Ever felt the sun-kissed warmth of a tropical paradise, then been swept away by the infectious rhythm of a vibrant Afrobeats groove? That’s the magic of viral sensation, LofiAfrobeats, the artist effortlessly blending chill lo-fi vibes with the pulsating energy of Africa. Join us as we delve into the mind behind this genre-bending sound, exploring the inspirations, the creative process, and the dreams that fuel this musical revolution.
Can you recount the moments that ignited your passion for crafting African Lofi music?
I have been producing music for over a decade now but my Lofi Journey Started in 2021 after I had been exposed to Lofi Hip hop Music from the greats such as Potsu, Timmies and L.Dre among others. This sparked an idea in my head that if there could be Lofi Hiphop and Lofi Jazz then surely I could use my African sound and experience to build African Lofi which is a genre that bridges the gap between the rhythmic sounds of Afrobeats and chill melodies and aesthetic of traditional Lo-Fi Music. Since then I have been crafting the sound evolving and improving until the recent success of my song – Good Vibes Infinitititi
Which musical artists or genres have influenced your artistic and musical approach?
I draw a lot of Inspiration from Shiloh Dynasty’s Music as well as popular Lo-Fi Producers such as L.Dre, Potsu and Idealism. As Far as the African side, I have always been a fan of the forefathers of Afrobeats such as Fela Kuti, Ismael Lo, Angelique Kidjo as well as various traditional music from my culture and not forgetting current Afrobeats legends such as Wizkid and Burna Boy.
Can you explain how their influence has shaped your unique blend of African Lofi?
What I have always tried to do with my music is to transfer deep emotions from myself to the listener but also maintaining a strong African authenticity within my sound so a combination of all these inspirations plus my ever shifting strong artistic emotions help create my interpretation of African Lofi music.
Tell us about your creative process, guiding us through your music production process, from the spark of inspiration to the final masterpiece.
My head is constantly filled with melodies so I always make sure my phone is close to me so that I can sing or hum the melody and record into my Phone. After that when I sit on my desk, I just go through the lots and lots of ideas recorded in my phone and try to transfer into a decent loop. If the loop still manages to maintain my interest and I’m emotionally connected to it, I will spend the next 2-3 days building and destroying the song until I feel it’s good enough to release. Most of the songs I start never get to see the light of day though hahaha, but I always take it as practice so that I can become better each day.
What tools, techniques, and software do you employ to craft your distinctive sound?
My DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) of choice is Ableton Live and I’ve been using it for over a decade now. I pretty much work inside the box on the melodic stuff but my drums are recorded by myself especially the Congas and The Percussion (Shakers) .This is what gives my music the ethnic authenticity it has. I’ve also recently picked up the Marimba and the Mbira (from Zimbabwe) and I’m working to make them the focal instruments in my music.
Are there any challenges or satisfaction in balancing the laid-back atmosphere of Lofi with the lively rhythms of Afrobeats?
I’m glad you asked that question it is something that I struggle with every day, even my recent viral song Good Vibes Infinitititi has triggered small groups of so called “Lofi Experts” saying it’s not Lofi enough and that it is too rhythmic but if I make the music too slow it loses character and if I make it too fast it becomes like mainstream Afrobeats which is mainly music for dance. I believe I have found the right balance considering 80% of the people who listen to my African Lofi describe it as chill soothing and moderately (not too heavily) groovy.
Please share specific challenges you’ve overcome and moments of creative breakthrough that propelled your growth as an artist.
Since 2021 I have been putting out African Lofi Music. My first album African Lofi Music Vol. 1 dropped in April 2022. The growth was very slow since this was a new sound and I remember having 4 Subscribers on my YouTube Channel and about a few hundred listeners by the end of that year. I have been experimenting with different types of content which mostly failed from doing movie edits with my music to remixes but that got me little to no attention and I almost quit. In fact, I did quit for like a month and decided to start making Ambient Music and hoping I would blow up like Oneheart and Antent. I quickly realized that was a waste of time on my part as I was trying to emulate other people’s sound so I picked myself up and refined my African Lofi sound, experimented with more content ideas and then it finally caught on.
