ON THE UP AND UP WITH ZULU MKHATHINI

We know you as Dash from DreamTeam, and now you go by Zulu Mkhathini, why the name switch?

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I grew up being around a lot of guys and trends and I got different nicknames every time I joined a specific group. So, I remember for the longest time, that they used to call me M-T which comes from my name Mthoko. When I got together with DreamTeam, they called me Dash which was coming from M-T because it was M dash T. Then somewhere along the lines, they dropped the M and the T, and it was just Dash.

Eventually it clicked that your name really signifies where you come from. And it says a lot about you and your identity. So that's what I wanted my legacy to be – for me, for my family and my future kids.

Tell us more about your new album, Spirit of Ubuntu
The album encompasses the title itself – it speaks to everything that’s going on, and my upbringing, but it also says a lot about the number of people that came onto this project.

I grew up listening to Gqom, Kwaito, Hip-Hop etc. I never really wanted to restrict myself as a creative. So, when I left DreamTeam, it was very important for me to first break that mould of what people know about me. I went out of my way to build relationships that I didn't necessarily have and bring in the different genres, and it was also important for me to create a sound that represents the current stage and state of people. Nobody listens to genres anymore, nobody really cares what the genre is.



In recent years you worked with Castle Lite and had a very fruitful relationship with them. What was that experience like for you?

It was amazing. We started our relationship on a very small scale, and it grew over the years. They were there for me to the point where a lot of people would ask, ‘Don’t you have a Castle Lite with you?’, and I’m reply, ‘Yo, how did I become the Castle Lite guy?’, [laughs]. But I guess also with the transition, and the change in my life, there are a lot of brands that I've worked with before, that might not fit into my narrative now.

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We all know that udla ukotini, have you always been stylish?
It started with my mother. I grew up with two females, I was the only male, and I was the youngest guy. I think that's how I became OCD. I find that females are often very pedantic about their appearance. So, they would always make sure I looked good. It started with dressing up when I went to church, or even when I'd go out to play. Other boys would come out in yesterday's clothes, but my mother would say that even if I'm just going to play, I must dress well. And then, subconsciously, I became very aware of cleanliness and so forth.

That also led me to say, ‘Hey, let me learn more about fabrics, textiles, and design so I can start making my own clothes.' Then I started influencing people – and learning more and more about not only fashion but clothing.

My first job was part-time when I worked at a retail store at Gateway. So that's when I really started learning the business side of fashion, from stocktaking to costing, packaging, window marketing and advertising.

From that, you came up with Zulovzki, can you tell us about that?
Creatively, I try and break as many boundaries as possible. And I believe fashion has also gotten to the point where females are shopping in the male section, and the males are shopping in the female section. Ideally, we should have one unisex section that stocks exactly what we want. Obviously, the fit would differ slightly, but that is the dream.

Zulovski the brand was conceptualised in Greece, together with a few influencers. But the name came from a Russian friend, Sergey. One day, I asked him what my Russian name would be if I had one, and he replied, ‘Zulovski.’ And I loved it.

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Who are some of your style icons?
My style icons blend with my musical icons mainly because the music speaks to the visuals, and the visuals get transferred to the outfits, the locations, and eventually to the message in the narrative. All of this then influences the performances.

So, my style icons may sound cliché, but there's no way I can't mention Kanye West. How he wears the clothes, what he's done in the fashion world and how he has incorporated fashion with music. The same applies to Pharrell and Fela Kuti. Locally, I'm really impressed by Maxhosa, Rich Mnisi, Thebe Magugu – the list is endless.

What do you do to relax and unwind?
That is such a good question. But at this point I don't relax, I unwind. Maybe it’s because I felt that the pandemic made us over-relax. I'm a busybody, I'm always running around. So, unfortunately, the pandemic didn't allow me to do that at all, which agitated me. But since things started easing up I've been trying to do as much as I can with my businesses and work.

As far as hobbies go, I've started running again and taking part in a lot of marathons.
Reading was also something I loved, but now when I get home, I'm so tired I can't even read a page! Hopefully, I can get back to that.

What are some of your plans for the year ahead?
I'll focus more on the entertainment side by pushing the album a little more. We've also got more videos and visuals that are coming out which is epic.

I'm hoping to also get back on TV this year. And yeah, drop more clothing, even if it's just a capsule collection.

What message do you have for your fans and those that look up to you?
My message is jam-packed in the album. The title itself, The Spirit of Ubuntu, is the message that I feel I've been chosen to promote from the higher forces. I think we must understand it more especially post-pandemic.

We’ve all gone through some hardships and, everybody says every man for himself, but it doesn't really work that way – people have been hit hard – and you could help somebody, in some way, somehow.

Help could come in any form – from words of wisdom to financial help or it could mean giving someone an opportunity. Now more than ever, we need each other – the world is changing or rather, has changed. And as we all know, we are stronger together than we are divided. So, start asking yourself what you can do for someone else rather than what they can do for you.

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BY NTHABISENG MAKHOKHA