NOTE: This conversation was had while Shoka was off the MJ (Mango Juice) on a random day in October…

All Images Captured By Vuyo Polson

Making a name for himself in the world of music, representing the city of Johannesburg, Shoka Sunflower is an artist I have found such interest in. There was just something I found so appealing about his enchanting sound and his approach to Rap music.

It was earlier this year when we had hoped to see him join the STAYHOMME collectives tour in Cape Town. However, we received the news that he wouldn’t be attending, not knowing that it was due to a big move in his rising career. Fortunately, Shoka was able to perform in the Mother City at Jarry Pitboi’s “AMONGST THE PIGEONS” show at The Spaza Shop, dominating the stage with his gripping performance.

Before the show, I had the chance to link up with the gifted musician at a quiet spot in Observatory, where I was able to understand a little more about his journey as a young artist from Jozi, his sound, the success of his latest project release, and a little bit more.

Having grown up in Johannesburg, how have those experiences shaped you into the person you are right now?

“I think I’ve always been quite withdrawn as a person - even as a kid. I’ve always kept to myself and played the role of an observer more than anything. This is further reflected in my approach to music. Very outer body – me looking at myself as a subject.”

“So I think my experiences were often things that I saw more than things that I was actually doing. It’s only now that I’m really becoming a person who’s experiencing things in real-time. I can now only speak about Johannesburg truly because I actually got to live and move around the city. I, however, am still very much a voyeur. I interact with everything from the outside looking in.”

From my knowledge, it was your older brother who introduced you to the world of music. Can you tell me how that all went down and how it led to you pursuing a career in music?

“Our uncle was a big influence on my brother, introducing him to music, and because of the trickle-down effect, it came down to me. My uncle was just super into Hip Hop and artists like D12, Eminem, 50 Cent, etc. Through that, I started listening to everything they were listening to, which eventually led me to Kanye West. My first Hip Hop album was “Graduation”.”

“That was the first album I fully took in because my brother was super into that album. That was back in 2007. So yeah, I was taking all of that in, hearing stuff from my uncle, then my brother, and all the other people playing music around me.”

“But I never thought about music being anything deep. It was just a nice thing that I really enjoyed; it was fun, and I loved just listening to stuff. Around the age of 12 is when the idea of being a musician started popping up in my life. You play people music, or you talk to people about music, and it’s that question of “are you interested in this thing?”. And it’s like…I don’t know if I am. I just like songs, but VICE (brother) would always be pushing that idea. He’d always be telling me that I should try it out too.”

“Around 13 or 14. That’s when I started going off on my own and meeting other people who were interested in music, and I surrounded myself with them.”

“Writing and sharing it with friends got me to a point where I realised I could actually do this thing. At 15 or 16 is when I knew that I really wanted to be a rapper. That’s when I recorded my first couple of songs around that age. I remember even putting stuff out on DataFileHost, not even SoundCloud. I’d send the music around, and people would think it was crazy for what it was at the time.”

“17 is when I put out my first EP, which was and still is on SoundCloud. At that point, I started practicing in real time, just growing as an artist and unknowingly sharpening my skills. You meet people through that, and you meet like-minded individuals who are also as young as you, but they’re also pushing their art.”

Reading off of your energy, you seem very composed in the way you do things. I know you mentioned you were always an observer, but were you also a quiet kid?

“That’s a tough one! It’s like quiet with a bit of class clown and a mixture of all of those traits. There are people who know me as very to myself, while there are others who know me as very high-energy.”

“It’s really dependent on the day, and on however it’s going. A lot can change in 30 minutes (laughter).”

Did those personality traits help you when it came to finally showcasing your music out there for the people and is public opinion a big deal to you?

“Yeah. I think I care a lot about what people think. I actually think I think too much about what people think about my art and me. My work is a big part of who I am; my identity is tied to what I put out. However, I really care a lot more about the work, so public opinion doesn’t really affect what I make, but I do think about people afterwards.”

“Even with the fact of social media, I never used to have Instagram. I only got it because of the music. If not for this, I would have been off that! I just had to build an image off of that because of music. Music was the centre-piece of everything. That’s why I’m on the internet, it’s why I do half of the things I do, it’s why I know the people I know. It’s because of music.”

Simple question. How would you describe your sound?

“I never know how to answer that question. I rap, which is what I think is the most important thing. I love and enjoy rapping. One of my friends told me that yes, I rap, but they thought I could exist as a Pop artist.”

“I’ve also been told the thing that I actually do is write and that I’m a really good writer. That was an interesting way of looking at it for me. But for now, I rap, bro. I don’t know about singing.”

I still go back to your track “Skin” where you are singing though…

“Yeah, but I feel like there’s a difference between knowing how to sing and understanding melodies.”

