Desire Sibanda (born 17 December 1985) is a Zimbabwean reggae singer and songwriter, better known by his stage name Dizzy Dee. He moved to Australia in 2007 and currently resides in

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

where he performs and works as a disk jockey on a regular basis. Born in Collin Saunders Hospital in

Triangle, Zimbabwe Triangle is a small town in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe, and is located 125 km south-east from Masvingo, between Ngundu Growth Point and Chiredzi. The town is located in the district of Chiredzi, one of the seven in Masvingo Province. Th ...

, Dizzy Dee moved to Australia at age twenty one, where he studied graphic design. After a brief stint as a DJ, he released his first EP ''U Don't Care'' in 2008. As a producer he has worked with artists such as Quashani Bahd on her single "That's Why I Love You" and executively produced dancehall artist Slicker 1's debut album, ''Culture Shocked''. For Valentine's Day 2017 he released the single "All That I Need" featuring PASIKA.

Musical career

2007–2014: ABRA Records, ''U Don't Care'', Soundalize It, "Never See We Fading" and "Overcome"

Since arriving in Australia he has collaborated with a number of international artists, and has opened for

Sean Paul Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques (born 9 January 1973) is a Jamaican dancehall musician. Paul's first album, ''Stage One'', was released in 2000. He gained international fame with his second album, ''Dutty Rock'', in 2002. Its single "Get Busy ...

and

Richie Spice Richell Bonner (born 8 September 1971), better known as Richie Spice, is a Jamaican reggae artist. He is a member of the Rastafari movement. Some of his most famous songs include, "Brown Skin", "Youth Dem Cold Rel Bad", "Grooving' My Girl", "Ear ...

. In 2008 he joined ABRA Records, led by fellow Zimbabwean producer Tawanda Sibotshiwe. ABRA has produced songs for Jamaican artists including

Red Rat Wallace Wilson (born 17 January 1978), better known by the stage name Red Rat, is a Jamaican dancehall reggae recording and performing artist.Kellman, AndyRed Rat Biography, Allmusic, retrieved 2011-02-15 He is known for his up-beat music, co ...

Ward 21 Ward 21 are a group of dancehall musicians and producers from Kingston, Jamaica, named after the psychiatric ward at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston. Comprising Ward 21 are renowned producers and have created hit dancehall ...

Beenie Man Moses Anthony Davis OD (born 22 August 1973), professionally known as Beenie Man, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay. His awards include DJ of the Year Award eight years in a row. His twelfth studio album '' Art and Life'' received a Grammy Award ...

Charly Black Desmond Méndez (born 6 April 1980), better known as Charly Black, alternatively known as Charly Blacks, and originally known as Tony Mentol, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer, selector and singjay. He is best known for his track "Gy ...

and

Major Lazer Major Lazer is an American electronic dance music and DJ trio, which includes record producer Diplo, and DJs Walshy Fire and Ape Drums. They were founded in 2008 by Diplo and Switch, with Switch leaving after three years in 2011. He was the ...

. Sibanda recorded his first EP ''U Don't Care'' in 2008, releasing it in 2009 under ABRA Records. The EP features five tracks: "U Don't Care", "Fuss & Fight", "Achadzoka", and an instrumental mix and an

a cappella Music performed a cappella ( , , ; ), less commonly spelled acapella in English, is music performed by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Rena ...

version of the title track "U Don't Care". The EP was targeted at the

zimdancehall Zimdancehall is a subgenre of reggae and dancehall music from Zimbabwe. The traditional way of message delivery is through chanting. Zimdancehall became more popular after the fall of the Urban Grooves genre. Popular pioneers of Zimdancehall inc ...

community in Zimbabwe, and was made available on CD and by digital download. In 2014 Sibanda began experimenting with a different sound,

roots reggae Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of Ethnic groups of Africa, Africans and those in the African Diaspora, including the spiritual side of Rastafari, black liberation, revolution and the ho ...

. After working with Chilean-based producer Kutral Dub on the single "Give Me Love", he became interested in Soundalize It Records, a Romanian label with whom he later signed. He also joined forces with Romanian reggae producer LionRiddims to record the roots reggae tracks "Never See We Fading", "Time Shall Tell" and "Overcome". Although he started his recording career in 2004, Sibanda's became more widely known in 2014 when he collaborated with Jamaican reggae star Torch, co-writing the song "Thought for the Mind". Torch also featured on Sibanda's 2014 single "Never See We Fading". He also recorded "Overcome" featuring Beniton.

