‘Music always articulates on my behalf and it is the very same force which validates me and acknowledges my worth. I do not have one specific favourite genre of music. I like playing and listening to any music that moves my soul, especially music that is marginalized and not main stream. I have committed myself to playing these musical gems that people would otherwise not get a chance to listen to.’ – ‘TheJezreel’. On the ‘Spotight’ this week, we have ‘TheJezreel’.
ShoMag: Before all goes down, let us thank you for taking some time out for this ‘one on one’. For the benefit of those who might be wondering, who is ‘TheJezreel’ and where is he from?
TheJezreel: TheJezreel is an ‘extremely chilled, introverted, passionate, humble individual, who is God and music fearing and just loves and appreciates any opportunity to engrave smiles on people’s faces’. He hails from a township called Mamelodi in Pretoria, South Africa. That is where I was born and bred and that’s where it all stared for me.
ShoMag: What is your role within ‘House Music’, would you say you are a ‘House Music Producer or a House Music Deejay’? Maybe do you do both?
TheJezreel: Well I try to do both. I believe ‘I have the capacity to occupy both spaces very well’. Yes I love Dj’ing, that’s where it all started, but I’ve been involved in music for the longest time. ‘It started in church’, which is where I played drums and the keyboard for the Praise and Worship Team, and naturally I just wanted to created music and that is when production came into being. The moment I got a hold of my first DAW I just started making music.
ShoMag: Looking back, how did it all start for ’theJezreel’? By that, I mean how did you get into the music industry and how are you finding your musical journey so far?
TheJezreel: Oh gosh! It started way back. My Mother and Father would occasionally host events at home, so what would happen was that while they were sitting by the lounge area, in conversations and listening to music, instead of being outside with other children, I would actually be inside listening to music. Back then they would play anything from ‘Stimela, Tshepo Tshola, Mirian Makeba, Brenda Fassie to Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass, Dion Warwick, Anita Baker, Michael Jackson, Mike and The Mechanics, Bob Marley, etc’.
I would really be fascinated by music, and I think that’s where my relationship with music began and just to take it further, as far as making it into the industry, *laughs* gosh am I in the industry? I don’t know if I’m “in the industry” or not. I find gigs and I produce music and I put it out there. I don’t know if “I’m in the industry” or not. And how am I finding it? At the end of the day I’m just an enthusiast, ‘I love what I do’, it just gives me the greatest joy to produce music and entertain people through DJ’ing. The journey so far has been very interesting. Look, I never complain, but obviously I would be lying if I didn’t mention the clear ‘foul play that exist within the industry’. I don’t let that bother me though, it is what it is. ‘I just want to create, collaborate and grow and that’s what keeps me going in the industry – The fact that I just love to create’.
ShoMag: How would you describe your ‘own sound’, and is there any ‘particular inspiration’ for that ‘theJereel Sound’?
TheJezreel: You know, we are all a sum of the kind of music we listen to or what we grew up listening to. I grew up listening to ‘Kwaito, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Jazz and a whole lot of Mo-town records’. So I know my sound is very Jazzy ‘I am a Jazz enthusiast, Soul-Filled and experimental’. I detest following any template and I don’t like structure; I love it when things are dirty, raw, and weird. I Love exploring uncharted territory and new spaces. ‘I just don’t want to do the same old monotonous thing’. When folks lend an ear to any of my productions, I want them to either love it or hate it, and either reaction is perfectly fine.
ShoMag: Music industry is no ‘child’s play’. So far, what would you say was your ‘ultimate low’ when it comes to the music industry and what lessons did you take out of that experience?
TheJezreel: Uhm, You know, I do not believe that I experienced any lows, I just receive all these as unfavourable experiences, and there really is no degree to them. There were times when promoters did not pay or keep agreements ‘Common and Shared experience amid artists. LOL!!!’, needless to say, that’s still an annoying, unprofessional and unfortunate experience. But look, you can’t make anyone do anything they don’t want to do, and ‘I’ve learnt the importance of contracts and putting things on paper and making the person legally bound to honour their agreement’. I don’t like to impose myself on people as I think people are grown up’s and know what is right and wrong. I don’t like to chase people around ‘the desire and energy to do that is completely unavailable’, that’s just not me, but what I’ve learnt from it is to really learn to handle the ‘business side of the music and not just go on people’s word’. Business first then friendship afterwards, I think if you do that then there will be less unfortunate instances that happen to you.
ShoMag: On ‘the flipside’, what has been your ‘ultimate high’ within the music industry so far?
