The shesaid.so Artist Spotlight is a brand new monthly series highlighting exciting artists from the shesaid.so community. To kick things off, we chatted to Dope Saint Jude about her artistic journey, the value of the shesaid.so community, and why she thinks artists need access to more information about the business side of the industry to help them progress their careers. The first in a new interview series, shesaid.so speaks to South-African artist, rapper and producer, Dope Saint Jude. Interview by Sorrel Salb
Hailing from Cape Town, rapper and producer Dope Saint Jude has crafted a distinctive sound and is known for her defiant, life-affirming perspective. Her powerful lyrics speak to audiences interested in the intersection of hip hop, queerness, and feminism. Since making her debut in 2016, she has toured Europe, the USA, and Africa, as well as having her music synced in a number of popular series and films. She spent 2020 working on new music in London so keep your eyes peeled for some fresh Dope Saint Jude tunes this year.
shesaid.so: You performed at shesaid.so’s first ever MEETSSS conference in 2019: the energy during your set was so powerful! Can you tell us about your artistic journey and development up until your 2018 EP ‘Resilient’ and since then?
I started making music in 2016 and released my first EP to Soundcloud that year. As things progressed for me, I realised that the majority of my audience and opportunities were coming from overseas. I started moving between the UK and SA in 2018 and released my Resilient EP supported by Apple Music. I spent 2019 touring and obviously 2020 was the pandemic, so I have been recording new music and plan to release this year. I have also been lucky to have a lot of syncs happen in this time, which supported me financially and took my project to the next level.
shesaid.so: There have been a lot of restrictions in London because of the pandemic. I have seen your #powerpoetry project through which you express your thoughts and feelings whilst under lockdown and I’m sure a lot of readers can relate to the topics you touch on. Can you tell us a bit more about that?
Being away from home during such a difficult time is challenging, so I relied on my creativity to get me through it. I did #powerpoetry to let off some steam while under lockdown. It was honestly just me going back to my roots of artistic expression, outside of trying to make a living, no motive other than to say what I feel. It’s a pure expression of what I was feeling at the height of the pandemic. I reflected on my family, my mother and grandmother.
shesaid.so: Last year you were involved in mentoring other female artists as part of a peer mentorship program. What was your experience of the process and how would you describe the importance of mentorship within the music industry?
I did a mentorship programme with Hypertribe and I mentored a talented young artist named Jenomé.
The experience was extremely fulfilling as I believe that we are at our best when we are in service to our community.
Working with a young artist who is where I was not so long ago reconnected me to my beginnings and made me feel extreme gratitude for how far I have come. I am confident that with persistence, self belief and resilience, one can achieve one’s goals.
shesaid.so: Which personal value guides you most in the music you create and the outlets where you direct your energy?
Honesty. I believe it is so important to be authentic when I create. I can’t lie in my music. I am guided by the need to find my truth. Music is like therapy to me. I keep digging beyond the surface until I find my truth.
shesaid.so: What is one issue within the music industry which you hope to see change in the future?
I would like to see information about the business side of things being more accessible to artists. I was lucky to attend a seminar [through Apple Music and Platoon] where a lot of topics such as licensing and publishing were explained. I am also lucky to have a manager who is transparent about these things. However, this information is not easily accessible to artists and it makes artists vulnerable to exploitation.
The responsibility lies with both the artist and the industry to change this. Businesses and organisations should offer more information about what deals look like and artists should make an effort to really educate themselves on the business basics.
shesaid.so: What is the biggest lesson you learned in 2020?
I learned that comparison is the thief of joy. During the pandemic, I took a break from social media to focus on myself. I realised that I had been comparing myself to my contemporaries and this often made me feel inferior. I have learned that I am running my own race, crafting my own narrative and building my own journey that has nothing to do with any one else. This realisation has brought me a sense of freedom and joy.
shesaid.so: What’s your biggest goal for this year?
My goal for this year is to increase my revenue streams. As a music artist, I did not initially realise all the opportunities that existed to make an income beyond live shows. I have been earning money from sync, streams and royalties. I would like to build my business beyond this while staying true to my creativity.
shesaid.so: Who is an artist you’d love to shout out as a one-to-watch for 2021?
The artist I mentored- Jenomé
shesaid.so: How has being involved with the shesaid.so network helped you, either in your career or personally?
I have met a lot of women in the industry through shesaid.so and also made use of the resources the network provides. I have been able to network with other artists, curators and producers because of the network. Most importantly, I feel I have a support base of like-minded women [whom] I can count on who quietly support each other and who walk the walk.
Instagram: @dopesaintjude
Website: https://dopesaintjude.com/
Listen to Dope Saint Jude’s latest single Go High Go Low.