BOSSIIE - Covid Blues (Official Video) + 10 QUESTIONS
South African artist, DJ and producer BOSSIIE, releases her new amapiano single 'Covid Blues'.
The infectious track is driven by Bossiie's captivating amapiano soundscapes and laced with lush R&B and mellow afrohouse sensibilities that set the track apart from the rest of the pack.
Bossiie wrote 'Covid Blues' at the height of the pandemic, tapping into our collective desire to be around our loved ones through those times, and speaking about trying to keep her love life alive in the lockdown, while the world seemed to be crumbling all around us.
This is the second single from her long-awaited sophomore EP 'Porsche Music', as Bossiie has spent the past few years exploring her other creative channels, including producing for artists like Scorcher and Naira Marley, and acting in videos for the likes of Headie One and Krept & Konan.
BOSSIIE sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:
1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?
I started writing at the age of 13. But I have always performed school plays, dancing, beat boxing, you name it. Anything creative I made time for and learned it. I was inspired by Lil Bow Wow and I wanted to be the female version of him. I am also coming from a musical background, both my parents did music at some stage. My mother played the recorder, bass guitar and acoustic guitar whereas my father played the organs.
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?
Noah 40 Shebib is my influence when it comes to producing, in terms of showmanship, I would say Drake and Janet Jackson. In terms of skills like writing, performing and producing, Missy Elliott and Kanye West. I would like to work with afrobeats artists such as NSG and WizKid, and amapiano artists such as Major League and Focalistic, and the OVO camp too.
3. What are some of the problems you have faced making and releasing the music during the coronavirus pandemic?
It was tricky to put the project together because I was not able to travel to South Africa where my producers are based. I relied on technology to contact them, the technology failed me most of the time, as South Africa has what they call 'load shedding'. I did not know at first what they meant when they were telling me about this. I later understood that in South Africa, electricity is turned off for hours in order to maintain the power supply. My producers went silent for days because their telephones were dysfunctional. Even here in the UK, it was difficult doing sessions with the 14-day wait if anyone fell ill, as it impacted how fast we could work. I love to get work done and looking forward to the next project.
4. How would you describe your sound?
Depending on the mood of the beat, it is either a sexy mood on amapiano beats or heavy rapping on afrobeats/amapiano beats. With extremely captivating hooks in English, Zulu, Southern Sotho and sometimes Afrikaans. My sound is unique as it incorporates Amapiano and some RnB as well as rapping. I stick to Amapiano with my own twist and I found a name for my sound. I call it “Amapiano n B”.
5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?
Deciding to be accountable (owning my company) and to lead a team would be one of my proudest moments. I make sure everyone working with me is comfortable to work and happy, which in turn makes an amazing work environment. Achieving my first big project 'Porsche 1' will always be the highlight in my life. I managed to put everything together, from writing a song, working with some amazing producers who are the pioneers of Amapiano (MFR Souls), writing treatments, and putting the team together for production.
With all the experience that I gathered working behind the scenes with Sky TV, BBC and being a runner, everything came together and my project 'Porsche 1 2021' was born. I am looking forward to my second project called 'Porsche 2 2022'.
6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?
When you take yourself seriously, people will eventually take you as seriously as you take yourself. It’s tough but if you show up everyday and do the work it will eventually speak for you. Never let people project their failures and discourage you, being in Music exposes one to the public. People are cruel and they will shame me about one thing or another, but if you believe in yourself and look at the big goal. You will surely reap the sweet fruits of your hard work.
7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?
A guy named Toss I think he is a star. Raps in Zulu, the boi lit.
8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?
I listen to a lot of instrumentation and I DJ as well, so mainly Amapiano beats or Hans Zimmer scores. I also play other songs but at the moment, I am listening to Amapiano heavily as I am preparing for the DJ challenge later this year. I am also busy with my second project, so keeping Amapiano next to my ear will help me focus.
9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?
I am DJ’ing and putting together mixes, practicing for performances, writing television show/music video content, or putting together cute fashionable outfits, I love clothes and shoes. I also like to chat with my family members in the house or in other countries and the topic ends up being music, food, fashion and I like my food too.
10. Name three things you can't live without when in the studio?
An engineer you have rapport with, who cares about the work and quality of sound projected as much as you, a 2-litre bottle of still water (room temperature) and a hard drive (with everything titled correctly to make it easier for the engineer to work).