Hidden Conversations: Phila Dlozi

For Phila Dlozi, music isn’t just a calling, it’s a lifeline. Born and raised in kwaSokhulu, the singer, songwriter, and spiritual creative has carved out a path led by feeling, intuition, and deep-rooted purpose. With a name gifted to him by his grandmother and a voice honed on the streets and in train carriages of Johannesburg, Phila carries a message that resonates far beyond melody.

Ahead of his upcoming performance as part of the Hidden Spaces series, we caught up with him to talk about his journey, purpose, and what to expect from the next chapter.

What inspired your journey into music and was there a moment that made you realize this would become your career?

I’ve always been curious about music. From when I was a little boy growing up in kwaSokhulu, I’ve always been singing. I had to do everything in my power to make it work, that’s why I decided to leave home and come to Joburg to look for better ways to do music.

It starts with your heart being at peace when you’re singing, but you feel lost in any other environment. That’s what happened with me. When I was in school, I just felt lost. Sometimes I would bunk school, go to town, and start busking, singing in trains, in the street, and that’s when I would feel at peace and fulfilled. That’s when I decided that music would be my life.

Where does the name Phila Dlozi come from?

Phila Dlozi is a name that was given to me by my grandmother. I had gone home to do iladi, and in the morning, when it was time for me to return to Joburg, I went to greet her. In her joy about how well the ceremony had gone, she said to me, “Phila dlozi, noma kukuphi laph’uhamba khona maliphil’idlozi.”
Those words sat with me for a long time. Eventually, I decided that this was who I was going to become and who I am. I adopted the name as my stage name because it speaks to what I do through the music, too.

Busking seems to have prominence in your journey…

The biggest thing for me in making and sharing music is how it connects with people and how it makes them feel. For a long time, I didn’t realize that seeing people receive and appreciate my music, its message and healing, is what I need in my spirit.

The exchange of energy, me singing and people receiving, that connection is what keeps me going every day. The people who really need to hear this music are often in the street grinding. They’re tired, they’ve got a lot going on, and sometimes they just need to hear someone like them telling them that they’re going to be fine. That things will work out. They just need to dig a little deeper, push a little harder. That’s where I come in, with the music and the message it carries. They’ll hear me singing and take from it what they need, which gives them that push of encouragement to keep going.

How are you navigating the gap between the music and the music business?

Everybody needs at least one person they trust in their corner, and I’m blessed to have someone I can trust and feel comfortable with when it comes to the business side of things. It’s his job to worry about the mechanics of the business, and mine to make sure he has something to sell.

I believe in collaboration. We’re not all gifted in the same areas, so it makes sense to work with others so we can benefit from each other’s strengths. I’d encourage upcoming artists to find someone, a professional, they trust, someone who believes in them and whom they believe in too, to drive the business side of their music if they can’t do it themselves. For me, I knew I didn’t want to be heavily involved in that side of things, because it messes with my creative flow.

Was your debut EP a testament of your growth as an artist?

I wanted to showcase my range and versatility in my debut project, so people could figure out which side of Phila Dlozi they connect with. The EP was not only a presentation of what I’m able to do but also an indication of how I’m more content with who and what I am, what I want to share, and what my sound is.

Your shows often happen on Sunday afternoons. Why that choice?

At the end of the day, we have to consider our audiences. People need to get home safely, and preferably as early as possible, especially on a Sunday so they can rest before the work week starts. Plus, Sunday afternoons are so relaxed, and that’s the mood you need to be in to receive my music well.

That sense of ease and connection is also why I perform barefoot, it makes me feel free and grounded. I want my audience to feel that same grounding and peace during the show.

What can audiences expect from your upcoming Hidden Spaces show?

If you’ve got loads of stuff on your shoulders, emotionally or spiritually, that you want to free yourself of, come to the show. I have so much faith that this gathering is going to be fertile ground for healing to take place, and that’s the most important thing for me.

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Phila Dlozi’s show is the next in our Hidden Spaces series and takes place on Friday, 12 July at The Fort in Sandton. Come as you are – and leave a little lighter.