By Danny Mdluli @Dannymdluli
Born in Kwa-Mashu Kwa Zulu-Natal on the 11th of January 1983, Simphiwe Khumalo most popularly known as Museeq IQ has set his footprint in the South African music industry.
During his university days where he studied at the Durban University of Technology studying Retail Business Management, Simphiwe found himself drawn to the music department at the university. Like every musician at heart he was no different as he later realized that he skipped most of his lectures to hang around fellow musician who played the piano and guitar and those sounds who some might call noise became the sounds of a calling in which he had to respond to.
The love for music came way before he even imagined he would be one on world stages when his father Themba Khumalo exposed him to music interviews and documentaries where they would learn more about music and music terminology. Museeq IQs father like many fathers in the 80s kept a healthy collection of music which consisted of genres such as Soul, the Blues, Funk Jazz and Mowtown would later influence his own music.
In the year 2017 Museeq IQ which took eight years in the making released his much awaited debut album titled The Music Vault 8.0 and has gone back to the very talents he worked with in the past to produce his album, the likes of Zakes Bantwini, Prince Bulo and Lucky Costa Zungu. Museeq worked on a few songs with Mondli Ngcobo as co-writer and producer, the first of which is You Don’t Know. It’s a simple love song about the emotions whipped up by a loved one – a catchy and easy to sell track.
Speaking about one of his track Nomzamo, Museeq says Nomzamo was the most challenging song he ever wrote, conjured up and sang. ‘I was in studio with Prince and he asked me to write about someone with a Zulu name. Prince then said Nomzamo, giving the song a title before I even wrote it.’
Nomzamo is a refreshing track with Caribbean influences and TKZee circa 1997 elements. He also experimented with Sergio Mendes beats, Spanish clichés and a Brazilian feel. He accentuates the song with a bridge that plays with Spanish chords, about a man admiring the beauty of a woman.
I had a chat with the man behind The Musis Vault 8.0 and this is what he had to say
What three words best describe Museeq IQ?
Soulful, electrifying, Vibrant
Why the title Music Vault 8.0?
This album has been 8 years in the making and I have been making music ad putting it away in a music vault hence the title “THE MUSIC VAULT 8.0”
How has the response been towards your music thus far?
The response has been great and I’m enjoying all the positive feedback I am receiving right now
What is still install for Museeq IQ?
An amazing ad special musical experience from the next level I’m about to deliver.
Connect with Museeq IQ on social media:
Twitter: @Museeq
Instagram: Museeq
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