Before the release of his new single Crush Yam, Airburn Sounds sat down with us to talk about the journey behind the track. From how the collaboration with Mawhoo, BoontleRSA and Optimist Music ZA came about, to the inspiration driving its mellow yet playful Amapiano vibe, he opens up about his creative process, upcoming projects, and the unique sound he’s carving out in the industry.
1. How did the collaboration with these three artists come about?
I had always wanted to work with Mawhoo. Mawhoo hosted a music camp, orking towards her album. I had set up my studio at the camp as one of the head producers. We made a lot of songs. But Crush Yam stood out. BoontleRSA first came up with the melody for the hook. Mawhoo loved it and jumped on it. Optimist then came in at the end of the song.
The music was initially meant to be on Mawhoo’s album, but it didn’t make it due to technical issues. However, it worked well for everyone because we took the time to work on it. We re-recorded her verse and added some guitar.
2. When and how long did it take to work on the music?
I worked on the beat. The song took a few hours to put together. But we kept it and went back to make some adjustments. You know, as an artist, a song is never complete – there will always be something you feel you could have done better.
3. What was the inspiration behind the song Crush Yam?
It’s a really mellow, chilled Amapiano love song that everyone can relate to – all ages, all races. Not complicated. It’s a simple song, fun and great for the coming summer.
4. What are you currently working on?
I am already finishing up my next release which will be a single coming out end of the month featuring Zuma, Azi and S’Villa. Will announce everything soon. Then, after that, I will be releasing my EP – star-studded. Big names, great songs, and just good music. There’s a lot on the pipeline.
5. Describe your sound?
My sound is Soulful, Afro-soul mixed with Amapiano. Crush Yam has an Afro Soul guitar, so it makes the Amapiano sound very different to what people are used to. I am very versatile. I started out making Afrobeats and Hip-Hop. Now, I’m exploring Amapiano infused with Kwaito – that wave is coming in hard. I produced something amazing for Stilo Magolide with the same sound. But my style cant really be boxed
