MUZI

The latest musical star to shine from South Africa shores…

 

Interview by Dan Prince

 

What a journey you have had, from the Empangeni township in South Africa to Berlin! What is your earliest musical memory from your childhood – I hear your dad loved his vinyl?

Thank you for taking the time to do this interview, much appreciated. My dad was a huge fan of music so he collected loads of vinyl. He had this big technics sound system and he’d blast that shit every chance he got. I remember hearing Bob Marley – Buffalo Soldier. Thats my earliest memory, I was probably 2. There’s actually video footage of this, I just need to find that vhs tape.

This month sees the release of your debut album ‘Boom Shaka’ on your own imprint WE.THE.BUNDI via !K7. A wonderful collection of electronica, hip hop, kwaito and Zulu music. Please talk us through the album…Stormzy, Diplo and The Prodigy LOVE you!

The music started coming to me October 2015. Initially, I didnt know that it was going to be an album but then songs started coming in and it all started to make more sense as a body of work. It started to sound like a project. Named it Boom Shaka after a 90s pop/kwaito South African group.

How much of an influence was the violence going on around you growing up had on your music?

My mom had a tough curfew on us when we were young because she was scared some shit might happen to us, so staying indoors helped me find more time to make music and hone my skills.

Musical influences growing up?

I have so many but Timbaland, Cold Play, Linkin Park, The Prodigy, Chicco Twala to name a few. Used to watch this show in South Africa called Eastern Mosaic and it was about eastern culture/music so that influenced me a lot as well.

You returned to South Africa with grime superstar Stormzy recently to shoot a mini documentary – what was some of the advice he gave you?

We never really talked about the music industry. I didn’t ask him for any advice. I was more focused on giving him an honest glimpse into South African culture.

What was your first impressions of Berlin and how has the city changed your music?

Berlin is dope. I like it here. It’s a great creative place to be in. The city hasn’t really changed my music in anyway though. I’m growing as an artist but that’s not because of my surroundings, more so that’s because of me being more comfortable with who I am and having a clearer understanding of what my goals/missions are.

What are the plans for your fashion label FRESHER.THAN.YOUR.IDOL. and why was this an avenue you wanted to get into?

Hopefully we can start making some limited edition pieces soon and see how that goes. I never got the idea of people wearing clothes with artists names on it, so for my merch I wanted to do something different where you aren’t praising anybody hence the name. You’re FRESHER THAN YOUR IDOL. It’s rebellion against all forms of idol worship. It’s about self belief plus I love looking fresh so it just felt like an organic next step.

A famous quote from you : “My life mission is to be part of the group of people that make the world see how cool Africa and Africans are.” How are things changing over there?

Things are getting better especially through things like social media. Disenfranchised, marginalized people have a voice. There’s definitely a lot of positive vibes coming through.

You made your UK debut at Bestival last summer, one of the craziest festivals on the planet. What did you make of that madness?

I’d love to play there again. It was really dope. Always exciting to see how people react to my music, there seems to be no middle ground, either people really love it or really hate it. i love that

What are your plans for 2017?

More music, More gigs, Keep working and building my live show. Hopefully drop first FRESHER.THAN.YOUR.IDOL collection. Hopefully meet some cool people and start collaborating.

And finally, EDM legend Avicii recently hung up his headphones from DJing and is apparently getting into the world of film scores. Is this something that would interest you?

Honestly that’s where I see myself. After all this shit is done, I’ll be making movie scores and sharing all the information I have with kids from disadvantaged backgrounds.

MUZI ‘BOOM SHAKA’ is out now on  !K7/WE.THE.BUNDU

https://www.facebook.com/muziou

 

Dan Prince is Music Editor at Ushuaïa’s IUMAG, Ibiza’s No.1 music and lifestyle magazine where this feature appeared in the September issue…

www.theushuaiamagazine.com