What words of wisdom would you impart to aspiring music producers seeking to carve their own sonic niche?
My advice is don’t be bitter when you don’t see the results, keep pushing. An artist should be willing to spend the rest of his life trying, learning and failing and improving until finding a working formula. Unfortunately success is never guaranteed so you need a touch of delusion or blind faith to ignore statistics and probability and gamble everything on yourself.
Has staying true to your artistic vision while embracing experimentation benefited you?
Yes.
In what ways? Shed more light.
As much as I have my own creative vision, I believe creative energy flows everywhere in the universe and if I am to become a great artist I should be able to absorb some of the external creative energy from anywhere and merge it with mine and that’s how you can sustain creation of good art for a long time. If you over internalize everything, your art becomes stale and dull.
Could you share insights into your artistic identity, the mask you wear, and the decision to maintain anonymity? How does this connect to your art?
I’m a Music Producer originally from somewhere in Southern Africa. The mask I wear is a traditional shaman Mask worn in some African Cultures and religions by people (Spirit Mediums) believed to be able to be channel /speak to the Ancestors .For me it is a representation of how I am able to channel deep feelings and emotions through my music regardless of race or language. That’s why I adopted the additional moniker “The Shaman”.
As to why I decided to be anonymous, when I started this African Lofi journey I told myself that if I am as gifted as I think I am, I am going to let my talent speak for itself with no connections, no previous hype and no handouts. I am glad I managed to prove myself right and I have no intention of becoming a celebrity because I just want people to know the music, not me.
Envisioning the future of African Lofi music, how do you foresee its evolution and impact on the global music landscape?
I believe African Lofi Music is going to be the new staple of Chill music. There are other noteworthy producers from Africa who also have their own styles of African Lofi namely, Kitoko Sound and Mr Yohan among others so the combined effort by me and all these other great producers who are growing in this Space is most likely to ensure a global take over.
In your opinion, what role does music play in preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Africa?
Music is the Spirit of Africa and throughout African history songs were used to educate and entertain. I believe the continued effort to unite and music which celebrates both our unity and diversity will ensure Africa does not lose its spirit and identity.
What are some of the challenges and opportunities faced by artists in today’s music landscape?
The Music Industry is one of the most difficult industries to establish yourself in especially in this era because a lot of music is being released everyday due to ease of access to music production and distribution .This makes it difficult for truly talented artists to be recognized because listeners are mostly bombarded with mediocre and unrefined music. On the other hand it is also an opportunity for those with something that stands out because a lot of musicians are trying to sound the same, so if you present something good and unique, there’s a huge chance you are gonna make it. Social media is also a big opportunity for artists to be discovered although it is highly competitive.
What are your views on the balance between artistic expression and commercial viability?
I believe if you are true to yourself you will find a natural balance.
What fuels your passion for music and drives you to continue creating?
To be honest I want to be as big as it gets, l aspire to be something like a Quincy Jones from Africa in terms of accomplishments.
Describe the impact of music in your life and the joy it brings you.
Music is almost everything to me, l really don’t have much going on outside my music except the time spent with my family and small circle of friends. Everywhere, I am always thinking of creating something so for me music is what gives me a purpose and is my main source of joy.
What are your aspirations and dreams for your music career, both personally and professionally?
I know it sounds a bit unhealthy but I have no personal aspirations worth mentioning but musically however I want to grow my sound and see just how far I can take it. I’m also looking to start producing for artists soon, so that is a whole new exciting journey ahead.
If given the opportunity, what advice would you offer to your younger self?
I would tell my younger self “Never doubt yourself, believe you can be as great as you desire and don’t seek validation from anyone else except God for only Him has the keys to success”.
