Dee Koala: A Day in The Life

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It’s a sunny day in Cape Town as we make our way to Dee Koala’s house. She welcomes us into her home in Khayelitsha, where so many others have come to shoot Dee in the place she is most loved and comfortable. We set up in the kitchen as she gets her makeup done. 

“You know I was never into this whole [makeup]  thing” she shares under the kitchen light. “But this guy over here (she gestures to her make-up artist) makes sure I don’t leave the house looking all crazy”.

Dee would later share in our interview that something as small as appearing as her natural self is an important aspect of maintaining her identity as she rises. I ask her whether there is a difference between Dee the artist and her personal self, but she is adamant that they are exactly the same person.

“I know many artists need to create a separate persona in order to manage this crazy life as someone in the public eye but for me, it has always been easier to carry my personality over into my work. I think it is a big part of why people connect so strongly with me, because I show all parts of this journey-the good, bad, and the ugly”. 

Ever since she entered the music scene in 2016 with her single “Whuzet” Dee has managed to strike the perfect balance between relatability and star power- with a fanbase that is very reflective of not only where she’s been, but where she’s going too. 

As we spend the day with Dee Koala, this inimitable genuine and unfiltered energy is undeniable. She leans out of the car to talk to some kids as we drive through her neighbourhood, and talks non-stop, everyone eager to hear the next part of whatever story she is in the middle of telling - as we head to the city.

Our first stop is at Tjing Tjing rooftop bar-and she mulls over what to order if it’s going to be included in the photos. “If we weren’t filming, I probably would have just ordered a beer”, she laughingly admits,  “I like Gin too, so let’s go with that for today. ”

Even with film photographer Sandra Nagel following her around all day, Dee documents everything. She takes her own photo’s in between takes and goes live on Instagram a few times during the course of the day. She explains that live streaming is the best way of connecting with her growing fanbase, and that it is as much for her as it is for them. 

“I go live at least once a day, and sometimes multiple times a day. I don’t overthink it and just go with how I’m feeling. I’ve been sad on my live, I’ve also been drunk and dancing-so it really depends when you choose to tune in” she explains. 

We end our day with Dee at Hopeville Thrift store, which doubles up as the home of the boys behind Broke Wear, a local clothing company and creative collective. The minute Dee steps into the store, it becomes clear that she is one of the guys. 

When I ask her about it later, she talks about how much she has learned from this group, “We’re in different industries, but we’re the same you know? Just some kids from the hood trying to make sh*t happen. Broke is a brotherhood, and I am not exaggerating when I say that being around them has literally made me a better person. My partner Andile (one of the founders) has the most calming energy and that’s rubbed off on me because I tend to be a bit hot-headed” she shares.

At the time of doing this interview, the news just broke that Dee inked a deal with Empire music. She describes being wary of dealing with just anybody,  but that this deal will allow her to maintain her independence for all intents and purposes. “I’m really excited about this partnership with empire, especially because it allows me to continue doing what I do with more support.”. 

Dee gets candid about her journey as an artist so far, her support for other women in the industry as well as why she’s holding off on a sophomore album in our full interview below. 

This interview has been lightly edited for the purpose of clarity and context.

Right before we got on this call, I saw the news about your signing with Empire...Congratulations!

DK: Thank you so much. It’s funny because I’ve been very wary in the past of these kinds of deals or label chats because I’m really not trying to get boxed in. However, with this partnership, I will be able to maintain my independence for all intents and purposes, which is extremely important to me. 

Got it. Are you going to be putting out a project through this new partnership anytime soon?

DK: Well my single “Spazz” is dropping on April 9th which I’m very excited about. 

I’d like to take you back to the decision you made about pursuing music full time. Talk me through that process.

DK: I actually started with poetry in Grade 7 and then put it on pause when I went to high school.. In my final year, I put my words to a beat for the first time. I went and recorded a full EP in English-but deep down I knew I wouldn’t be happy if I wasn’t doing it in my mother tongue.

