Euphonik’s perspective shifts in song and dance
TWO shots of ginger. A dash of sugar syrup. The juice of a lemon. The DJ and producer who is popularly known as Euphonik (real name Themba Nkosi) shares his secret recipe with me after we’ve sat down at a restaurant where the manager comes to greet him.
“I had lots of ginger for you last week,” the manager tells Euphonik by way of explaining how he anticipates his needs. The recipe for this drink that comes in a tall glass may be his secret but Euphonik freely gives away the main ingredient to creating a career that has seen him release 13 albums: just run your own race. His latest album, Perspective, is the proof. “Perspective isn’t chasing the popularity of what’s happening right now and I did that on purpose,” he says of the album.
“A lot of up-andcoming DJs and producers will say, ‘Do I need to make this sound to be popular?’. No! You need to do you to be popular.”
He continues: “A song like It’s A Fine Day (featuring Zandra) is my song from like, 1998, when I was still in high school. Literally, two days before we made the song, I found myself singing the song over and over. I said you know what, it’s a sign. I’m just going to put the song together.”
Most of Perspective came from a sincere place. Sticking with his signature sound that blends vocal house with tinges of EDM, Euphonik presents a body of work that reflects his personal life. This is a departure from dark lyrics on effervescent beats (like on Seng’ khathele) or words of worship over moody music (on Busa). On this new album there is a joviality that is evident in both the lyrics and the beats.
“I am probably having the best time of my life right now,” he tells me.
“I hadn’t dropped something in two years so when I was putting together this album, there were songs that I can play in the car and go ‘wooo!’.
“On previous compilations, there were songs I wanted to have on and songs that I put on because I knew that’s what people wanted. That’s why I named this album Perspective.
“I took time out to travel the world and when I came back, I felt like I had a global perspective on what’s happening everywhere around the world within this genre.”
It’s been two years since his last offering so what kept him away from releasing?
“I spent the whole of 2016 and 2017 just bored,” he admits. “I started DJing commercially in 2003.
“Then in 2005 or 2006 I joined the Soul Candi team as head of artists and recording. I did everyone’s projects from (DJ) Fresh, Glen Lewis, Fistaz – everything up until 2010. In that time, I also dropped my own CDs and compilations.
“I have 13 gold and platinum albums and it just got to the point where it was just like: repeat. The outcome is always expected – you know exactly what’s going to happen. The results became too predictable.”
He travelled across Africa and found “the other African countries weren’t ready for the level that South Africa was operating at or the level that I wanted to operate at”.
“Last year I spent a lot of time in Europe and that’s the market. In the dance or house music scene, there’s a specific way artists grow.
“The success doesn’t necessarily have to be Billboard 100. I just want to play the music that I like to an audience that is willing to open up to it and is very open-minded. It’s hard to find those places.”
When we met, he was set to play a few gigs in London. Do an interview on BBC 1 and spend four days in the studio.
In the meantime, his monster of a hit, Apologies (featuring Thoko and Luke M), has been devouring the airwaves. “Thoko and Luke are based in Port Elizabeth,” he shares.
“Thoko is actually a jazz singer and Luke is a producer. They sent me some demos and I said come to Joburg and let’s do some stuff together.
“Thoko is an amazing writer and the lyrics are reflective of my life but I think she also went through some stuff to end up with Apologies. With all my songs, I’m
always trying to find the message.
“Like how does this change somebody else’s life.”
We saw how he did just that with Killer Kau and Mbali’s Tholukhuthi Hey, which is the final track on Perspective.
But the positivity permeates through songs like Summer Sun featuring Daniel Baron.
The only thing that might drive Euphonik more than positivity might be his passion for property.
Euphonik is hyper aware of the disdain he causes when he tweets that people should save up for property instead of buying depreciating or seasonal things.
“I know that money isn’t a thing a positive lot of us grew up being taught about,” he says. “But I think the ones who know must spread the knowledge as much as they can. “Yes, buy a house because it grows in value and no one is going to buy your Louis Vuitton bag from you for more (money). “I know that stings people and it must sting to the point where you want to get out of that zone. “I know it’s hard to make money. I know. The last thing you need is some self-righteous DJ who has made all the money telling you how to spend your money. “I’m part of the generation that perpetuated that bullsh*t of make some music, make some money, buy a car. “But when you get out of the cycle – even if you follow 1% of the things that I follow, your perspective will change and you’ll grow and be like, sh*t, actually, the dude was right.” Euphonik’s Perspective is available online and at stores.