Versatility is the key to SEVVEN’s success

He has become an unshakeable force in the local music industry and everything he’s achieved has been the outcome of hard work and dedication, writes Robyn Cohen

Every man needs the right gear for travelling, irrespective of whether it’s a weekend trip or a long-term getaway abroad.

Travel toiletry kit: Pack all your toiletries in a travel kit and don’t forget your best aftershave – it can help you win deals. Passport holder: To keep all your tickets and travel documents in a wellorganised and safe place. Weekender bag: Where you’ll fit in your clothes and shoes. To make a statement go for a premium leather bag – it’s versatile (business trips or breaks). Luxury watch: Some people might think this a waste of money, but it’s not – it’s a lifetime investment. A fashionable and functional accessory.

Portable charger: The last thing you need is to travel with a dead phone. Thanks to power banks, you can now travel with a charger in hand without having to plug it into the wall. But remember – make sure both your phone and portable charger are fully charged before any departure. Headphones: If you’re a regular traveller, you know the frustration that comes with annoying noise or verbose fellow travellers. With a good pair of headphones, you’re able to block out all that. Besides letting you listen to your favourite jams on your phone, headphones also help you to not read too much on a long-distance haul. THE 33-year-old Joburg artist who tags himself as “creative entrepreneur” is involved with multiple aspects of his craft – music, videos, styling and producing.

In addition to his music, he is producing other people’s music through his studio in Cape Town, Skyye Collective and at The Hit Lab Studio in Joburg. A thrilling project on the boards is the producing of David Kibuuka’s debut album – of songs. This is a new direction for Kibuuka – the stand-up comic/actor and writer – who is based in New York and writes for Trevor Noah and The Daily Show.

It is exciting times for SEVVEN, who was born Ricky Martins, but with a Ricky Martin already in the business, it was inevitable a stage name would be required. SEVVEN came about when he was playing in a previous band, and he was nicknamed Ricky Seven. He thought “seven” was cool and added the 2nd V to make it a bit different from a generic seven.

SEVVEN dived into concert mode, performing with artists including Chiano Sky, Howie Combrink, Matthew Gold, Naima Mclean and The Awakening. His debut single, Forget Who We Are, was released in November 2016 and his debut album, SEVVEN, was released in June this year.

You recently performed at the Toronto Film Festival. How did it go?

It’s was incredibly fun, met a ton of great people and they loved our accent because it’s not an obvious one to place.

What is it like to be signed to Playbook Talent Management and what is on offer in terms of other platforms?

I am very excited to be an exclusive Playbook artist. Playbook has two divisions: the online booking platform, which is super awesome, and all artists should check it out. They also have a talent management division, which I’m signed to. They are doing very interesting work all over the world. I’m super excited about being able to take my music into new territories.

What has it been like, writing songs and producing comedian David Kibuuka’s album?

Dave has an incredibly eclectic style, so all I can say is that it’s something I’ve immensely enjoyed working on. I’m super excited for when he puts it out.

You are quite a versatile artist, you do production, visuals, video and stylish with a distinctive personal style... tell us more.

For me, it’s about being a creative entrepreneur. It’s like you make all these things, which is incredibly fun, and then you have to find a way to get it to people... I’ve never liked the idea that I have to wear things because someone else said I have to. So I guess pushing the envelope is my way of rebelling against that.