“Because I listen to a lot of music, I can figure out how to build a melody. I can figure out how to do things with my voice, and it sounds decent. I take a lot of lessons from the stuff that I listen to. I can figure out how to stretch my voice to a certain point or use other kinds of techniques that can better my sound.”

“That’s how I approach the singing aspect. But if someone had to ask me what I do, I’d tell them that I just rap, and you can listen and decide from there what kind of sound I have.”

I went through your Discography over on SoundCloud and Spotify and you’ve been dropping so many songs and projects for the past couple of years now. How has your sound or your approach to making music evolved over the years?

“I think a lot of it is just better writing. And I mean that on a technical level. My songmaking skills have also improved over the years, just understanding song structure and understanding where to fit the hook, verse, bridge, and chorus.”

“Sonically, I’ve found how to make a fuller sound. I know who to pick to work with as well. And yeah, I just now know how to direct myself towards something and put together a body of work the best way I can. I think that’s really the growth I’ve had since I started. Making a good product.”

The whole VERVE team absolutely enjoyed the project you dropped this year, titled “For Now Keep Dancing”. Now that it’s finally out, how does it feel to have it out and how are the people feeling about it?

“It’s been interesting. Again, feeling like a nerd or feeling like the black sheep of this whole thing, and being on the outside of everything, it’s been interesting.”

“I’m not necessarily the cool or cool-looking kid. I don’t really carry that image. So it’s been interesting being this guy and this person, having people loving and praising what I do. I’m just glad that I got to do it how I wanted to. I got to present it how I wanted to present it. I got to show that I can make a great product. I care about that a lot, and people liking it is really cool.”

“People coming up to me or texting me and complimenting my work is cool, but I also know that I still have a lot more to do. I have to make the next thing and make sure that’s good. I’m obsessed with making a good product. Everything else is noise.”

You mentioned the process being your proudest part about the project. What was that like?

“I was super focused. I was just in my room thinking, looking at myself, and understanding who I am. This is where I’m at right now. This is how I feel right now. This is why I feel like this.”

“It was just detailing all of those emotions…or at least trying to. A lot of the project for me is not necessarily dealing with things straight up; it’s just feeling. I think the only song that’s quite on the nose is the last track (“For Now”), which was the last song that I wrote, and it’s what I was trying to say the entire time. This is it, and this is me at 22/23.”

“These are the feelings I have been carrying for about 2 years at that point. That sound lyrically feels like the most mature moment on the album. That and “Never Miss A Step”.”

What are your thoughts on the creative landscape out there in Johannesburg?

“I used to have mixed emotions about Johannesburg. I think I still do, and I won’t deny it for being what it is as a city. But because I’ve been able to be around and explore, there’s so much happening in all the different spaces. Jozi has much to offer.”

“In different parts, you’ll find the Punk kids, the R&B kids, the Jazz kids, the Trap kids, and sometimes they intersect. It’s so interesting to see all of that, and it’s such a potent landscape. I’m so proud to be a representative of that city. I kind of want to do more, just in terms of putting Jozi on my back and waving the flag high. I see a lot of growth, and I see a lot of talent coming from the city.”

What changes do you think need to happen to progress away from that?

“I don’t know, man…I think there are quite a few platforms, and there’s a cool scene, but I think it’s an in general thing, not Johannesburg, but SA as a whole. I sense a weird glass door; certain people are granted entry based on their looks, how they dress, and who they know. To be honest, it’s probably just an industry thing, but man, that really sucks because we're not thinking about quality, just look at what's important, but let’s not give that too much weight.”

“I’m more of a fan of great product and community. Real groundwork and growth. A great example of that is MeccaMind – swag, great quality work, and active growth. He’s doing shows like Rocking The Daisies now. That’s because of the community and because people see the work and talent. That’s someone I’m so proud of, and things like that are so important and what is really needed within the creative spaces. More of that needs to happen.”

After so many years of being a musician, what has that taught you the most about yourself?

“It’s taught me that I am super ambitious. I’m ambitious and persistent. I will bang my head against the door until it opens for me. I’m borderline insane if I really want something. I’ll try whatever it takes to make it happen every single time.”

“It’s also shown me that I am a lightning rod for deep emotions. It can be heavy, but I’m grateful to be a vessel and share the things I see, feel, and imagine with the world. Even if it’s not necessary in the grand scheme, I’m still grateful I get to do it.”

With a longer journey still ahead of him in his career as an artist, Shoka’s reflections on his past and his views on his future really has me excited to witness what the bright virtuoso has in store for the wider audience.

I urge you all to check out his latest project release, “For Now Keep Dancing”. I guarantee you it won’t disappoint. Give him a follow on socials and support his content. It’s the way we as the audience can show support for our talented artists scattered around the country.

The Undisputed Underdog - Shoka Sunflower

‘SOUND SYSTEM WARFARE’ -MECCAMIND’s Volume 2