Lately, my meditations on life have grounded me in one central concept: gratitude. As a ’90s baby, I can proudly attest to a time when Saturdays were the most valuable day of the week. Before the golden era of Cartoon Network, Disney and Nickelodeon, the SABC was the renaissance benchmark of entertainment. The gift of Yo-TV, The Amazing Spiderman, Batman: The Bold and The Brave, The X-Men, and Justice League would ensure that no matter how late you slept the previous night, your body clock would wake you up bright and early for your date with your favourite cartoon and cereal. This nostalgic thinking, inspired by “Time Traveller,” the song that hoisted me into the world of SAMA-Award nominated Nhlanhla Majozi, affectionately known as Majozi, made me realise a few things.  Perhaps, what was more important than diving like the WWE Hardys into the Alexander pool on a summer’s day in Pietermaritzburg – was the road trip with home-fried chicken that got you there. 

Born and raised in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, Majozi seamlessly meanders through Indie Folk and Pop to colour the warmth, vigour, melancholy and arresting purity woven into how we relive those unforgettable moments for life. A song like “Darling – Pt. 2” lingered by the quote “you’re the north star of my sky” reminds you of that friend you had in grade 2, whose gift of an apple broke your loose tooth and she rushed you to the infirmary. While contrasting cuts such as “Our Last Goodbye” walks barefoot through the thorny jungle of grief, carving itself as a rainbow after an unforgiving storm. As a breathing testament of faith, community and anointed intentionality, the church had a fundamental role in crystallising his character. Pristine pruning of his unconventional approach to spreading the gospel through psalm, instrumentation, and vibrancy draws you closer to the divine. 

Our conversation accentuated music’s power to mould meaning. With a prestigiously empathetic discography hosting prolific bodies of work, namely: “Marvellous Light,” “Mountains,” “Majozi,” the best adult contemporary SAMA nominee “Fire,” and most recently “A Great Exchange,” the distinguishing element that emanates as a runaway success career lies in consideration for the art form. Divulging the cinematic poise of his songwriting, Majozi shares: “The best songs I’ve written stem from something beyond conscious effort. They don’t flow from a deliberate writing decision but from an indescribable source that moves through you. It’s as if these songs are floating in non-existence, and I’m fortunate enough to pluck them and bring them into being. The sanctity of the creative process is found through being open, tender, and not constantly worrying about what people think.” 

Humbled by our exchange of affirmations, catharsis, anecdotes and remembrance, I cherish the beauty of conversing about his origins, “Time Traveller,” “Afterglow”, and embracing every moment of his European tour. 

For our readers who may not be familiar with you. Please introduce yourself and share more about your creative path. How was life growing up, leading to your journey with music?

Majozi: “My name is Majozi, and I’m a singer and songwriter. Growing up in Durban, my love for music was planted at a tender age. Whether singing in the choir during primary school or that pivotal moment at 13 when I first picked up a guitar, the flame that ignited my passion for music has been insatiable ever since.

I didn’t realise it then, but I was beginning to understand the fundamentals of songwriting, how to create chords, melodies, and structure. I was a counterculture figure among my peers, who were mostly into sports. While briefly enjoying skateboarding with friends, I found myself drawn back to music, spending countless hours singing to myself in my bedroom.

Church became the cornerstone of my musical evolution. During my formative years, I grew comfortable performing in front of audiences as part of a worship team led by my friends’ parents. As I entered adulthood, I worked as a bank teller for five years. I wasn’t sure what direction my life would take, and I needed to support my mother at the time. Despite the uncertainty, I remained passionate about music, continuing to perform at open mic nights. Eventually, I left the bank, returned to work at the church, and recorded my debut EP, ‘Marvellous Light.’ That EP performed well and caught the attention of record labels.

When I started, I never imagined music could become a viable career. Growing up, the arts weren’t seen as something you could make a living from. We used to think, ‘Maybe in Johannesburg you could do that, but in Durban it’s unheard of.’ I always assumed music would remain a hobby. However, through friendships with bands like Gangs of Ballet, who started getting radio play, and mentorship from artists like Ard Matthews, a world I previously thought was inaccessible suddenly became within reach. The rise of online platforms and streaming culture allowed me to showcase my capabilities, which catalysed my career to truly take form and evolve.”

My favourite song, “Time Traveller” from “A Great Exchange”, has a quote I am drawn to: “I shut my eyes, don’t want the story to stop/even if it’s something I made up.” Do you find comfort or distress in being able to immortalise a muse or memory in the various mediums of storyform?

Majozi: “With ‘Time Traveller,’ I co-wrote it with an artist called Amy Lilley. She wrote that particular line, and when we unpacked it together, she broke apart the feeling of loss beautifully.

Here’s where it gets interesting: The more I write, the more I realise that whatever intention I have behind a lyric isn’t necessarily the intention people will take from it. Whatever God instils in me, my job is to create and express those inspirations. I have my own views, paths, and sources of inspiration – like how my lovely wife impacts my music, but the song ultimately becomes something bigger.

There’s a song I’m about to release soon that perfectly illustrates this. When I was writing it, I thought it was about my wife, her character, her inclusiveness, and that’s the perspective I wrote from. After I finished the song, I met a lady from an organisation I work with. Sadly, her husband has been battling cancer for four years, and they could lose him at any time. Every time he goes into remission and feels better, the family immediately makes the most of that moment; they’ll go on holiday, create memories. When I thought about their relationship, I realised this song goes far beyond being about my wife. It’s about this couple, too, and I understood that people will take the song and apply it to their own scenarios.

