Makwa releases second single, ‘6’
KNOWN for his work behind the scenes, producer Makwa has just released his sophomore single and says he has a lot more to offer the local music industry.
Makwa first made a name for himself when he started working with award-winning rapper Kwesta on his DaKAR
2 album. The album went platinum and Makwa was noted for his creative genius as the producer of some of the album’s biggest songs.
With his second single hitting radio stations nationwide, the rising star said that getting behind the mic was something he had always planned on doing. 6 is dedicated to the area in Katlehong where he grew up and is a youthful song with a mix of traditional and contemporary sounds.
“I was born and raised in Katlehong in zone 6 and I was my mother’s only son, but I grew up with a lot of my cousins – a typical black home. When I was growing up I liked music, I think every child enjoys music. I used to sing in church with my mother when I was in Grade 5, but I didn’t see music as a career. I also had strict parents and I always followed the rules,” he said.
It wasn’t until he was at high school that Makwa started taking his talent seriously. “I used to make beats with my cousin’s computer while I was at school; some of the first beats I made were actually house beats. I really enjoyed it a lot and it was fun because it was something I did with my friends,” said the 26-year-old.
After finishing high school, Makwa started focusing on producing music, even though he was accepted to study software development. “I dropped out on the very first day of the very first year. I just knew it wasn’t something I was going to enjoy and I really did not want to study. When I dropped out I was kicked out of the house and went to live in Pretoria. I got myself a laptop and started making music,” said Makwa.
In 2015 Makwa was introduced to Kwesta after the rapper heard a song of his. “I honestly don’t even know how he heard the song, but he did and before I knew it I got a call from his manager and they both came over to my place. He liked my work and we started working on DaKAR 2, which went platinum. I produced Ngiyazifela Ngawe, Nomayini and Mayibabo. I learnt a lot from him and we formed a great working relationship. Producing music for someone like Kwesta has opened doors to other work, which has been great,” he said.
Although he has produced hits, he has always wanted to make his own music. “I’d noticed in the music industry that the artist was more important than the producer, and that didn’t sit well with me because neither can survive on their own.”
Makwa describes his music as world music with an authentic South African sound.
“So much of our music sounds like it is from the US. My sound is uniquely South African because of my influences: people like Brenda Fassie and Ladysmith Black Mambazo,” he said.