Get to know Muzi
South African-born, Berlin-based producer backed by Diplo and Stormzy
They say that a change is as good as a rest, and moving halfway across the world seems to have benefited Muzi. The 25-year-old South African producer has recently moved to Berlin and is singing the German capital’s praises. “It’s made me more confident,” he explains. “Berlin’s such a creative place that it’s really allowed me to be myself.”
Now pushing a bass-heavy sound that combines Western influences with more traditional African melodies, the producer, from the KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa, began making music by trying to mimic producers such as Timbaland. With a 5pm curfew imposed by his parents because of the dangers of being out late at night in his township, he had lots of time to work on it, too. So much so that when he performed some of the beats he’d composed on a copy of Fruity Loops at a school talent show, people doubted that the music he’d made was actually his. Then, after studying medicine while also selling beats to rappers in Durban, Muzi dropped out of college and headed to Johannesburg to focus on music a few years into his degree.
“My scholarship had run out by then, so it made sense to concentrate on music,” he laughs. His productions have since won him the attention of Diplo, The Prodigy and Stormzy; the latter even travelling to South Africa with Muzi last year to film a documentary on the artist. But while Berlin’s given him a new lease of life, Muzi’s not too sure about the demeanour of your average crowd in Europe. “It’s a different culture completely,” he explains. “I’m used to people wilding out, but here, it’s like you guys are being watched by the Queen!” It’s down to Muzi, then, to keep bringing that African flavour to Europe as thoughts turn to his second album.
“This is a great debut album, but next time you’re going to see more of me,” he explains. “Now I’m in Europe I’ve got more reason to show the African side of my music and push those influences to the front.” You can take the boy out of the KwaZulu-Natal province...
‘Boom Shaka’ is out now on !K7/WE.THE.BUNDU
