This year's Green Synergy competition plans to be bigger and better than before. At the launch of the Heineken Green Synergy on June 28, it was announced that Jamaica will be hosting the competition's 2007 finals, following a series of challenges on the island and in the region.

Last year the competition was held in the Bahamas on the island of Nassau. This year competition heats up even more with the anticipated introduction of a reality show that is yet to be aired.