SELF-TAUGHT producer and DJ Stoks has started his own record label to protect himself and his music.
Real name Nhlanhla Fakude (34), Stoks started Matured Studios earlier this year, to ensure that he owned his masters.
The producer from Mzimhlophe, Soweto spoke to SunBuzz about his inspiration behind the label.
“Everything we release is not through big brands – we do everything, which is something I’m happy about. We’ve seen a lot of people having contractual issues with other brands. But everything is owned by me, part of the reason I started this,” he said.
“I also wanted to help young people who want to get into music, and have signed five so far.”
Stoks shared that his label was doing well so far.
“A lot of people, especially fellow producers, also inspired me to start the label. With the pandemic, it is important to have a back-up plan because times have been tough. I saw producers opening their studios and winning. So I came into 2021 with a plan to open mine. We started small, but so far we’ve done well for ourselves.”
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He has also dropped his debut album under the label, titled Stoks and Family. “The album is doing great. It has different types of amapiano – catchy and soulful. I feature the likes of Dalindyebo, Miano, Soulful G, Kenaan Express and Linda,” he said.
Stoks started making music at high school, which is where the name Matured Studios came from.
“Even though I started making music at high school, I started professionally in 2007 after matric. I started getting gigs for birthday parties and at pubs. I was also a resident DJ at clubs around Soweto. In 2011, people started asking for my music.
“I would release mix tapes every month.
“I would title them Music For The Matured because old people liked them, hence the name.”
