Please enjoy our today´s premiere with South African DJ and producer Shimza feat. Mikhaela Faye. Not only is the track the perfect start into the weekend and makes us feel like dancing, we also love the important message behind it about man’s cataclysmic effects on Mother Nature.
“I am excited to be launching my own label Kunye and to have a home to release the music that we want the world to hear. The first release is a special one because it carries a deep and meaningful message, and I think the EP as a whole shows the direction the label will go in.” tells us Shimza.” My long term goal is to build a trusted global label that will be a bridge between local South African artists and the world, while fostering social cohesion.” We also talked to Shimza about his legendary performance on Robben Island and what success means to him.
Your new ‘Calling Out Your Name’ EP, delivers a poignant message of man’s cataclysmic effects on Mother Nature. Tell us more about your idea to dedicate this EP to this very important topic and what you want people to take away from it?
We are currently living in a time where certain actions by humanity have certain reactions and effects on the environment as a whole. For example, the effects of global warming are becoming more and more apparent each day. We also have hate crimes, which more often than not are caused by ignorance and lack of understanding. This has a further effect on how the outside world sees us as a country or a continent. So, this particular song for me is one that outlines that we need to do better as a people
How did the collaboration with Mikhaela Faye for ‘Calling Out Your Name’(which we love!) come about? And what did you enjoy most about working with her?
I was introduced to her by a colleague of mine. Her delivery in how she structured the song is what caught my eye and it gave the song so much more depth, making her a great fit.
In July you did a livestream performance from Robben Island in July 2020 to celebrate Nelson Mandela Day. How did you feel during this live performance?
Performing at Robben Island was a very iconic moment for me, being the first South African to have a music performance there. I was able to do what I love and entertain South Africans in the comfort of their own homes during a pandemic, whilst also raising funds for impoverished communities in the Mother City.
“What advice would you give to my younger self? I would say to always work harder.”
Was it difficult to implement the initial idea to the final realization? Were there obstacles to overcome?
There were no obstacles when it came to performing at Robben Island. It’s something that the island stakeholders were very interested in as their views coupled with mine actually aligned and included educating the youth about the history and significance of Robben Island in a more exciting and relatable way.
Is one of your main motives to make music to send important messages to the world?
Not necessarily, I make music because it’s something that I think would be well-received by people that enjoy what I usually put out.
What or who influenced your decision to become a producer and DJ?
There were many people in my young days that influenced my decision to become a DJ/Producer. It’s a collective of people that I enjoyed listening to.
Music you were listening to as a teenager?
When I was a teenager I was listening to house music, deep house music and classics, which were played on local radio stations.
What does success mean to you?
Success to me represents the reward of hard consistent work. I dedicate a lot of my time to work on my craft and to always improve in everything that I do. I’m also always willing to listen and learn from others.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would say to always work harder. With working hard comes great gratification as you have the responsibility to make your life a working success.
How much do you miss live performances right now and what helps you most in those difficult, weird times?
We are slowly getting back into performing live at small shows. It feels very good to be back and to be able to connect with people compared to before where we had to be cooped up in our homes for a very long time and rely on other forms of entertainment. It’s also great to see a response from people that enjoy what I play.
Shimza stands as one of South Africa’s most prolific contemporary stars. Following a historic livestream performance from Robben Island in July 2020 to celebrate Nelson Mandela Day, Shimza continues his crusade to promote South Africa’s rich musical heritage with the launch of his new Kunye label. Marking the imprint’s inaugural release, the Gauteng-born artist offers his own stunning three-track ‘Calling Out Your Name’ EP, delivering a poignant message of man’s cataclysmic effects on Mother Nature.
www.instagram.com/shimza.dj
www.instagram.com/mikhaela_faye
To download the track follow this link.
photo credit: Ryan Hing