2015–2016: ''Time Shall Tell'' and VP Records

After signing a distribution deal with VPAL Music (of

VP Records VP Records is an independent Caribbean-owned record label in Queens, New York. The label is known for releasing music by notable artists in reggae, dancehall and soca. VP Records has offices in New York City, Miami, London, Kingston, Tokyo, ...

) in 2016, he released an EP, ''Time Shall Tell'', later that year. Dizzy Dee joins StoneBwoy and Patoranking as one of the few African born reggae artists signed to the label. The six-track set gathered musicians and producers from

Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

, Canada, United States, (Germany), Australia and

Vanuatu Vanuatu ( or ; ), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (; ), is an island country in Melanesia located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, east o ...

to create a contemporary reggae/dancehall-infused sound. The EP also features "Overcome" featuring Beniton, "Stay Focused" with German musician Saralène and "Wake Up & Live" featuring Australian Reggae artist Jah Tung and Tujah from Vanuatu. The EP debuted at number 2 on the Australian iTunes charts for the roots reggae genre, and received airtime on local and international radio stations.

2017–present: ''My Journey''

In February 2017, Sibanda performed at the 36th Annual Bob Marley Outernational concert as a headline artist alongside

Etana Etana (, ''E.TA.NA'') was the thirteenth king of the first dynasty of Kish, according to the ''Sumerian King List''. He is listed as the successor of Arwium, the son of Mashda, as king of Kish. The list also calls Etana "the shepherd, who asc ...

and

Black Slate Black Slate are a reggae band based in the United Kingdom, formed in 1974. They toured heavily around London and backed Jamaican musicians such as Dennis Brown, Delroy Wilson, and Ken Boothe when they played in the UK. They toured the UK in the ...

. In March he toured with

as one of the official supporting artists on his maiden tour of Australia. He is set to release a new album, ''My Journey'', in 2017, featuring collaborations with artists from Jamaica and Zimbabwe.

Artistry

Influences

One of his earliest musical memories is listening to his parents' vinyl collection, which included The Soul Brothers,

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...

Ray Phiri Raymond Chikapa Enock Phiri (23 March 1947 – 12 July 2017) was a South African jazz, fusion and mbaqanga musician born in Mpumalanga to Thabethe Phiri, a Malawian immigrant worker, and South African guitarist nicknamed "Just Now" Phiri. He ...

. Sibanda collected the infamous ''Road Warrior'' cassettes, which had carefully selected reggae and dancehall songs mixed by popular disc jockeys. Sibanda also explored the music of older reggae stars, including

Capleton Clifton George Bailey III (born 13 April 1967),Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , pp. 67–69 better known by his stage name Capleton, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall musician. He is also referred to as Kin ...

Beres Hammond Beres Hammond OJ (born Hugh Beresford Hammond; 28 August 1955, in Annotto Bay, Saint Mary, Jamaica)Moskowitz, David V. (2006) ''Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall'', Greenwood Press, , p. ...

Buju Banton Mark Anthony Myrie (born 15 July 1973),Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, known professionally as Buju Banton, is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae singer. He is one of the most significant and well-re ...

Sizzla Miguel Orlando Collins (born 17 April 1976), known by his stage name Sizzla Kalonji or Sizzla, is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is one of the most commercially and critically successful contemporary reggae artists and is noted for his high num ...

Gregory Isaacs Gregory Anthony Isaacs OD (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)Thompson, p. 127. was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in ''The New York Times'', described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae".Miles, Milo (1992),RECORDI ...

and

Ken Boothe Kenneth George Boothe OD (born 22 March 1948) is a Jamaican vocalist known for his distinctive vibrato and timbre. Boothe achieved an international reputation as one of Jamaica's finest vocalists through a series of crossover hits that appeal ...

and states reggae as his favourite music. During his teen years he became an MC for Shutter Crew and Saxon Sound, often hanging out with Little Hero and Letsha T, who were amongst the top selectors in Triangle. It was not until he was older that he started writing his own music and contesting in variety shows.

