ZOBO, as fictitious as they may be, is a real person — at least in our minds. 

ZOBO guides all our design choices, using the simple principle of: would ZOBO wear this? And to truly understand if they would wear something, we must envisage the granular of their life, the day-to-day, the mundane. For example, what do they do when they first wake up? Are they a shirt first or pants first kind of individual?  Which bergamot body wash do they use in the shower, and do they turn the tap cold for the last 10 seconds of their shower because they understand the benefit of cold water therapy but don’t care about it enough to self-imposingly freeze? Which beans would they use for their morning coffee: Italian or Nicaraguan? How do they like their steak, and are they partial to pepper or mushroom sauce? These are all important questions that truly paints a picture of character. 

But, no question paints character more so than musical discernment — so when they are sitting back, legs up, what melodies transmit from their Kef speakers?

As we’ve mentioned, ZOBO isn’t aligned with any particular concept, so naturally they would transcend the boundaries of a single genre.  On a gloomy Sunday, Miles Davies’ whirl of cool might get a run; on another day, the polished rebellion of the Strokes’ third album will get spun.  They won’t be scared to throw on some iconic trashy 80’s swooners or indulge in house, in all its synthesised rhythmic varieties. One of their favourites is hip-hop, (Lauryn Hill and Strandz are personal champions of theirs). ZOBO doesn’t particularly like the Top 40 charts, as they prefer to delve down their own rabbit hole.

ZOBO’s love for music is best understood through their connection with artists — and finds as much enjoyment in the artist’s story as in the song itself. It’s why Black Coffee, the South African-born, deep house DJ, appeals to them. The fact the man spins such dope tracks with only one arm — he lost the other when a pro-apartheid racist drove into him while he and a group were celebrating Nelson Mandela’s ascension to South Africa’s highest office — only amplifies how good Black Coffee’s tracks are. 

Long story short, ZOBO always knows what to play and when to play it. And for days when you are lacking such aural direction, dear reader, ZOBO has created a playlist for you. 

Enjoy Broadcast: I