It's almost December and the music industry knows. It's been single after single as they release songs in time for the festive season.
And all of them want to make an impact.
One of them is Thabo Mahundla, who is better known as Airburn Sounds.
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His main focus is amapiano and in his short career he has worked with a slew of artists like Mr Brown, Nokwazi, Mazah and DJ Mngadi, and released songs such as Jabula, Mpumelelo and Kwanele. He is known for his catchy melodies, smooth vocals and energetic beats that appeal to a wide audience.
The self-taught musicians grew up as the only creatively inclined person in a family of corporate workers.
“I am the only artist in my family. I started making music at a young age. I was about 12, 13 years old when I started experimenting with production apps.”
Producing music using software is his primary tool of creativity.
“I am a DJ, so I am able to also merge live instruments within my production. I have been lucky to work with [session] musicians who are in the jazz, RnB, Afro- pop and those spaces, which has allowed me to be very experimental.”
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The birth of his career can be attributed to a competition he won as a teenager before he began taking this craft seriously.
“I started making music at three years old on a production level. I won a DJ competition at 15 and now I have produced for big names but chose to stay in the background in order for me to try and master my skill. As a producer, I am growing every day and learning new sounds.”
He claims to have an eclectic taste and a keen interest in international trends in music, but home is still where his heart is.
“I am highly influenced by Limpopo music, which I have been able to merge with dance music, Afro- pop hence I am able to mix that and create an amapiano sound,” he says.
He been asked to explicitly define his music, but he finds this difficult to do.
“It’s impossible. I basically produce what I like. One day I feel like making hip hop and that is what I would do, but recently I’ve explored the dance music space heavily.
Getting his career off the ground and to this point has been fruitful but not a journey without its perils.
“With me seeking to build a name for myself. I have been exploited by many people. Some who don’t want to give credit for the music. Others don’t want to pay. Some exploit the talent. I have made many hits, which I won’t mention that I have not receive the credit for, but I believe it’s all been part of the journey and mistakes along that way that have got me to where I am today.”
He urges anyone looking to find their way in the local music industry to, “keep their heads down, continue working, stay humble and wait your turn.”
He loves the variety found in the artform of music, but his focus is firmly on the burgeoning genre of piano.
“But Deep House and Dance continues to dominate dance floors across the world. I would say, there is really space for all genres whether niche or not. People must not stop making what they love because of trends, there is always someone who will follow and support. As a versatile artist, I love different genres but right now I am on the amapiano and the dance music wave.”
His production credits feature artists like Nomcebo, Makhadzi, Mr Brown, Akon, Nokwazi and most recently Mphowabadimo, “on a song that is out on 10 November which she recorded at our studio at Makhathes Productions. It’s a new label that is taking the industry by storm and signing some of the biggest potentials hoping to make them international stars. So, there’s a lot in store.”
International acclaim is what he is after the most and he thinks the anthology he is currently preparing for release next year might help him attain this.