TheJezreel: High? Wow! I had the opportunity to play ‘Avant-Guard: Vintage Lounge’. I think that’s a dope event, especially for people who appreciate music and for artist who enjoy the freedom of expressing themselves musically. Avant-Garde is the type of environment where one can throw in a Jazz record at 12AM ‘supposed peak hour’ and the vibe will just explode to another level.’It’s a wonderful space for Alternative music’.
I’ve also played alongside the likes of ‘Vinny Da Vinci’, I’ve opened up for ‘Andy Campton’ once upon a time and I’ve had the overall pleasure and opportunity of playing for a wide variety of people who really respond well to my sound. At the end of the day it’s about making an impact, musically, on people and I completely appreciate the genuine love that folks extend to me, be it though Social Media or when I happen to collide with someone in person and they happen to express their appreciation for a certain mixtape, ‘it is ALWAYS Love and it is ALWAYS a soaring High’.
ShoMag: Last year was a ‘memorable one’ in so many ways when it comes to music for you, where you played in many ‘musical venues and events’. Which ‘event or venue’ did you enjoy the most and why would you single out that one?
TheJezreel: ‘Avant-Garde: Vintage Lounge and 4Torque’ are sticking their hands out in my mind. ‘I vibrate perfectly with any space which permits you complete artistic expression, and these events afford one that pleasure’. Awesome energy all around, from the environment, people, conversations, etc.… There is nothing more frustrating, to an artist, than being restrained and expected to express yourself in a particular way. Other events which come to mind are ‘Deep House, Lounge and Jazz events around my neighbourhood’. I am loving the underground movements and how people are becoming more open-minded.
ShoMag: With a couple of ‘banging musical projects’ out so far this year. Which ‘musical projects’ is ‘theJezreel’ currently working on?
TheJezreel: I’m currently working on two EP’s with producers from my neighbourhood. One with a producer named ‘Hamma-The-Dude’ and the other with ‘Daddy-Twist’. They are due to be released within the next month.
ShoMag: ‘Collaborations are key’ within the music industry in so many ways. Are there any particular musicians you would like to work with ‘on your future projects’ and why the desire to work with them?
TheJezreel: There is an MC all the way from Detroit who goes by the name of ‘Noveliss’ from a Hip-Hop outfit called ‘Clear Soul Forces’. Yeah Man, he’s just a remarkable lyricist and my diverse palette recognises him. Yes, I undoubtedly produce house music but there are other genres that I’m particularly interested in, be it ‘Jazz, Jazz-Hop, Trip Hop, Lounge, Broken Beats, Bossa, Funk, Lo-fi, etc.….’ I think I would produce some healthy music with this artist. He inspires me a lot and is a devout Anime fan just as I am, so I connect with him. God willing, I will do something with Him in 2018.
But as far as house music is concerned, I would love to work with artist who really try their outmost to obviate normality. I want to work with artists who really push the envelope as far as their creativity is concerned. I don’t like to work with people who do the same thing, play it safe, and follow a particular structure. So having said that, I think a guy who I appreciate as a producer and DJ is called ‘Theo Parish’ – I love his raw sound, I love that he stretches himself musically, he is a very intelligent guy as well. I think he is the type of guy you would just love to sit down with and have a lengthy conversation with. People like ’Moodymann, Kenny Dope, Kat La Kat, Da Capo, Dj Spinna, Glenn Underground, Kerri Chandler, Kuniyuki Takahashi, Culoe The Song, Louie Vega, Byron The Aquarius, Dubbyman’, to name a few from an extensive list of legendary House producers both local and abroad. Just as you mentioned in the question, collaboration is key so collaborating with the right people, you can derive a wealth of knowledge that can improve you as an artist and give you a new wave of inspiration.
ShoMag: Last words on what we can expect from you ‘theJezreel’ this year and is there any message you might have for your fans out there?
TheJezreel: So, what to expect: ‘You can expect theJezreel to bring his entirety in whatever project he is working on’, be it DJ sets, production, or a being a pleasant Human Being, you can expect him to be on his A–Game. ‘Expect him to release more music’. Expect Him to break out of His comfortable introverted shell in order to express and stretch himself. I plan to immerse myself in music and I’m going to have fun while doing it. I plan on reserving a large amount of space for growth.
And to my fans, family and people who are curious as to who ‘theJezreel’ is, expect a hug, but also keep supporting me and granting me critical and honest criticism, I’m open to that. Send me your Love, Light, Prayers, green-energy and just groovy-vibes, I would truly appreciate that.
Get Social With ‘theJezeel’
Facebook: Mduduzi Thulane Khoza
Soundcloud: theJezreel