ZAZI - Eastern Cape Musicians Must Start Doing It For Themselves!

We are back with the 2^nd year journalism students of the Walter Sisulu University. Today we are publishing an article written Philasande Tukute. 

The article taps into the music business in South Africa and profiles Mwezi Zazi, a sound engineer, multi-instrumentalist and producer born in Duncan Village (to find out how Duncan Village is related to Mdantsane click the link), who believes that Eastern Cape musicians should start doing it for themselves instead of depending on production companies. 

Many of the young and talented young musicians, who send us their tracks and who are in desperate search of a producer or production company might find this interesting and inspiring. And if some of you need advice: why not contact ZAZI, a man who has survived in the music industry for 30 years! 

Mwezi Zazi is a Duncan Village based sound engineer, multi-instrumentalist and producer who has worked with the best in the industry. He is a self-taught musician who plays both bass and acoustic guitar, drums, piano and keyboards.

Zazi said: “I’ve worked with the likes of McCoy Mrubata, Jimmy Dludlu, Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse, Moses Ngwenya from the Soul Brothers, Tsepo Tshola, Thembi Mtshali of Sgudi Snaysi fame among many others.”

The well-travelled Zazi is now an in-house chief sound engineer and producer at the Duncan Village Studio situated in Duncan Village. It started operating at the end of 2010. He joined the studios at the beginning of 2012.

“This is where I produced Butho Vuthelas latest album titled Ah! Mvelingqangi in which I produced 13 tracks out of the 15,” he said.
Before joining DV Studios, Zazi worked in many places across the country as a singer and later as a producer and sound engineer. “I worked at Saules casino in Mdantsane during my high school days in the late 80’s, moved to PE where I worked with a band called the drifters,” he said.

Letting Go Of  Producers.....

Zazi then moved to Johannesburg where he worked with Chicco Twala as a keyboarder in the late 90’s. “I produced Tsepo Tsolas album titled Lesedi during my time in Joburg,” said Zazi.

Having been in the industry for more than 30 years Zazi knows what it takes. “Being dedicated and having lots and lots of patience are what it takes to make it in this dog-eats-dog industry,” he said.

The Ziphunzane-born multi-instrumentalist attributes his longevity to dedication and persistence as he believes that there is no one who is going to do it for him and that there is only one way for him to go and that is up.

Zazi describes his sound as “smooth, soulful and jazzy” while it also caters for the hip-hop,house and kwaito fanatics. He was also part of a band with McCoy Mrubata, Jimmy Dludlu, Lucas Khumalo, Nhlanhla Magagula and Chippa Mashuku.
“The band was called McCoy’s Brotherhood under the leadership of Mrubata and we produced an African jazz album called Firebird,” he said.

Zazi is a graduate of Siegen Institute of Audio Technology in Germany where he studied on a scholarship from the Department of Arts and Culture in 1998.

“I was always interested in audio technology so I took the opportunity with both hands,” he said.
“I spent four years in Germany doing my degree. Now I am in charge of all the production and engineering in the Duncan Village Studios.”
Looking at the current state of the Eastern Cape music industry, Zazi believes that there is room for improvement.

“Our music is sounding good and there are more 100% locally produced products that are doing well in the market but there is a lot to be done in terms of marketing and distribution,” said Zazi. 

“I think it’s high time that artists started to do things for themselves instead of depending on production companies to sign them. Learning the business side of things is always a plus,” he concluded. – Article by Philisande Tukute, Walter Sisulu University, Image Chocolat Negro