EXCLUSIVE – Sfundo Ndimande is one of the new musicians to have been signed up by Universal Music Group. Sfundo recently released his single Izindlu Zodaka in May followed by a sizzling hot music video a week later. Talk about a kid who knows exactly what he came to do in the music industry.
We spoke to the 23-year old musician who hails all the way from a township called Hammarsdale in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Ndimande’s musical journey started way back in 2012 when was crowned the winner of the junior category at the third annual Gateway to Fame contest.
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Sfundo reckons he got his musical talent from both his mother and father, meaning he comes from a musical family hence his older brother is also in the music industry. Apart from doing music the Izindlu Zodaka hitmaker reckons he would be doing Marketing Management, because he is a very talkative person and he reckons he has selling skills. He discovered marketing talent whilst he was working for a call center back in Durban where he sold airtime to American people.
What first got you into music?
“Apart from church for me it was when I entered the Gateway to Fame Contest in 2012 which I ended up winning in the junior category. Thereafter I then entered what is called The Young performances project in KZN which is a musical theatre, that was basically what made me discover my talent in music.”
Having won he competition he won in 2012 and participating in a musical theatre play, the muso also said he has been doing a lot of acting in between as a musical theatre actor.
“In 2020 Mthunzi gave me advice to do short video clips of me singing, post them on social media and also tag big relevant people in the industry, I certainly did that and before I knew it I was called by someone from Universal Music. I was in shock and couldn’t believe it, but I saved the guys numbers and started seeing his statuses then I knew that this wasn’t a prank done by one of my friends.”
Who inspired you to make music?
“Honestly, I must say it was Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Sjava and my older brother Mthunzi. I grew up looking up to my brother he’s always been one of my inspirations in music.”
When asked which South African musicians he looks up to, the young musician reckons it most definitely must be Sjava and Mthunzi, because of their unique and authentic sound that they make.
How would you describe the type of music that you typically create and what is your creative process like?
“The type of music that I create is a fusion of different genre’s, its hip hop, trap, afro pop and a touch of soul. When I’m making music it all depends whether I connect with the beat or not, I would say my mom is an inspiration because I think about her a lot when I’m making music, because she used to be that music lover.”
If you could open a show for any artist in the world, who would it be?
“It would definitely be Burna Boy and Wizkid, because I feel like they are so unique, and their sound is amazing. They’ve actually bought that unique sound into the music industry from all around the would and united Africa as a whole.”
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
“The best advice that I have ever been given was by Ndu Browns of Black Diamond who said: stay true to yourself, work hard and always believe in yourself because if you don’t nobody else will.”
So Izindlu Zodaka, your latest single what was the inspiration behind the song and what is it about?
“We created the song back in KZN at Nations Cross studios, my manager came up with the idea of Izindlu Zodaka, I had initially written something like Izindlu zodaka and he came up with the suggestion to make it a current thing.so everyone could relate to the song”
“The inspiration behind my debut single Izindlu Zodaka has to be my humble beginnings, where I used to grow up, the situation was really rough back then. I also looked at testimonies of people who are successful, have managed to endure all the hardships in life especially growing up with nothing and are now living their best lives.”
When you look at the music video and listen to the lyrics of your song does that perhaps describe or paint a picture of how you grew up?
“To be honest no its nowhere near to how I grew up, it wasn’t really like what you see in the music video but some of the things are realistic and relate to me for example the scene where i’m getting water from the tap.”
Sfundo plans on releasing at least two more singles before he drops his EP which will be featuring a lot of big artists.
“My Ep is not a continuation of trap in vernac but it’s different genre’s because I want people to understand that Sfundo is a very versatile and talented artist who can do anything.”
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It seems that the Ndimande brothers plan on dominating in the music industry together even though Mthunzi is more into afro-pop/ house and Sfundo is into trap and hip hop. Sfundo one day would love to own his own record label where he can uplift upcoming and promising artists back in his hood. A clothing brand is also on his bucket list and being one of the most successful artists in Africa.
For all those that don’t know who Sfundo Ndimande is and who wish to know more about the upcoming artist, you can follow him on his different social media platforms.
Instagram: sfundoofficial
Facebook: Sfundo Ndimande
