MVNSA is an exceptional talent causing waves in the East African ALTE music scene. Raised between Niger and Tanzania, the rapper and producer is driven by his passion for bridging the musical divide between East and West Africa, hence his dedication to creating music that resonates with audiences from both regions.
Graduating from the esteemed SAE Institute South Africa with a degree in music production, MVNSA has established himself as one of the region’s most promising artists. His unique sound is a captivating blend of Afro House, Amapiano, Dancehall, Psychedelic, and Hip Hop. Having studied and lived in South Africa during the Amapiano surge in popularity, he has skillfully crafted a fusion he affectionately refers to as ‘Afrodelic.’
Currently, MVNSA resides in Tanzania, and he frequently collaborates with a diverse range of artists in Kenya. His artistic journey also leads him to explore the dynamic Kenyan music industry, where he aspires to forge meaningful connections within the realms of media, music, NFTs, and more. With an unwavering commitment to his craft, MVNSA is poised to make a significant impact in the creative landscape and beyond.
So far he has titles such as ‘Tunandi,’ ‘Name Me Mansa’, ‘Euphoria/Moonlight’, and most recently the vibrant party song ‘Twende’ in his growing discography. We caught up with him to get insights into his music career and everything in between.
Your sound is quite unique. How would you describe your style of music?
My sound is a reflection of my identity. Growing up, I was exposed to different sounds and genres while moving around between Niger and Tanzania. So, I play a lot of Old School Jazz, West African music, and Hip Hop from the likes of Kanye West. ‘Noma Vibes’ is what I call my sound.
In your opinion, what is the essence of alternative music?
I think it is any music that can't be labeled.
How do you approach the songwriting process? Do you have any particular rituals or techniques?
There are three different methods. The first one is the simplest where I mumble words to an instrumental sent to me until I get what works. The second one is when I have the whole concept of a song and decide what I want to talk about in the song, and then bring it to life. The last one, which, in my opinion, is the most exciting, is when I have a video in mind. Sometimes I will think of the idea of the visuals, then I'll have that in my mind and create a song based on that idea.
Having been raised in Niger, Tanzania, and South Africa, how has that influenced your taste in music and overall sound as an artist?
It's influenced it a lot. When I first started, I was really on that American vibe like a lot of us were. Once I truly started being tuned more into my identity, culture, and roots, that completely changed. I love recording with local artists back in Niger. There are different types of music in Niger that the world just doesn't know, for example, the Desert Blues in my song, ‘Timbuktu.’
With Tanzania, it's the good vibes, but what I've learned from Bongo artists is how to be vulnerable in my lyrics. That it is okay to talk about a girl that I actually love and wear my heart on my sleeves. If someone breaks my heart, I will make a song about it. As for South Africa, I am obsessed with the vibes, percussion, and rhythms. That is evident in a lot of my music.
Do you have favorite genres?
Afrobeats and Hip Hop are my favorite genres, but I listen to everything. I love the likes of Kid Cudi, Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky, and Tyler the Creator. Recently, I started listening to Dancehall and it has influenced me a lot, especially my new music. Dancehall has a lot of alternative vibes. I also listen to Indie-Afro Music and Amapiano.
Are there any specific themes or messages you aim to convey through your music?
It depends on the songs but in general, my whole thing is I just want people who listen to my music to be themselves. Look inward and see whatever makes them unique. I remember growing up in a very conservative environment. I would always want to have my hair out but it was always a problem as I used to get criticized for it. What I try to teach people, is to be themselves unapologetically.
How have you adapted to the emergence of Web 3.0 and integrated NFTs into your career and what would you tell someone who is interested in chattering that path?
I sell my music as NFTs and I know exactly how much I want for each sale. I choose how much I get in royalties if the music is resold. In Africa, there is a Web 3.0 community where people support each other. What I would tell those who want to explore that space is that right now, the crypto space doesn’t look too good, but it's still fun to explore. Also, do a lot of research, connect with the right people, build relationships, and be consistent.
Can you talk about the role of technology in your creative process and how it has impacted your music?
It has definitely impacted my music as I have used AI to make logos and mix. I have not used it on lyrics yet though. I used AI in the mixing of my very first song, ‘Name Me Mansa.’ Thank to technology, right now we don't have to pay for very expensive studios as we can make our own music in our rooms. I can also use AI to create artwork. As for marketing, I'm now able to push my music, not only to where I am physically but also across the whole world. It just makes a lot of things easier. So, there's definitely a lot of things that we do with that.
Is there a memorable moment or experience that has shaped your musical journey so far?
There are a few, but my very favourite one was when I was performing at the university, Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey, Niger. This was still very early on and a bunch of the crowd didn't even know me at the time. I performed two songs, ‘Name Me Mansa’ and ‘Tunandi’, and seeing that reaction was everything! Guys went nuts chanting my name. I put a lot of effort into creating the music so hearing 300 people chant my name was a very beautiful thing.
From the collaborations that you have had with artists such as TheBoyNamedSimba, what have those experiences been like?
TheBoyNamedSimba is a brother, we have both seen each other grow creatively as artists and as men in general. We'll definitely be working on stuff. It's good competition with him because we have quite a few songs together. Definitely, we'll be doing more. I want to collaborate with a lot more people as well.
Do collaborations have a lot of moving parts that sometimes it's hard to actualize the dream?
It's a little of both. It just depends on who it is. It also needs to make sense creatively. I don't force collaborations. If it makes sense to be on this song or if I have a song for you, then I'm going to try to send it.
Can you share any insight into the visual aesthetics that accompany your music?
I'm a very visual person. Sometimes I'll have the whole concept for a whole music video, and create a song around that instead of making a song and then the video. I think it kind of intertwines the visual aspect. In general, if I hear a song, I'll see colors.
How do you balance your artistic vision with the expectations of the music industry?
By making good music. That's really it.
What are your thoughts on the current state of the alternative music industry, and where do you see it heading in the future?
Alternative music is in a really good place. With the internet, we're all exposed to so many different things. As humans, we are from different places and all that plays a role in different artists. It's a lot cooler to figure out what you want to do creatively than to copy whatever others are doing.
Do you ever feel the pressure to steer from Alte just a little to do something more mainstream?
To be honest, I just do what I like. I've never really sat down with myself and decided to only make Alternative music. I just do whatever it is and then the people categorize it as Alternative. If I make something and it sounds very pop, then Pop it is. Moreover, it’s just recently that I decided to name my genre ‘Noma Vibes.’
What are your goals and aspirations as an alternative music artist in the coming years?
Lots of cool stuff. Right now I have a music video coming out soon. It has very beautiful visuals that I'm pretty proud of. I also have some songs due for release. A few collaborations with people from Niger that I'm looking forward to. My sound has grown and I'm a lot happier with it now. I can’t wait to share that with the masses. On the tech side, I have an exclusive website that will allow my fans to listen to my songs before release as well as watch exclusive live shows.
Speaking of performing live, what is the thing that you love about being on stage?
Performing live is great. Obviously, I always get butterflies in my stomach and hope to not embarrass myself on stage but I always learn from each experience. What affects me most about live music is seeing how my music is perceived by people.
Listen MVNSA’s here.