This realisation even puts me in a conflicted place about the artwork. I don’t want to put a specific picture in people’s minds; I want them to take ownership of the song. I even told my PR agent, ‘I’d rather you write what you think the song is about and leave it as open-ended as you can, because I don’t want to filter anything into people’s minds.’

Ultimately, I see myself as a vessel who writes, records, and distributes the song. Once it’s out there, it’s more yours than mine. You get to take it and make it unique wherever you are in your journey.”

“Afterglow” strikes a chord in how I define my 30s “I’d like to know/if somewhere in the afterglow/we’ll find our dreams” fuels what love can be after loss. In the valleys before dreams materialise, how does companionship strengthen your faith?

Majozi: “Right at the beginning, when my life started changing, I was working at the bank and experiencing intense depression. My mom was sick at the time, and it was a difficult period. When I joined the church, I eventually worked with them, and they showed me so much unconditional love. They saw my potential and spoke life into me in desperately needed ways.

Eventually, I quit working at the bank and went to UKZN to study Jazz and Popular Music. That encouragement from the church community was pivotal because after I left my job and began working closely with them, my faith in God reached an all-time high. I had never been happier in my life. I didn’t stay in that uncertain space for long after resigning. I set my heart on pursuing something I truly loved.

Then my mom passed away, which was undoubtedly the worst thing that ever happened to me. Moments like those make you wrestle with God’s will, because even in the darkest time of my life, there was still so much joy present. About a year after her passing, I started travelling and doing music, recording my first EP. I would find myself reckoning with joy again, seeing what God continued to do for me because I was surrounded by so much care and faith.

That’s why, when people around us experience loss, my wife and I try to do small things for them. It’s so important to have people around you who love you during those times.

In that way, companionship becomes layered, beyond just an intimate relationship between two people. The companionship I experienced through community and the blessing of growth beyond trauma have been invaluable. At the same time, having someone to come home to is a beautiful feeling. It grounds you and reminds you what’s truly important. You know where you might fail in other areas of life, but companionship is where you can’t afford to take chances.”

Congratulations on your European tour kicking off on the 30th of August. Between the performances, rehearsals, studio camps, and strange food at odd hours akin to tour life, what are you looking forward to most in Europe? 

Majozi: “This tour is special for me because it’s my first time doing a full European tour. I’ve played in London and Amsterdam several times, but I’ve never been to places like Germany or Ireland. It will be a lot of firsts for me, my first time in these countries, and my first time experiencing different cultures and cities, and that’s really exciting.

The older I get, the more I’m learning to appreciate what I’m doing while I’m doing it. When I was younger, I’d constantly move from one thing to the next because I was still learning as I went along. My expectations differed, and I was already worrying about what’s next before finishing my task. Since I did my first London show last year, I have decided, ‘You know what? I’m just going to enjoy this for what it is.’

I come from a background where my mom and siblings on my mom’s side didn’t have the opportunity to travel outside the country, so I have the privilege of being able to do music and travel. Lately, I’ve been putting pressure on myself to maximise these tours. Usually, when I go overseas, I’d wrap up meetings with labels, streaming platforms, agencies, all these different things. It creates a lot of pressure. You’re meeting people you’ve never met before, trying to impress them because you hope they’ll like you enough to work with you in the future. You’re meeting writers, trying to write different songs, all these expectations.

But lately I’ve been thinking, ‘You know what? I’m not going to stress about it.’ I’ve got nothing to prove anymore. I’m going to meet these people without trying to impress them. We’ll chat, and even if we don’t talk about music and art, that’s fine by me. I just want to meet people and learn from them. I want to learn from the cities I’m in.

I want to take myself out of my comfort zone, try new foods, and live in the moment without taking things for granted. Of course, the hustle is in our nature, but I want moments where I take a day off and do something I can’t do back home. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Thank you for joining us for this interview. Before you leave, please share some of your future plans. What’s next for Majozi?

Majozi: “Beyond the tour, I have a new single that I feel will do well – I believe in it immensely. Hopefully, we’ll release an EP later this year or next. We’re also planning our Australia and New Zealand tour next year, which I’m excited about.

I’d love to end with a message for all creatives: your job is simply to create. You can’t let anything stop you from creating. If that’s what God has put in your heart to do, then that’s what you’re supposed to do. The other stuff, the business side, the reception, that’s all out of your control, and you can’t worry too much about it.

Yes, it’s essential to tend to the commerce and consider public perception, but we all sometimes stop ourselves from pursuing our calling because we’re worried about external factors we cannot control. So never stop creating. The fear of failure is daunting, but consider this: once you have created something, you’ve already succeeded. That feeling of completing a creation alone is the pinnacle of success in its purest form. That should be your priority. Everything else is secondary.”

Connect With Majozi

X (formerly Twitter): @NhlanhlaMajozi

Instagram: @majozimusic

Facebook: @majozimusic

Tik Tok: @majozimusic

YouTube: @majozi

Website: majozimusic.com 

Tour Dates: Majozi & Easy Freak

30/08: Jena (Germany) – Majozi Only

02/09: Berlin (Germany) 

09/09: Dublin (Ireland)

11/09: London (United Kingdom)

12/09: Bloemendaal (Netherlands)

13/09: Bloemendaal (Netherlands)

Written by Cedric Dladla

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