When you think of the face of female DJ’s in South Africa, DBN Gogo is one of the big names that comes to mind.
In collaboration with Nando’s Creativity, we sit down with one of the hottest producers and DJs in Mzanzi to get a full glimpse of what’s real. Last year, the hunger for African creativity continues to grow abroad. DBN Gogo discovered that her mission grew to include building a platform for the next generation of artists while traveling the globe.
With two singles featured on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack and playing gigs at music festivals such a Coachella, DBN Gogo makes a determined effort to use inspiration from her deep emotional introspection of self to produce a full body of work. The year 2022 proved to be a year of growth for DBN Gogo, whose real name is Mandisa Radebe, as she established her own record label titled Zikode Records, and not long after released her debut album, Whats Real.
Artists from the roster, whom DBN Gogo refers to as her “babies,” appear on What’s Real, her debut studio album. These include Stixx, DJ Stopper, EltonK, and Nvcho. “Making music must always be a collaborative effort”, she shares. With enough variation to keep listeners glued to their speakers, the album is a polished debut that has been lighting up the dance floors across South Africa.
The album’s opening track, “MARADEBE,” features socialite Zodwa Wabantu reciting Gogo’s izithakazelo, clan names, which the artist also has tattooed on her left arm—illustrating her similarly strong connection to her heritage. DBN Gogo goes on to describe the project as an introspective effort to help with navigating and making sense of her reality.
The album cover, photographed by Minenhle Nene, explores the idea of having a Doppelgänger. Nene who specialises in digital photography describes the concept as a process of trying to discern between ‘what’s real’. “I’m big on spirituality, so the key thing for me is energy. I try by all means to make sure I’m always okay mentally before taking a job that’s why my relationship with Gogo’s so beautiful, we believe in the same thing.” Nene shares on what feed his creativity.
“The album is the essence of me, and what I want it to portray is sort of varying away from what I’ve always done and giving more insight to who I really am as a person and as a musician.” Says DBN Gogo.
The tone of the album incorporates elements of jazz, house, and gqom, and each track builds and dissolves gradually in the traditional Amapiano fashion. Each track benefits from the coherent integration of its collaborators, who mesh well together and consistently offer diversity. The majority of songs feature multiple standout sections that are emphasized by good mixing and polished production. Although the tracks’ levels of enjoyment may vary, the album is best listened to in one sitting because of the album’s unifying theme.
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