Muzi Isn’t Chasing Genres — He’s Building a New South African Sound

For years, audiences tried to define Muzi by genre. He has spent even longer proving that labels simply don’t matter.

Speaking to Urban Lifestyle backstage at the Scatterlings Music Festival at Huddle Park in Johannesburg, the celebrated producer reflected on a career built on curiosity instead of convention. Rather than following trends, Muzi believes his music is simply an honest reflection of every sound that shaped him growing up.

Curiosity over categories

Many artists find comfort in one lane. Muzi deliberately avoids that.

From hip-hop and punk to rock, house and electronic music, every influence has become part of his musical vocabulary. He says he never entered the studio with the intention of producing multiple genres—it happened naturally because he never rejected the music around him.

Instead, every record became another conversation with the people, places and cultures that inspired him.

That philosophy explains why his catalogue feels unpredictable yet unmistakably Muzi.

Music as a letter to his daughter

Perhaps the most personal chapter of his career came after becoming a father.

One of his albums, named after his daughter, wasn’t created simply as a collection of songs. Instead, Muzi describes it as a letter she’ll one day read through music.

Rather than presenting himself as an untouchable artist, he wanted to leave behind honest reflections about life, struggle and growth. Hidden throughout the album are lessons and moments he hopes she’ll discover when she’s older.

It’s less about fame and more about legacy.

Johnny Clegg’s influence lives on

One of the highlights of Muzi’s recent journey has been contributing to the Scatterlings project inspired by the music of Johnny Clegg.

For the producer, working with Clegg’s original recordings wasn’t just another remix opportunity—it was access to history.

He described being able to study the original stems as a bridge between generations, allowing him to reinterpret legendary South African music through modern electronic production.

Instead of copying the original, Muzi blended Maskandi influences with dub and reggae textures, creating something that respects tradition while pushing it somewhere completely new.

It’s exactly the kind of cultural experimentation South African music needs.

Building something bigger than festivals

Although Muzi has performed internationally and continues to attract global attention, his focus has shifted.

Rather than chasing every overseas booking, he’s investing in something more sustainable—his own creative ecosystem.

His latest project, Electric Zululand, represents more than an album. It’s a blueprint. From producing the music to filming the visuals, Muzi wants complete creative ownership.

The next step is even more ambitious: creating uniquely South African electronic music experiences that stand apart from international templates.

Instead of borrowing ideas from the rest of the world, he wants the world to experience electronic music through a South African lens.

The future belongs to fearless creators

Throughout the conversation, one message remained consistent: authenticity always opens doors.

Muzi isn’t interested in fitting into industry expectations or chasing celebrity status. He’d rather continue learning, experimenting and creating work that feels honest.

In an era where algorithms often reward sameness, Muzi is proving that originality remains South Africa‘s greatest export.

And if Electric Zululand is only the beginning, the country’s electronic music scene could be entering one of its most exciting chapters yet.