DJ Zandimaz sets sights on establishing consultancy firm

TSITSI CHIYANGWA

Zandile Mazithulela , a Zimbabwean music  producer  and DJ   based  in South Africa  who   bagged three awards    out  of the four   she  was  nominated  for at  the recently  held PPC Zimbabwe  Music Awards says   she is  setting  her  sights  on  establishing   a consultancy  firm so   as to  bridge  the gap  between  legal firms  and  artistes.

Known  as DJ Zandimaz  in  music  circles, the former model and  businesswoman who  holds  a law degree  from  the University  of South Africa  says this  could  also  help  artistes  to be taken more  seriously.

“I feel artistes would probably feel more comfortable talking about their disputes with   a fellow artiste as there is a lot that goes wrong   with reviewing of  contracts, between record labels and signed artistes.

“Some lose their rights to a song   that they would have worked on. What is worse some of the artistes don’t necessarily have the money to fight for their rights,” she said.

“It’s processes that I have been learning and I feel I am at a stage where I understand the whole technicalities.

“With Covid I actually realised that the music industry is lacking in a lot we don’t  have regulations we don’t  have  codes we couldn’t  even  get funding and our  jobs   were  stopped  abruptly   and there was  nothing  we could  do nothing  to fall back on  So those  are the  things  that  got  me thinking.”

Inspired  by  another  female, DJ Zinhle, DJ Zandimaz   kicked  off her career in 2014 and  rose to  fame  with   Emathandweni,  an  Amapiano collaboration  she  did  with Nokwazi.

On what has  taken her this far D J Zandimaz  says she is a workaholic but always  tries  to make her work interesting.

“If  you are   not  careful  you lose  friends and  your  social  life. You  lose   family  because  you  become that  person  who is too  busy for other people  but  at the same time  you keep  your  head  straight because you  know  what you want.”

As for  her  journey  in the  entertainment industry for a young  black  woman  DJ Zandimaz  says it has been hard  and it still is hard.

“There  are  people  who will always  want to take  advantage  and  it’s  not  just  men but also   women. So you  just  need  to  have  a heart, take it in  but  at the  same time  don’t  let it  break you  down   Concentrate  on yourself  and  have  your  own  lane.

“I  always  stay in my lane  and  not look to the  sides. Also I try  not to be consumed  by    the   Industry  and have grounded   myself to the people that I know.”

Dj Zandimaz  won the Best Dance (Kwaito , House  ,EDM ) Best International Zimbabwean Artiste and Best Female category.

She   collaborated with Nhlanhla  and  Nutty O on the track Ngifuna wena and says  a  Shona Amapiano  track is  on the cards with DJ Naida.

“God willing  we should take this far,” she said.