The lights dim. The crowd hums in anticipation. Then, a single beat drops — deep, resonant, alive.
Behind the decks stands Sukoluhle Dlamini, known to the world as !Sooks, his head slightly bowed, eyes closed, body swaying in rhythm.
To the untrained eye, it’s just a DJ lost in his zone. But beneath the strobes and smoke, something sacred is happening.
For !Sooks, every performance is a prayer. Every bassline, a heartbeat. Every rhythm, a dialogue between his spirit and his purpose.
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Yet behind the music, beyond the applause, lies another rhythm — quieter, invisible, but equally powerful: the rhythm of mental health.
In an industry that glorifies stamina over stillness and endless hustle over healing, he’s choosing a different beat. He’s choosing honesty.
“Mental health is a topic rarely discussed in the entertainment industry, especially among African male artists,” he begins. “The culture often rewards resilience and hustle over vulnerability. But I’ve learnt that being honest about what you’re going through doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human.”
He continues, “We carry so much pressure to perform, to stay relevant, to always deliver — and it can take a toll. There are times when I’ve been mentally exhausted but had to get on stage anyway.”
!Sooks describes mental health as an ‘invisible rhythm’ that shapes everything — how he creates, performs, and connects with people.
“If your mind isn’t right, your music won’t feel right,” he says. “Mental health and creativity are intertwined. You can’t have one without the other.”
That’s why he speaks openly about his rituals — fasting, prayer and intentional solitude — not as trends, but as tools for survival.
“If me talking about fasting, praying and dealing with anxiety can help another artist feel less alone, then it’s worth it,” he says. “Taking care of your mental health doesn’t make you weak, it makes you stronger. It helps you protect your gift.”
A Journey of Sound and Spirit
Known for crafting cinematic house grooves that are equal parts haunting and healing, !Sooks has carved a name as one of Southern Africa’s most captivating electronic artists.
Born and raised in Eswatini, he recalls,
“Growing up here taught me that music isn’t just entertainment, it’s spiritual. It connects people. It heals.”
His journey began with the 2016 EP 7 Years of Colour under Antidote Music, followed by A Different Place under Deepstitched Records.By the time his debut album Symmetry dropped, he was no longer just a Swati export — he was a continental force.
In 2019, !Sooks bagged major honours:
– Best Underground Record of the Year for “Oasis”
– Best Compilation Album for Mzansi House Vol. 9
– Best House Artist at the MTN SWAMA Awards
On paper, it was triumph. In reality, it was a test.
“The higher you climb, the more pressure there is,” he admits. “Everyone expects more and sometimes you don’t even get time to breathe.”
He recalls fasting while touring between Cape Town and Johannesburg:
“I was exhausted, but my brain wouldn’t stop. I was lying there, heart racing, thinking about everything that could go wrong.”
Still, when he hit the stage, the crowd only saw confidence — not the turmoil behind the turntables.
Faith, Solitude and Balance
For !Sooks, faith remains his anchor.
“Music is my ministry. When I’m on stage, I’m not performing, I’m worshipping,” he says.
He fasts before major shows, prays before producing, and retreats into solitude for spiritual alignment.
“When I’m aligned with God, the anxiety fades. The pressure feels lighter. I’m reminded that I’m just a vessel, not the source.”
Success, he adds, is beautiful but heavy.
“The applause is loud, but when it fades, the silence can be deafening. If you don’t take care of your soul, the same thing that made you can break you.”
Intentional Art and Honest Masculinity
Performing at Spring Fiesta 2025 marked a turning point for him.
He tested a new, vocal-driven track featuring Sarnilo, signalling a new creative era focused on connection and storytelling.
“I’m in a season of intentionality now,” he says. “I want everything I do to have meaning, to speak life.”
He also challenges how masculinity is defined in creative spaces.
“As African men, we’re raised to be tough, silent, unshakable. But that mindset kills us. Strength is not silence, it’s surrender.”
Beyond the beats, !Sooks has become a voice for mental health and emotional honesty in African music.
“Success without peace means nothing,” he says. “If your soul isn’t well, no award or applause can fill that void.”
Purpose Over Pressure
Before wrapping up, he offers advice to others balancing art and life:
“Protect your peace. Rest. Reflect. Reconnect with God. You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
He smiles, calm, grounded.
“At the end of the day, I’m just grateful. Grateful to create, grateful to heal, grateful to serve. That’s what it’s all about, purpose over pressure.”
As the night fades and the bassline slows, !Sooks remains where he has always been — between sound and spirit, crafting music that heals as much as it moves.
“When you’re in tune with God,” he says softly, “the noise quiets down, and all that’s left is peace. That’s where I make my music from, that peace.”
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