'MELODIES UNVEILED'
Welcome to our first official blog post! Today, we're thrilled to feature Phoenix Irhuzu, a talented performing artist from Mdantsane, South Africa's second-largest township. Through our blog series, "Melodies Unveiled", we aim to inspire and entertain you by sharing the personal stories of remarkable artists like Phoenix. Let us delve into the incredible journey of Phoenix Irhuzu (Kwa Fourteen), from humble beginnings as a street performer to becoming a celebrated artist. Get ready to be inspired and join us on this journey into the captivating world of this amazing performer!
"Phoenix iRhuzu is a young prodigy, who is based in the low-income community of Mdantsane. I didn't actually choose the name; it chose me. I was given the name by the streets, because I was like the Phoenix - as I still am. For those who don't know, the Phoenix is a mythical bird that burns itself in fire, only to be born again from its ashes. Back then, I used to rap, but I stopped for a while because I didn't have access to a studio and I lacked the resources to pursue my passion."
What got you started in music?
"It was the passion and encouragement of others that pushed me to start rapping. I had been writing poems before that, and people said to me, 'These aren't poems - they're raps! You should try writing some rhymes and getting them down on a beat in the studio.' So, I took the leap and decided to try my hand at rapping. I took my poems and turned them into raps, and the result was amazing. My first song was a hit!"
Who are your musical influences?
"I started recording my first song in 2009. I was very influenced by the group Manskaap, who were very popular back then. They were my neighbors and they'd let me hang around the studio, so I got to watch them record their songs up close. I learned a lot just by being there and observing everything that went on. One of the members of Manskaap, Prince Dbeera, was my neighbor, and he really encouraged me to pursue my own music. I was so lucky to have that kind of access and support. It made me believe that I could do.
"Kwesta is a huge musical influence for me. He's a versatile artist who always knows how to connect with his audience. He's positive, and never gets caught up in bad press or controversy. He maintains his dignity and artistry, which is something I really admire. I want to follow in his footsteps and become a respected and influential artist like him."
How would you describe your sound?
"If I had to describe my sound, I would say it's 'Kasi', which means that it has its roots in the South African township culture. I always try to incorporate vernacular and Kasi influences in my music, but in a polite and respectful way. I don't want to come across as a 'gangster', even though my name, iRhuzu, might suggest otherwise. Instead, I aim to be soft and gentle but still pack a punch with my lyrics. I use humor and punchlines to communicate my message, and I hope that my music makes an impact on my listeners."
What's your songwriting process like?
"My process of creating songs is usually inspired by my dreams and the experiences I have had. I tend to write about things that are personal to me, but at the same time, I also get inspiration from the stories of other people. I believe that being receptive to the stories and experiences of others can help me to discover new ways to express myself through my music. Sometimes, the best songs can be a product of the most unexpected sources."
What's the story behind your latest single " Nge Salute"?
The story behind the lyrical curse of 'Nge Salute' is about one of the best EC rappers I have ever known and met. We started making music together about 10 to 12 years ago, and we are still together until now. His style of music is similar to mine. The song "Nge Salute zonke izinto, Nge Salute siyazi rhelezela nama rhuzu" means that we are all hustling as hustlers, and we are still hustling as we used to do back in the day. This song is meant to encourage those who are hustling to keep going and to remind them that they are not alone. If you need an extra hand, don't be afraid to ask for help. Trust me, you won't be able to do it alone. We need each other to achieve our goals. This song portrays the idea that we are in need of others and that we need extra support.
What are your future plans for your music career?
I have released three albums, one of which is currently gaining popularity on platforms such as Spotify, social media, and radio/TV airplay. My focus now is on creating visual content for my music. I am in the process of budgeting for music videos to give my fans a glimpse of who I am and what I stand for. I don't want to keep producing music without being recognized for my work. I am dedicated to creating music videos for my past and current projects so that people can see who is is IRHUZU.
What advice would give to aspiring artists?
"As an aspiring artist, my advice to fellow artists is to not go at it alone. Don't try to be someone else. When I say 'don't be on your own,' I mean to have a team - whether it's your friends or family. Ask for their help. For instance, if your sister is a fellow artist or has a large social media following, ask her to assist you with your projects and be your PR. You need a team to succeed.
Secondly, don't judge others and don't let others take the wrong path. For example, if your raps aren't good, don't cheer yourself up. Instead, ask for help and constructive criticism. Don't give false hope to others, just be yourself and tell your truth. When you receive criticism, be ready to take it in and improve. Always be open to disappointments and use them as motivation to do better."
What are your thoughts on the East Side music scene?
My thoughts on the East Side music scene: This is my favorite topic. The East Side music scene is underrated, even though we have some amazing artists, producers, and sound engineers. Our music is good for the entire country, but we have one major problem: we don't support each other enough. Even though we have an audience that appreciates our work, we need more support from each other as artists. For example, if I release a new song or album, other artists won't congratulate me, or they'll feel like they need to do better than me. They won't feature me on their projects because my fees are too high, and so on.
If we continue to think like this, we'll never succeed. We need to work together and support each other in the Eastern Cape entertainment industry. Otherwise, we won't get the recognition we deserve. We have enough content to have our own TV station on national television channels, but we don't have the following because of a lack of support. For instance, in KZN, you'll find three different artists from different areas collaborating to create a trending song because they know they'll all benefit from it. Meanwhile, here in the Eastern Cape, we want to work alone and reap all the rewards ourselves, even though we know we need a team. You can't be a PR and an artist at the same time; you need a manager. It could be someone close to you who understands the industry. You don't have to be signed to a label to succeed.
Special thanks and further information
That was PHOENIX IRHUZU sharing his music journey from the begin, to his future plans and his current plan, we thank you phoenix for sharing your story with us we hope to feature you some time in the future siyabulela!, we hope you enjoyed our first official blog post on our weekly blog feature called 'MELODIES UNVIELED' as we will be sharing stories of our local artists every Fridays, if you are an artist and you feel like your story deserves to be featured on our blog post please contact our Facebook page EAST SIDE RAPS & join our Facebook group EAST SIDE INSIDER GROUP We would like to hear from you soon. Thank you for reading !
FOLLOW PHOENIX IRHUZU ON HIS SOCIALS
FACEBOOK: PHOENIX IRHUZU ZA
MUSIC LINK:LATEST MUSIC
THANK YOU!
CREATED BY: EAST SIDE INSIDER
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