Why is that?

DK: Well when I followed that up by writing and recording in my language-in the way I would normally speak to people in my hood, everything just flowed better. I think it was easier to do because it’s the way I should have approached making music in the first place. With the release of “Whuzet” in 2016, people really resonated with me and my sound, so I knew I was on the right track. 

Did your parents need any convincing?

My mother-absolutely! All the other kids in the house are very academic, so it was a bit of a shock when I came to them saying I wanted to do music. I just didn’t envision studying for all these years and then scrambling to find a job at the end of it-that didn’t appeal to me because I like instant gratification. I love having an idea and being able to bring it to life in the studio tomorrow if I need to. 

How did you eventually get them to come on board?

In the beginning, I lied a lot [laughs] I would sneak out of the house to go to gigs and sleep in friends’ cars because I wouldn’t even think of coming home in the middle of the night. As you can imagine, this wasn’t very sustainable so I eventually sat my mom down and explained this crazy thing that I wanted to do. I was in high school at the time, so she made me promise to finish, and then I could prove her wrong (or right) and we were pretty solid from then on.

What do you think sets you apart from everyone else putting out music right now?

First of all, my music is very relatable to anybody coming out of any hood in South Africa. What’s been interesting is that even though a lot of people don’t speak the same language as me, my energy and flow on a track is something that transcends language. People from all over will walk up to me and say “I don’t fully understand what you were saying on that song but I feel it.” and that’s pretty dope to me. 

You have managed to grow a pretty strong fanbase over the last few years. What do you think has made this possible?

I feel like one thing that has brought me closer to my fans is the way I interact with them or my level of engagement on social media. I go live at least once a day, and sometimes multiple times a day. I don’t overthink it and just go with how I’m feeling. I’ve been sad on my live, I’ve also been drunk and dancing-so it really depends when you choose to tune in. I try not to always lead with music because there are many other aspects to my personality other than being an artist-and I like for people to see that.

Is there a difference between Dee Koala the artist and Dee in everyday life?

Not at all. They are exactly the same person. I know many artists need to create a separate persona in order to manage this crazy life as someone in the public eye but for me, it has always been easier to carry my personality over into my work. I think it is a big part of why people connect so strongly with me because I show all parts of this journey-the good, bad, and the ugly. In a way, it makes it easier to be me all the time because I never have to switch on or off. 

On the day we shot the cover, we ended at Hopeville Thrift store. I wanted to hear from you the significance of this spot, and how it has grown into a community of like-minded people. 

We’re in different industries, but we’re the same you know? Just some kids from the hood trying to make sh*t happen. Broke is a brotherhood, and I am not exaggerating when I say that being around them has literally made me a better person. My partner Andile (one of the founders) has the most calming energy and that’s rubbed off on me because I tend to be a bit hot-headed.  Me being around this crew so much has helped me to stay focused, because it was my light during my period of depression. It’s like a second family for me, and a place I can go to and know that I won’t feel alone. 

You mentioned that with the release of your last album, people had said that you might have put it out too soon. I’m interested to know how this has affected the way you approach your next project. 

As I told you before, I really couldn’t care less about what people think. But to add to that, many people don’t know that “4 The Kultsha” was not my debut project. I had previously put out an English EP, so the pressure of thinking “this is my first project, it has to be perfect” wasn’t even a factor for me. Do I think it was my best body of work? No. Would I go back in time and do it all again? Absolutely. 

I learn a lot from every part of my journey and I wouldn't change anything. As for new music, I’m gonna stick to dropping singles as I have been, and will think about doing an album when I feel the time is right. 

It can be argued that you made way for a new wave of women in rap who come out the gate rapping in their mother tongue in South Africa. Who are some of the emerging artists you are excited about? 

Yes, this is so exciting, I love to see women on their shit! My favorites at the moment are Benzo, Holy Alpha, and  Blue K.

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