Interview: Simphiwe Dana

Music In Africa caught up with the 'Zandisile' hit maker ahead of her performance at The Lyric in Johannesburg on 3 November. Known for her cool stage demeanour, Dana makes the art of performance look effortless but she says it is not always as simple as it looks because there are pre-performance jitters coupled with the depression that she has been battling.

In recent interviews, Dana, who sings an artful musical form fused with traditional African music and contemporary soul, has opened up about her depression and the effects it has on her life. But having found the balance, Dana has continued to promote her music and was recently recording a song with Black Coffee.

1. What scares you the most about getting on stage to perform, especially when you're about to play a gig as big as the Symphony Experience or the show at The Lyric?

As a seasoned performer I have gotten to understand that energy plays a huge role in a performance. Sometimes a performance is flat not because the performer is underprepared but because the energy between the performer and the audience is off. And this is something that is usually out of the performer’s hands. I’m always most nervous about this minutes before I go on stage.

2. What creative process do you apply when piecing together a production such as the one you will be having on Friday?

There’s a lot that goes into the preparation for a show. I creatively plan what kind of mood I want and that determines the approach to the song arrangements. This time around I’m looking into a melancholic and nostalgic mood.

3. Musicians go through a lot of pressure especially when they have a busy schedule. What do you do to look after yourself mentally and emotionally?

I try to be present in the moment and immediately switch off when I exit that environment. That allows me to partition the artist from the mother, friend, sister etc. It also allows me a normal life so I don’t get swept up by celebritydom.

4. Does the South African music industry sufficiently address the mental well-being of artists? If not, what do you think can be done to address it?

I really don’t think so. Many artists who exhibit mental illness symptoms are vilified for it. It doesn’t help that being an artist is a very volatile state of being on many fronts. Never being financially stable is very anxiety inducing. Perhaps de-stigmatising mental illness would create more awareness, understanding and empathy.

5. You once said: "When I was young I used to collect stray animals and try to fix them." Reflecting to those words, can one safely say your music brings healing to your fans?

I do believe that is the case. I have adults who approach me and tell me how much my music has constantly changed their lives from the time they were teens.

6. What can fans expect from your collaboration with Black Coffee?

The collaboration is still ongoing. We are due for another studio session. I now say that we are both very excited about the song.