Only Makhaya Explores Individualism and Dissects His New Single (Interview)

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Only Makhaya has returned from a break from music with his new single ‘M I A‘. The East Johannesburg artist uses his own experiences to create thoughtful lyricism. His soulful rapping is enjoyable to listen to, paired with a well-crafted production. A music video has been released alongside the single, which compliments the story the artist tells his audience.

To me, the song feels current and vibrant. It’s a strong comeback piece after a musical departure. I also feel it fits nicely into the current rap scene whilst standing out as an interesting project.

In this interview, Only Makhaya delves into his songwriting process. He also gives audiences a glimpse into what we can expect from him in the near future.

Who inspires your musical style the most?

To be completely honest, it’s not who; it’s more what inspires my music, and that is individualism. I’m a firm believer in being yourself unapologetically; hence, my mantra in life is ‘be who you are’.

Why did you decide to take a break from music?

I needed to introspect to remind myself of who I am and be able to relay that in my music. I often found myself making good music, but I wasn’t speaking on things that truly describe ‘Only Makhaya’. That hiatus gave me spiritual clarity, a clearer vision of going forward, and rested my creative fortitude. 

When creating a song, do you have a typical routine you follow when song-building or do you prefer to change it up with every song?

Music for me is a spiritual thing, so it’s rare that I have a routine. All the songs I’ve made had their own unique process. At times I don’t even pick up the pen; I just hit record and knockout about 6 songs in half a day. I take my time trying to be more technical with intricate details because I’m very involved in the direction of the production, which is one thing I would say is common in all my songs.

What was your starting point for creating ‘M I A‘?

When plotting for my return to music, I needed a song that would serve as a testimony to myself and those who support me as an instrument to explain my absence, and just get things off my chest.

How have you taken inspiration from your break into your new single?

I take everything with a grain of salt, so I’m truly humble and gratified with the reception. I missed that feeling, but I’m more focused on staying consistent.

Did the idea for the music video come hand in hand with creating the song, or was this something you decided further on down the line?

More or less it went hand in hand while I was recording because it’s based on true events, so all I needed to do was bring these words into visual form to paint a clearer picture.

What aspects of the live performance experience are important to you?

For me, it’s the crowd above everything. I want them to remember me for great music and an even greater performance while having a good time.

What’s next for your musical career?

What’s next is breaking through into the South African market, then Africa and the rest of the world, but through it all, staying true to being Only Makhaya.

Do you have any upcoming projects you’re looking forward to?

I’ve been working on a lot of music in the past 2 years. I have about 10 full albums worth of music worth dropping; it’s just all about timing and execution. I won’t say too much. All will be revealed in due course, but trust and believe there’s a project on the way.

Only Makhaya is on Instagram, X, and TikTok. You can watch the music video for ‘M I A‘ below and read more interviews here.

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