Timeless Music

See what pursuing a distinct artistic path involves as we chat to five celebrated musicians. We delve into their individual approaches to creativity, upcoming projects, and strategies for maintaining success

-  Anele Geqiwe

GQ: How did you first get interested in music, and what was your earliest musical memory?

Flvme: I’ve been involved in music-related activities from when I was fi ve years old. I started doing cultural music and dance when I was eight years old, which was the same time I started rapping. I was around 12 years old when I started recording and also started learning how to make beats.

GQ: You began as a producer, appearing on songs such as ‘Ugesi’ by Miss Pru. Is that experience useful in creating your own music?

Flvme: I believe every experience is useful as it allows you to learn and to grow regardless of the outcome. Beginning as a producer allowed me to continue pushing the fold when it comes to being a better producer and eventually having some of the best production across the board.

GQ: Have you thought about getting involved in the amapiano genre, given that some local hip-hop artists have already made the switch?

Flvme: I don’t know what tomorrow holds or how certain sounds could infl uence my music. What I do know is for the foreseeable future I’m going to continue making music that speaks to me and my fanbase.

GQ: Your debut album Candyman earned you the Best Newcomer and Best Male nods at the 2019 SA HipHop Awards. Did that achievement change your career?

Flvme: A lot of people think winning an award or getting a number one immediately changes your career, but it comes down to the work you follow up with in that moment of being ‘the hottest’. Apart from nods in the game, I would say the achievement was proof that I can do it and will keep doing it at the highest level.