ZhuriXis on a mission to leave a mark in the entertainment industry and the strides she's made in hercareer have been a build-up towards that achievement.
Her career was inspired by her beloved grandmother, who was a backing vocalist for the legendary Miriam Makeba, ZhuriX's musical journey is deeply rooted in her family's rich musical heritage. Her stage name, ZhuriX, comes from Zhuri, meaning "good, beautiful", reflects her grandmother's influence and serves as a poignant tribute to her legacy.
The singer and songwriter, known for her dynamic blend of Afro Pop and Bacardi Amapiano, recently released her highly anticipated debut EP, Midnight Thoughts.
TshisaLIVE spoke to the rising star about her music and future ventures.
Midnight Thoughts blends elements of RnB and dance music. Could you walk us through your creative process when crafting each track on the EP?
Every song on Midnight Thoughts is basically a portrait of my life. Every song is based on a personal experience that I am grateful to be able to relay into my art. Even the love songs are a true reflection of my love life in some shape or form. I basically just go through something then creatively find a way to express it through my music.
You've been describes as a game changer in the Afro Pop scene. What do you feel sets your music apart, and how do you hope to contribute to the genre's evolution?
I believe Midnight Thoughts is a first EP of its kind in Afro Pop, because it is not only one genre throughout the whole project, it is a mixof genres. Midnight Thoughts is a different style, a different element, to what we think Afro Pop is. It challenges the stereotype of Afro music being just about Afrobeats or Amapiano. It shows that Afro Pop is a diverse genre that can also fit in with the international standards but still retain its originality. That in its own sets the EP Midnight Thoughts apart from other EPs or albums that have been released in South Africa.
Could you share with us some of the social issues that are important to you and how you integrate them into your music?
My music touches on mental illness, as I myself struggled with mental health at some points in life. I wanted this EP to help other people that might feel like me. I want them to know that they are not alone and everything is gonna be okay. But most importantly, my music also touches social issues that, at this point in time, I feel like, I would not want to discuss because of the fear of being labelled too political. Hopefully, at some point in my career, I will have confidence and freedom to make music that canal so reflect more of such social issues.
You've had the opportunity to perform at South African Music Week and collaborate on several hit tracks. How have these experinces influenced your growth as an artist?
It has helped me grow so much as an artist. I was able to meet other people in the industry, socialise with veterans of the industry, and to me, the knowledge that I have gotten from that experience, is honestly the greatest thing about the whole thing. I was able to interact with people that have so much knowledge and I am grateful to them for sharing it with me. Being featured at the South African music festival was a great experience.
Your EP includes collaborations and features with other artists. How do these partnerships contribute to your creative vision and the overall message of Midnight Thoughts?
The collaborations on Midnight Thoughts are mostly producers. It was an amazing pleasure to work with talented and brilliant people, also at DownTown Music Hub, where many of the songs on Midnight Thoughts were recorded. They all contributed to making Midnight Thoughts a reality. I look forward to collaborating with more artists in the nearby future as I am excited at the idea of learning and working in new genres and sounds.
Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for your music career, and what can fans anticipate next from ZhuriX?
Stay tuned for the release of my music videos to express Midnight Thoughts also visually. I also very much look forward to performing live on stage later this year. It is honestly something I really can’t wait to start doing. I can finally show the world and express live what Midnight Thoughts is all about. I look forward to losing myself onstage. I am also planning collaborations with other artists. And very soon, I will be back in the studio to resume working on my second EP this September. So my fans should expect from ZhuriX more music, more performances and, oh, also more visuals, lol. Next up is the release of my first music video Love Letter. I am very excited for you to see it.