Philanthropy

Sibanda has been involved in humanitarian support in areas including third world schools, the victims of the 2010 Haitian earthquake, clean water projects in Africa through

Oxfam Australia Oxfam Australia is an Australian, independent, charity, not-for-profit, secular, community-based aid and development organization, and is an affiliate of the Oxfam International Confederation. Oxfam Australia's work is divided into four broad c ...

, health research and quality of life. Musically, he has helped fundraise on many occasions. In February 2010 he performed at a fundraiser at the Evelyn Hotel in Melbourne to raise funds for the Haitian earthquake victims. In May 2015 Colonel Mustard's held a charity event at Northcote's Bar 303 to raise funds for

Orangutan Foundation International Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) has its headquarters in Los Angeles, California. Founded by Dr. Birutė Galdikas, one of three anthropologists ( The Trimates) to study great apes under the guidance of Dr. Louis Leakey, OFI continues to res ...

. Several DJs from Melbourne performed, including a vocal set from Dizzy Dee. In 2017 he co-headlined The 36th Annual Bob Marley Outernational held in Western Australia with

and

, with proceeds donated to Oxfam.

Personal life

Sibanda moved to Australia in 2007 on a student visa. In 2010 he was sentenced to 6 years in prison, for rape by the Victorian County court. He was required to serve a minimum of three and a half years before being eligible for parole. He was released in 2013.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

*''My Journey'' (2017) – Soundalize It / VPAL Music *''

New Sounds ''New Sounds'' was originally a 10" LP compiling previously released 78 rpm records on the Blue Note label. A CD reissue with the same name and cover appeared in 1991, but while using many of the same personnel, had only two tracks in common with ...

'' (2018) –

Dizzy Dee Music Dizziness is an imprecise term that can refer to a sense of disorientation in space, vertigo, or lightheadedness. It can also refer to disequilibrium or a non-specific feeling, such as giddiness or foolishness. Dizziness is a common medical co ...

Riddim compilation albums

* ''Tranquility Riddim'' – various artists (2014), ZJ Heno *''Compatible Riddim'' – various artists (2015), ZJ Heno / 21st Hapilos Digital * ''Summer Love Riddim'' – various artists (2015), Abra Records *''Focus Riddim'' – various artists (2016), Black Identity Records

As featured artist

*''Dreamer Believer'' – Malesh P (2015), Malesh P *''Self Reclaimed'' – Torch (2015), Frankie Music / VPAL Music *''Culture Shocked'' – Slicker 1 (2016), TMB Music Group

Extended plays

* ''U Don't Care'' (2009) – Abra Records * '' Time Shall Tell'' (2016) – Soundalize It / VPAL Music

Singles

As lead artist

* "Give Me Love" (2014) – Kutral Dub * "Never See We Fading" featuring Torch (2014) – Soundalize It * "Perfect Peace" featuring Torch (2015) – ZJ Heno * "Time Shall Tell" (2015) – Soundalize It * "Overcome" featuring Beniton (2015) – Soundalize It * "All That I Need" featuring PASIKA (2017) – Abra Records

As featured artist

* Don Goliath – "Free Ganja" featuring Dizzy Dee (2014), Rootsstep Division Recordings * Josmas – "Rambai Muneni" featuring Dizzy Dee (2014), Abra Records

Guest appearances

* Jusa Dementor – "Ndaku Bikira" (2016), Abra Records

Tours and concerts

Headlining

* Reggae Faea with

Jah Mason Andre Johnson (born 29 December 1970), better known by his stage name Jah Mason, also known as Fire Mason, is a reggae singer/deejay from Jamaica, active as a recording artist since 1991. Biography Jah Mason was born in Jamaica's Manchester Pari ...

(Vanuatu dates) (2008) * 36th

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive voca ...

Outernational Festival with

(Perth, Australia) (2017)

Co-headlining

* ZiJudgement Yard – Australia Tour (Australia dates) (2017)

Supporting

– Universal Struggle Tour (Australia dates) (2009) *

Brick & Lace Brick & Lace are a Jamaican-American dancehall/R&B (or reggae fusion) musical duo consisting of sisters Nyanda and Nailah Thorbourne. According to ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'', their name reflects both the tough and soft sides of femini ...

– Love Is wicked Tour (Australia dates) (2014) *

Timaya Inetimi Alfred Odon (born 15 August 1980), known by his stage name Timaya, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter. Being from Odi, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, Timaya is known for combining Nigerian pop with elements of dancehall, hip-hop, and Soca music, s ...

