Afrovision musician Muzi muses on the art of minimalism

December 22, 2018
 |  22 Comments

Image by Ben Moyo

Empangeni-born producer and singer Muzi has been deliberate in kicking ass and taking names since the day he left medical school to pursue his love for music. Ever since then, the 27-year-old, who released his second album Afrovision in 2018, has proven to be an electronic force on the global music scene.


Muzi got signed to BMG Chrysalis in London, following a move to Europe, and collaborated with UK grime sensation Stormzy after meeting at the Nandos Music Exchange in the United Kingdom in 2015, their song From South London to South Africa made major waves and was the lead up to Muzi’s debut album Boom Shaka the following year. Muzi has also put in work creating music for artists like Riky Rick Locnville, Kabelo and Reason, and performed at Berstival, made music for Apple iWatch, collaborated with the likes of Stormzy and Cassper Nyovest, as well as receiving nods from music heavy weights, M.I.A, Prodigy and Diplo, to mention a few.

Image by Ben Moyo

How would you describe your style of music?

It’s genre-fluid modern African music. I don’t stick to one genre when I make music, it’s all based on feeling.


How has your music evolved since the days of making music on a 128MB RAM computer?

I’ve become way more confident. I used to make hip hop beats then, now I make dance music. Also, the music is way sparser now.


What has been your career highlight thus far?

I started making music when I was 12/13 and my biggest career highlight has been making music for Apple iWatch 2, Ralph Lauren and Nando’s adverts.


As a youth, what important issues do you think young people should be tackling?

I can’t really speak for other people. I do however feel that we are tackling certain issues as the youth. We’ve realised that change comes with us and we’re using our art to express what we’d like to see. I for one am a very proud Nguni man and would like to see more of us like that, instead of trying to be American/European.

Image by Ben Moyo

Tell us about your experience moving to Berlin and how it has influenced your craft?

Berlin was amazing, I learnt so much but most importantly I learnt about minimalism. I love keeping my music as minimal as possible now. I love letting it breathe.

How is the creative space different to the South African creative space?

It’s all art. I’m more so on the music space so I don’t really know much about the art side of things. I do know that they’ve always been more edgy and politically inclined than we muso’s have but we’re catching up

What does Youth Month mean to you?

How are you commemorating it? It serves as a reminder of how people that never knew me sacrificed themselves for my freedom. I’ll forever be grateful for that. I’m commemorating it but spreading these good Afrovision vibes as far as I possibly can.


Which South African musicians are currently doing the most for you and how do they influence your sound?

I love what Langa Mavuso, Una Rams, Darkie Fiction, Espacios Dios, Tron Pyre are doing. My music is sacred to me so they don’t really influence my music. I am however a super fan of their work.


This article was originally published on Basha Uhuru.