Fans will remember the widely circulated video of DJ Zinhle fixing up Usher’s shirt in Las Vegas before taking a picture.
It turns out, that the viral moment with the R&B legend and Rémy Martin brand partner preceded Zinhle’s collaboration launch with the luxury cognac brand.
She says, “He had patience because I had been watching him the whole night just engaging with all the people and by the time he had to be introduced to Nomuzi [‘Moozlie’ Mabena] and I, it was just like, ‘guys leave him, this guy is tired’. But he actually even took his shoes off. He changed, introduced himself to us.”
She recalls him saying, “OK, I'm going to take a picture with these guys, I need to look good.”
At an intimate luncheon over the expansive lawn of the Era Fun House in Johannesburg, DJ Zinhle and Rémy Martin announced their partnership in celebration of music excellence.
“Our partnership started with my trip to Las Vegas to go see Usher for the Life Melody campaign and that was high level. That was amazing. And we've just been trying to develop a relationship between the two brands. Just find synergy and see where we can go.”
READ MORE | DJ Zinhle on opening Hair Majesty beauty bar - 'It's a response to what customers have been asking for'
DJ Zinhle recalls the admiration she had when the alcohol brand partnered with the late rapper and fashion icon Riky Rick.
“I was punished by the work that we were able to do and I was keen to make sure that the deal works out.”
The woman of the moment, DJ Zinhle gives a warm welcome holding her one-of-a-kind Rémy Martin bottle ???? #TeamUpForExcellence pic.twitter.com/Wli9kAy37I
— TRUELOVE Magazine (@TrueLoveMag) November 12, 2023
She adds that this deal has been in the works for a short while now but the two brands have officially kick-started their relationship.
Having entered the world of this French luxury brand, Zinhle says she thinks of the premium and luxury drink as “an experience”.
“I mean, I started to enjoy [it] – especially like the cocktails I got – in LA (Los Angeles). It was amazing … I think for me it's really about just creating memorable experiences with the brand because I think that's what my brand is also about. Just to create those experiences and just to find synergy in all the things that we can do.”
This partnership has seen DJ Zinhle delving further into luxury, from jetting off to the U.S. for a day to see an Usher concert and then returning to launch the partnership at an exclusive industry event.
“I'm not complaining,” she says of her new reality.
The My Name Is/Her Majesty hitmaker says the launch of this partnership was about excellence and she wanted that to reflect in the guestlist.
“I curated event [and] the invitations with the team to just gather a group of excellent people in one room that I think also represents the brand, represent what I believe in, which is excellent, which is creativity, which is quality and luxury.”
Having been in the music industry for almost 20 years, DJ Zinhle is gearing up for yet another busy festive season – where she will perform in different parts of the country.
“We're just ready to do it because that's when we're making the most money. And if you're not working in December as an artist, you kind of feel like you're struggling. So, I'm very grateful, you know, that I still am able to work and I've got all the shows that are coming up. I'm super excited about them.”
While she’s a seasoned performer, she opens up about how she still struggles with being anxious.
“I was telling a friend of mine that I've actually had to replace my anxiety with just gratitude. Just always feeling anxious when I'm going to shows but now I've replaced them with just like [being] thankful that I get the opportunity to work.”
READ MORE | DJ Zinhle and Mörda plus 6 other stylish celebrity couple we love
The music producer and businesswoman says, while she loves working, being away from her children is a challenge. She has two daughters, Kairo – which she shares with late rapper AKA – and Asante with her husband Bongani ‘Mörda’ Mohosana.
“It's hard to be away from the kids so we have to prepare for them to be with family, their grandmothers. But just also for yourself to just know that the kids won't be around is tough. So you have to mentally prepare yourself and for the fact that my husband is also very busy, I won't be seeing him.”
Ever the supportive partner to his wife, at the launch party, Mörda shared how proud he is of Zinhle.
She said, “I'm so proud of my baby for making this thing happen. And then it's been her dream so that we can bring the industry into one space so that they can get to know her and Mörda. Shout out and I'm so proud of you for your collaboration with Rémy Martin.”
Zinhle was also surrounded by her friends including Moozlie and Riky Rick’s former partner Bianca Naidoo at the launch, as well as industry colleagues such as her music collaborator Busiswa and fellow DJ Lerato Kganyago.
“We've got great support from the family and that really goes a long way,” she says.
