She is feeling defeated after a deal went sour with a major label, Empire. Singer Dalene Scwartz, best known as Dinky Kunene, is said to be trying to worm her way out of a binding contract with the label after allegedly failing to deliver on their promises and sabotaging her success.

 FRUSTRATED

 A close friend of the Idols SA season 14 and 15 contestant revealed to ZiMoja the level of frustration she has endured since signing a distribution deal with the label. "It's as though they signed her to stop her from succeeding,' she said. She has not released any music through them; they are delaying every release without valid reasons, and they are not living up to their word,' the friend said. The friend added that the label promised her an advance to help in the making of the music, which she has not received. "She planned her project, life and music around the agreement, and now she is stuck. They are in fact treating her as though she signed a 360 deal and they own her, but they don't."

CONTRACT

To add salt to the wound, the source said, the label removed her vocals from two major songs and added other people's. "I will not mention the names, but her vocals, after her hard work and creativity were removed from two songs, and a famous rapper was added," said the friend. The friend also told ZiMoja that she is restricted from recording music with other artists. "As soon as the song gets released, they report it. So, it makes it a challenge; why don't they rather release her," they asked. The close friend said Dinky has been living off bookings. "This is so she makes money and she keeps busy. This entire thing has been frustrating; they sought legal action but are being sent to speak to people in the US, who have also not been responding.'

 ONGOING

When ZiMoja reached out to Innocent Nkosi-Shongwe, who is responsible for the deal and head of territory at Empire, there was no response. "They have been ducking and diving from the poor girl; she is young and does not deserve this,' the friend added. Dinky's manager, Jan Motobuli, did not wish to go into detail about the matter. "I don't know what to say. I am surprised people know about this. I honestly don't want to comment on the matter, maybe one day.'