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.