– Australian Tour (Australia dates) (2015) *

Stonebwoy Livingstone Etse Satekla (Born 5 March 1988), better known by his stage name Stonebwoy, is a Ghanaian people, Ghanaian Afro pop music, Afropop, Afro-dancehall and reggae musician from Ashaiman, Accra. He is the CEO of Burniton Music Group. He w ...

– Australian Tour (Australia dates) (2016) * Winky D – Ma Problem Ese Disappear Tour (Australia dates) (2016) *

– King of the DanceHall Tour (Australia dates) (2017) *

– Australian Tour (Australia dates) (2017) *

Bisa Kdei Ronald Kwaku Dei Appiah better known by his stage name Bisa Kdei is a Ghanaian native solo singer and record producer from Eastern Region. Music career Bisa Kdei is the first Ghanaian artiste to break into the limelight with a movie soundtrac ...

– Road 2 Konnect Australian Tour (Australia dates) (2017) *

– Party Animals Australian Tour (Australia dates) (2018) *

Kranium Kemar Donaldson (born 12 August 1993), known professionally as Kranium, is a Jamaican dancehall singer known for his 2013 hit single "Nobody Has to Know" which gave him international recognition and led him to the Atlantic Records record label. ...

– Can't Believe Australian Tour (Australia dates) (2018) *

Konshens Garfield Delano Spence, also known as Konshens, is a Jamaican dancehall recording artist, deejay, singer and businessman. Biography Prior to Spence's solo career, he was a member of the duo SoJah with his brother Delus . ...

– Bruk Off Yuh Back Australian Tour (Australia dates) (2019) *

Nasty C Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo (born 11 February 1997), known professionally as Nasty C, is a South African rapper, songwriter, and record producer. After releasing three mixtapes, and two Extended play, EPs, Ngcobo released his debut album ' ...

– Australian Tour (Australia dates) (2019) * Prince Kaybee &

Ali Kiba Ali Saleh Kiba (born 29 November 1986), best known as Ali Kiba or occasionally as King Kiba, is a Tanzanian musician and songwriter. He is one of the most talented musicians in East Africa and mostly considered the King of Bongo Flava music Ge ...

- MelaninFunk Festival (Melbourne, Australia)(2019) *

DJ Tira Mthokozisi Khathi (born 24 August 1976) popularly known as DJ Tira, is a South African DJ, record producer, and businessman. Early life Khathi was born in KwaHlabisa Village, KwaZulu-Natal, and his family relocated to Durban in 1979. Khathi ...

– Australian Tour (Australia dates) (2019)

Festivals

*Saint Kilda Festival 2007 *Saint Kilda Festival 2009 *Island Vibe Festival 2009 *

Rainbow Serpent Festival Rainbow Spirit Festival, previously known as Rainbow Serpent Festival, is a four-day annual open-air music and arts festival that takes place during the Australia Day (26 January) long weekend, in Lexton, Victoria, west of Melbourne, Austral ...

2010 *Fringe Festival 2010 *Perth International Arts Festival 2010 *

2014 * Strawberry Fields Festival 2016 *Bob Marley Outternational Festival 2017 *Ozlinkup Festival 2017 *Jamaica Music & Food Festival 2017 *Afrobeats Perth Festival 2018 *Afro Urban Music Festival 2019 *Melanin Phunk Festival 2019

Television

Live on Bowen ''Live on Bowen'' was a one-hour Melbourne comedy talk show and variety show produced by RMITV with the support of the RMIT Student Union which aired on C31 Melbourne. The show featured comedic segments, special guest interviews and music acts r ...

29 November 2013

Awards and nominations

Australia Reggae Radio Music Awards

!Ref , - , rowspan="2", 2017 , Himself , Reggae Performer/Band of the year , , , - , Himself , Reggae/Dancehall song of the year , ,

Zimbabwe Achievers Awards

!Ref , - , rowspan="1", 2017 , Himself , Artist of the year , , , -

Star FM Music Awards

!Ref , - , rowspan="1", 2019 , Elders , Best Song by Zimbabwean in the Diaspora , , , -

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dizzy Dee Australian reggae musicians Australian male songwriters 1985 births Living people Zimbabwean emigrants to Australia Zimbabwean musicians