#MusicExchange: Shimza, Darque and Sino Msolo collaborate on "Kethiwe"

Uplifting chord progressions and eloquent vocals encompass this feel-good Afro-house anthem.

Shimza a household name with his acclaimed sold-out One-Man Shows in South Africa; The Lockdown House Party; the recent launch of his label Kunye, a string of international releases; and his last radio single, massive platinum hit with Prince Kaybee, Black Motion and Ami Faku with the track “Uwrongo” – which found its way into Barack Obama’s top 20, Shimza is at the top of his craft.

I spoke to him last week.

The new decade means:

Growth and new opportunities.

Fame is about:

Being mindful and taking responsibility for the content you put out to the world.

Source: Supplied

Source: Supplied

Retirement will happen when:

In my mind, retirement will happen very soon, when I’m 35. But who am I kidding? I will never retire because I love what I do. I will rock until the wheels fall off.

I don't do:

I don’t do negativity and bad energies.

What does music mean to you?

Music is my universal language. Music is my first love.

My music is about:

Making people dance and feel something that cannot be put into words.

Where do you go for inspiration to create?

I create music in my home and I find that’s the best place to get inspiration.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your work?

Feeding off the energy of the crowd. I am in command of the mood of the room and that to me gives me energy that is just unexplainable.

The song you must do in every show:

I usually read what the crowds want, but if I had to choose a song that I usually play it has to be “War” by Eltonnick.

My style icon:

It’s me, I dress for comfort and sometimes aesthetic.

Source: Supplied

What is your most treasured possession?

My daughter.

It’s your round, what are you drinking?

A virgin Mojito.

What makes you stand out?

My authenticity in everything I do – be it a business deal or my everyday life.

Nicknames:

Shimza, Shimmy, Shimuza.

If you were not a musician, what would you do?

I would be in the marketing industry, coming up with creative ideas.

Who would play you in a Hollywood blockbuster and why?

Leonardo DiCaprio. I always believe that, as a person, you need to think beyond your capabilities; Leo does that for me.

Source: Supplied

Pick five words to describe yourself?

Intelligent, achiever, ambitious, fearless, hard worker.

What song changed your life?

“Burnout” by Sipho Mabuse that groove is timeless, it is still such a fresh sound.

Favourite fashion garment:

Everything Diesel.

Give us some real proper slang and what it means:

Kwenzakalani – What’s going on?
Hai – shocked at one’s actions.

Your greatest achievement:

Growing my One Man Show to be what it is today. It started as an event with 800 people and became a huge festival hosting over 15,000 participants.

What do you complain about most often?

I honestly don’t like complaining a lot, but I think something that is a pet peeve is someone that is lazy and has a sense of entitlement that really annoys me because they have every excuse not to do the things they are meant to do.

Do you do charity work and, if you do, what do you do?

My One Man Show is a charity-driven show – which is held annually on Christmas day in my community. The event went from attracting 800 people in 2006 to over 15,000 attending the festival in 2019. Every year, we hire buses to accommodate 1,500 kids who receive a Christmas lunch and are entertained with activities and fun games in the stadium. Those kids later receive school uniforms as well as school shoes at the beginning of the school year.

Wishes and dreams:

I just wish well for people. I hope they reach their true potential and never give up on their dreams. It’s tough in the world but people need to push through their fears and manifest what’s aligned to them.

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