Although painful and brutal, break-ups and other personal crisis are a proven inspiration for creativity. Icons like Bob Dylan and Marvin Gaye made some of their most powerful work in the ruins of imploded marriages. In 2008, Kayne West changed the sound of mainstream music with 808’s and Heartbreak, and also created the template for professional sad-person’s Drake’s entire career. Doubling down on his own personal misfortunes, local streetwear designer Nokana ‘Dodo’ Mojapelo’s, of the D.O.C.C. brand, has teamed up with producer Hakim Malema to make the world’s first ‘post break up fashion EP’.
Inspired by an aftermath of a relationship, the first fashion component of the Booty Call project dropped last December. The clothes were inspired by bittersweet memories, with ‘ Dear Diary’ shirts and jackets emblazoned with ‘ I told my therapist about you.’ Dodo’s aim was to use fashion as a blank canvas to reflect on the past ‘I didn’t want to just be creative I wanted people to be attached and be able to reflect back on a time period using my collections like anyone does when hearing an old song and immediately they reminisce…. I want to make a relatable impact whilst giving the consumer confidence through design.’
And the clothes have now been joined by the EP. Comprising of four tracks and a handful of skits, the songs extend the theme of disappointment and cynicism. Dodo’s lyrics combine personal themes with some unexpected commentary on contemporary values. Online speaks to this generations social media addiction and futile attempts to escape from reality- ‘woke up it was summertime/no coins/dark time.’ The songs are powered by Hakim Malema’s pumping beats. With an eye towards the future he borrows inspiration from the vapor wave sound, which combined with classic SA minimalism, makes what he calls his ‘future weird’ style. The end product is to make personal misery danceable, finding meaning in dark times.