MSAKI: MORE THAN JUST A MELODIOUS VOICE

We caught up with the songstress and producer to hear more about her latest song with Kabza and Focalistic, what she's most grateful for and her favourite New Year's ritual.

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Asanda Lusaseni Mvana, who is popularly known to us as Msaki, speaks of the musical gift that her grandfather gave her. More than just a beautiful voice, she also tells us about her passion for songwriting and producing - something she wishes females were more recognised for in the industry.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND HOW YOUR MUSIC JOURNEY STARTED
I grew up as Asanda Lusaseni. Mvana is as of 2013, that was the family that paid lobola for me. So, I represent both families.

My music journey started in my family - my grandfather is a composer. My father also has musical talent - he started choirs when he was a teacher and a lawyer. Officially, I got into music in 2013 when I released my first EP, but music has always been in my family. I only realised I was an artist later on, which is when I started my own offering in 2013.

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TELL US ABOUT MTAKABABA, HOW DID IT COME ABOUT?
We just liked each other, Kabza and I, we’re cool. He sent me a message on Facebook a year ago, and I only saw it six months later. I then messaged him on Instagram. When he got my message, he called and asked me to join a session. That's also where I first met Focalistic.

While I was jamming on my guitar outside, waiting for Kabza to go to the studio, I grabbed his [Focalistic] attention. We then jammed together and Kabza joined us. It was just one of those things - we immediately clicked and had a song in a day!



WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU FACED ALONG THE WAY?
Oh man, so many things. Some of the challenges are just being misunderstood and things taking too long. And as a female producer, my main challenge is domestic attitudes in the studio thinking we’re just voices when a lot of us have production ideas - solid ones. This is why I’ve started a female producer’s network - to upskill each other and get ourselves from point A to B in terms of learning how to voice our ideas in the studio because there’s more to us than just our voices.

This issue also needs an intentional push from our male allies. There is a change, but the guys can definitely do better. We’re not just pretty voices on top of their genius productions. We need to be acknowledged as collaborators and contributors, especially in the house music industry. Females mainly come across as the pretty thing in the video - but we are so much more.

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WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS? ANY RITUALS YOU DO BEFORE YOU RECORD A SONG?
I try my best to just centre myself. A lot of the rituals are practical like drinking hot lemon water. It's just trying to feel calm, centred and comfortable so that ideas can come forward. The most important thing about the studio for me is making sure that I'm listening out for the song. If the studio is too chaotic or noisy, it gets a bit much. So, I need to hear what’s happening inside.

DO YOU EVER GET STAGE FRIGHT AND IF YOU DO, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH IT?
I always get stage fright. There hasn’t been a performance, whether it's an Instagram live, concert or theatre performance, where it doesn't happen. It doesn't get better either. Some people have conquered their nerves, but I'm not really a natural performer - I'm more of a songwriter, but I know I have to share these songs.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON?
There are so many things happening, but I just need to keep my energy up and make sure I'm eating well. Because we’re on the road, we tend to eat badly. So just trying to stay safe, trying to get to people, trying to stay healthy to be able to share the music.



2020 AND 2021 HAVE BEEN VERY CHALLENGING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR? AND WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PLANS FOR THE NEW YEAR?
New Year’s Eve is my birthday! We go camping with my family and the kids. I’ve got a gig in Botswana, but when I come back, we'll go camping, that’s my New Year’s ritual.

It’s getting harder and harder to take that day off because it makes business sense to work on that day. I've been lucky that I've been able to say no to gigs on that day for as long as I have, but I'm grateful for being able to share a whole project – that's why I'm at home now.

We're celebrating thanksgiving. People are coming to say thank you for different things but I'm grateful for my (musical) gift that comes from my grandfather and father's side of the family. I'm grateful that I can make a living from it because it’s so hard for a lot of people. And I’m grateful that my music has been received with so much care and so much love.

BY NTHABISENG MAKHOKHA