South African amapiano star and Grammy award nominee Musa Keys joins Nandi Madida via FaceTime on Apple Music 1 to talk about his latest track, “Izinyembezi (feat. Chley & Cheez Beezy)”. He also discusses his new EP, ‘Becoming Him’, the evolution of his sound, inhabiting dual roles as a producer and a vocalist, and his global aspirations.
Musa Keys tells Apple Music about his ‘Becoming Him’ EP
My ‘Becoming Him’ EP is a prompt to my album. I’m just saying goodbye to who I was, and welcoming my new self. I believe my music is different now, I’ve grown so much and now fully have an understanding of what works for me and what sound is best for me, what best translates what I feel to the rest of the people.
Musa Keys tells Apple Music about his Dual Roles as Producer and Vocalist
Somebody actually asked me what would I do if I had to choose between producing music and actually becoming more of a vocal artist. What would I choose? It was a very difficult choice for me, mainly because I think I’m pretty dominant in both, and the way I have so much intent I know what I want in the sense of what I want it to sound like, and that’s one thing I always say working with other artists – maybe I find I’ve produced the song, but I just feel like they’re not connecting with the song the way I’m imagining it in my vocal mind – so I believe I’m everything. Don’t classify me!
Musa Keys tells Apple Music about Taking his Music International
I should even change my Instagram bio to ‘Young Global Superstar’! I believe that I’ve reached quite a beautiful point in my life in South Africa where I’ve built my brand, and now it’s time to take it to the rest of the world.
Not only South Africa, Africa as a whole you know. I’ve done a couple of shows around Africa, which is where I’m going next now for my own shows. I want to have my own one-man shows outside of South Africa just to actually put a stamp that yo, I’m actually him.
Despite that I just believe that my music is in a different place now, I feel like I am where I should be. I feel like the music is really about who I’ve grown to become.