Q&A WITH MASANDI

Durban-born R&B/soul singer and songwriter Masandi has opened for international superstars of the likes of Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and R&B phenomenon Trey Songz. His star power is one of a kind, and the overwhelming popularity of his new single ‘Amagate’ has undeniably established him as an Mzansi star. He tells us how it all began.

Q. HOW DID YOUR LOVE FOR ENTERTAINING COME ABOUT?
My upbringing really influenced me. I come from a musical family; music was always around me, especially at church. That’s where I got my first big platform to sing for a crowd and discovered I had a gift. My parents were choral singers back in the day, and my grandmother was one of the original members of Mahotella Queens.

Q. AND YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY FROM THERE?
I continued to be more active with music in the church and school, joining the church choir and the school brass band. I started playing the trumpet in Grade 8 and got my colours by the time I was in Grade 10. I later joined a hip-hop collective, Niche Fam, where I became the lead singer and dominated the hip hop scene in Durban. In 2015 I got signed to Cash Time and went Indie in 2017. I then signed to Warner Music in 2020.

Music was always around me

Q. YOUR SOUND IS DIFFERENT. HOW WOULD YOU CLASSIFY IT?
I call it Afropop soul with a blend of hip hop.

Q. WHERE DO YOU GO FOR INSPIRATION?
I take it from personal and other people’s real-life experiences.

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Q. YOUR NEW SINGLE ‘AMAGATE’ WAS RECEIVED WELL. PLEASE TELL US MORE ABOUT IT?
It’s a song about feeling good and free. People have responded so well to the song and the video. It’s been amazing.

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Q. YOU ARE ALSO AN ACTOR, WHAT IS YOUR FIRST LOVE, MUSIC OR ACTING?
It definitely has to be music!

CATCH MASANDI ON THE SOCIALS