Okmalumkoolkat Interview

Words by Art Jefferson
Photography by Justin McGee and courtesy of Smiso Zwane

A ‘style don’ and an innovator are a couple of descriptions that have been attributed to Smiso Zwane better known as Okmalumkoolkat. The emcee, DJ and designer helped to capture global attention to the modern, ascending sounds and vibrant lifestyles that were blossoming throughout South African cities such as Johannesburg and Durban. As a member of Dirty Paraffin, along with Dokta SpiZee, Okmalumkoolkat has explored boundless electronic rhythms that are at times, speaker shaking party grooves or auditory art installations. Zwane is also a part of the multi-medium collective Boyzn Buck$, a group of artists, musicians, producers and DJs infiltrating various circuits throughout Johannesburg, with eyes on the international market. His 2012 collaboration recordings with London producers LV on the LP entitled Sebenza, was critically acclaimed, and his flair for fashion has now transcended into his Kool Hvnting Klvb brand. Okmalumkoolkat’s lastest work Holy Oxygen I, out on the Vienna-based label Affine Records, is an audible trip through future jazz whilst still maintaining a digital ‘boom-bap’ swing. Like a true renaissance man, Zwane is likely to have his hands into multiple creative mediums, and whatever he touches is sure to be laced with an uber-cool swagger.

The last time I connected with you, it was with your group Dirty Paraffin. Since then you’ve been delving into even more styles and genres. Talk about your latest ventures.

Okmalumkoolkat – I have birthed a couple of new styles since then, we were making Primustof music as Dirty Paraffin which was fueled by a mix of 80s South African Bubblegum Disko nostalgia and the futuristic electronic vibes we were vying for. From that I have come up with Gqomwave which is basically raps and chants over Gqom house beats from Durban, back home. Smanje-manje Rap is more like raps over Trap beats and lastly Digital Maskandi which kind of fits in anywhere, influenced by my Primary School days when I was part of a Scathamiya group. Iscathamiya music is the kind of music that Ladysmith Black Mambazo makes. Check it out it’s really special.

All these styles stemmed from collaborating with producers from all over the world and hunting down music and feeding this Giant iTunes library. I don’t own a radio, I have been on on my iTunes shuffle for the past six years or so. I have tracks on the radio here but I keep up to date via social networks. That’s all bout to change though.

Who wants a blind man leading the way?

Years ago you, along with acts such as Spoek Mathambo, helped to draw worldwide attention to the current sounds of South Africa. SA is on fire right now, with the world locked in to everything from house music to Hip-Hop coming out of the country. How does it feel to know that you’ve been firmly a part of that movement?

Okmalumkoolkat – Man, I feel blessed to have been part of that, mainly because my main thing is communicating our lifestyles. Thanks to the internet and the Holy Oxygen in me to produce such works and touch so many people across the globe.

In 2014 you released the ‘Holy Oxygen’ EP, which musically flows perfect with your style. You worked with Austrian producers Cid Rim and The Clonious on the EP. How did you hook up with those guys and that whole Affine collective out of Vienna?

Okmalumkoolkat – That relationship was also built online, I think they heard that Sebenza album we released through Hyperdub, produced by LV from London. Affine Records reached out after that buzz and they seemed legit so we started working. We did the beat and vocal back to back via e-mail, they then flew down to South Africa and we recorded some more tracks and played gigs together.

I am glad I met them at the time I met them. I was going through a lot of spiritual research and at a place of understanding. It was a perfect time for me to spill out thoughts like ‘why African religions are always categorised under culture and tradition?’ Or why am I not allowed to write a Zulu Sci-Fi rap project influenced by Zulu mythology? etc. They had the perfect vibe for that, that future jazz vibe just took those ideas to the max.

That EP was a sci-fi slash fashion gospel slash future of rap combo. The world wasn’t ready. We shot three videos out of the four tracks, everyday a few people get it and they blow up my timeline because it’s such an important project. It’s like finding the greatest book that can be bought anywhere but only few know how powerful it is, but it needs to be read when you ready for it.

We’re building the remix EP for Holy Oxygen right now, kind of like a second chance.

In an interview with Dazed & Confused, Yasiin Bey fka Mos Def championed you as being courageous and confident, not mention universal. You told me that you guys connected as well. What was that like and will we hopefully see a collaboration with you two in the future?

Okmalumkoolkat – I think Yasiin stumbled upon my blog http://okmalume.tumblr.com/ and he kind of got what I was trying to communicate visually, especially because that blog serves as a storyboard of what interests me and what I want like-minded people to think about. I write poetry with a lot of references so that kind of serves as a river of context for those interested to find out what I ramble about in my songs.

We then met up in Cape Town after a couple of mails about working together. It’s always been a pleasure meeting up with him, he has a good spirit. The one time he came to one of my shows and he jumped on stage for one of my tracks, it was amazing. People thought we had rehearsed it but it happened spontaneously. I am sure we will work in the future, when the universe allows it.

You have always been one to push the sonic envelope. I’m curious to know what you look for in a producer when choosing to work with one. Also, has it been easy or challenging to find producers who are also willing to go beyond the normal boundaries musically?

Okmalumkoolkat – I have had the best of luck when it comes to producers, the ones that are really serious about projects usually come with beats or vibes that are blissful but a little challenging. I get excited by that. That’s how I get the best out of me. Also, the beats must sway me emotionally and put me in some type of mood.

From music to fashion, you’ve built a reputation on being one of the most creative guys in the scene. What inspires you from day to day in terms of staying artistic?

Okmalumkoolkat – I think it’s the need to communicate and the thirst to be heard and leave a mark. I know I have the gift to achieve that in whatever way, whether putting together an outfit or working on a record, It’s the same to me. It’s a serious game and I am allowed to play forever. The possibilities are limitless, so to speak.

What do you have forthcoming in terms of more projects?

Okmalumkoolkat – Holy Oxygen I Remix EP, Holy Oxygen II, a mixtape, an album, clothing brand, a quarterly zine, a bunch of music and brand collaborations.