Mzansi record producer and DJ, Sandile “SeeZus Beats”, has won Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing’s Amapiano remix competition. He remixed “Takeaway from Nature”, a song produced by the largest marketer of South African apples and pears.
SeeZus Beats is a self-taught musician who discovered his passion for music during high school. He draws on a wide range of Western and African genres and musical spheres to create his distinct African sound.
“I got into music when I was in high school in 2013, through listening to a lot of hip-hop music on YFM,” said SeeZus Beats, who was born in Mpumalanga and grew up in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
“There was a show called Siz n Scoop where rappers would showcase their skills and they were coming up with their own-made beats, and through listening to them, I was inspired and curious about how they were making the beats. I started learning how to make beats by watching YouTube videos. I learnt consistently and, fast-forward to today, I am still improving but have come tops in a competition.”
A fresh take on things
For the Tru-Cape contest, SeeZus Beats remixed “Takeaways from Nature” by changing the original chord progression. He added a groove that worked but was different and chopped the first “halala” in the beginning to make it the main chorus. The result is a more emotive sound that still fits into the Amapiano genre.
Not only are there prizes to win in the Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing competition, but it also encourages upcoming producers to know that there are people who are watching what they do, and willing to give them a platform.
SeeZus Beats recommends learning music production, using what you have, showcasing your craft, and experimenting with different genres and sounds. “My contribution is mainly to come up with a sound that identifies what I stand for and where I come from, a sound that will identify that I made it when you listen to it and my contribution would be to spread it more by not only featuring Amapiano musicians but by working with musicians from different genres too,” he says.
Collaboration dreams
“Amapiano is getting more international. More US artists are recognising it and they are sharing it. The next step is for them to collaborate with us, and then nothing can stop us. There’s also new blood on TikTok such as Maglakz, Slyza Khondlo, and Nompumie with fire talents too,” SeeZus Beats adds.
Tru-Cape is a distribution and marketing company for South Africa’s top deciduous fruit growers. The majority of the fruit is grown in the Western and Southern Cape, which have ideal growing conditions due to their Mediterranean climate and soil conditions.
- Click on this link to listen and watch the SeeZus Beats winning entry.
READ NEXT: Mind the gap: Connect farmers to consumers
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.
