KRUNA: Still In It!

Kruna needs no introduction.

Bursting into the scene with "Khula" in late 2007, he's been blessed with longevity and relevance and is as popular then as he is now. Kruna (whose name is the phonetic pronounciation of the word Crooner) is still a bit of a mystery despite performing with the likes of Lira, Skwatta Kamp and Thebe, being nominated for a metro award and charting on Khaya Fm, Metro Fm, Umhlobo Wenene, Ukhozi and Lesedi Fm, Wanting to share a glimpse of the man behind the melodic voice that brought us the likes of "Find A Way" a collab between himself, Kwesta and The Soweto Gospel Choir released in 2014, I find out what he's been up to, what he thinks of the state of RnB in South Africa and what he meant by "Ang'khathalele K'thenjwa"

You're one of those people who have always been a constant in the industry for as long as Skwatta Kamp made hip hop fashionable...can you tell me how you've been able to keep yourself relevant and also make an honest living from this industry? Oh! Snap! It's been that long!? Lol, I guess time really flies when you're having fun*hugeSmile*... Beyond my passion for music, I love collaborating with talented individuals who are visionaries that respect and love their craft like I do and I never really limit myself as to who I collaborate with ie - Language/Culture/Signed or unsigned... We all draw from the same pool: The Higher Power, Hence "No Man is an Island." As an artist who has years of experience in this field, is there a job that is too small for you? I believe in daily growth, so as far as my experience in the music industry by far... I like to give separate attention or different treatment/approach to each and every task/job brought to my attention. This helps me to grow within it. How would you describe your sound? It's Urban Pop, because I'm influenced by different styles of music from: Jazz/R&B/Soul/Tradition/Hip Hop to Kwaito etc but these inspirations are dominantly expressed in my home language which is isiZulu.

"Ang'khathalele k'thenjwa" has a very interesting title and a very cheeky message, please tell me how that came about and why you felt the need to express yourself in that way? Music business is a cut throat industry which is bound to influence change (Good/Bad) into one's character. How you take it all in and deciding which route you wanna travel, is all up to you as you are your own brand ambassador. So Do You!... Ungakhathalele k'thenjwa,lol. That's basically the concept of the song. So as -KRUNA- on the 1st verse, I'm basically introducing my company: Match&Dice Entertainment, also re introducing myself and reminding/telling pips who might not know me or have forgotten about me, of where I'm from with this musical journey. 2nd and last verse's are dedicated to my music lovers... And haters,lol as they can't knock out any man's hustle!... Unless you allow them, but not this nigga here! Ang'khathalele K'thenjwa

How much of yourself do you leave in a song? I'm best when I'm 100% Me, directly or indirectly ie - My personal life experience and how I see the world around me. Have you evolved at all in your artistry? And if so how and why? If you can remember earlier on I said I believe in growth... Like one of my career mentors would advise: "The wheel has already been invented and can't be reinvented." Ours is to connect with "The Wheel Inventor" find our position and grow within it. Do you think the 'datafilehost' movement will ever take off for RnB singers and why? It has already... I believe datafilehost is a medium used to share free mp3 files by artist/anyone and the most popular/marketed song gets the most downloads. Why in your opinion is RnB such an underrated genre in SA. Are we lazy?

We as the people of Mzansi are not lazy... We were and are still developing ourselves within this 21year old democratic country... I believe the world is ready for SA now and all we need to do is position ourselves and include our identity in all our crafts. Please tell us about your latest and future endeavours. From the Skwatta Kamp collaboration in 2009, I've been collaborating with artists like: Bozza/Kwesta/SiyaShezi/Zakwe/Dj Whiskey etc to name but a few. My highlight has to be the year 2014 (to the future) where I developed and marketed fresh new talent, more than that... I produced and wrote 35% of SA's greatest solo Kwaito Legend's THEBE's newly released album titled: "The Legend" signed under Thee Biggest most successful independent Recording company in SA to date: KalawaJazzmee Records, which is as old as our country's democracy. This specific collaboration with big bro. Thebe, got me working close with one of the most talented producers on this realm: Bruce "Dope" Sebitlo... Which got me so so excited/honored/grateful for the chance to work with royalty of SAmusic. Look out for the 1st single "Voorvaai" to come out from this collabo... Esbangabangeni! What would you like to see change in terms of popular music in general in SA? Development of fresh, new talent and bigger budgets to be injected into SA's Art as it is the soul of our country/people.

The song that get's you ready for a turn up is? Thebe - Bosso yadi Bosso / K.O. - Cara cara / CassperNyovest - Shebeleza / AKA - Congratulate / Reason - Bump the cheese Up / KhuliChana - MahambaYedwa etc... So many, I love where we currently are in SA's music industry, artists are working hard. Who else would you like to see yourself work with at home and abroad? Home - bra Caiphus, bra Hugh, Ladysmith Black Mambazo/ Simphiwe Dana, Thandiswa Mazwai/HHP,AKA,Khuli,Nyovest,Anathi etc Abroad - R Kelly What do you wish someone had told you when you decided you wanted to make a living off your talent? Be comfortable in your own culture or who you are as an individual because that's what makes you different from the next person, but I'm glad I'm growing to learn and live that more... The future's unfolding as we live life in the present.

KRUNA 101:

• The song ”Gijima Mfana” from the album “Khula” made it to the three disc compiliation called Africa-Eine Musikalische Reise Zwischen Tradition Und Neuzeit released by SonyBMG in Germany, year 2008. In the compiliation Kruna is featured alongside Miriam Makeba, Youssu N’Dour, Angelique Kidjo, Lira and many more.

• Kruna has appeared twice on the popular TV music show “LIVE” aired on SABC1 to perform live. Kruna’s music video “Ulubambo Lwami/Gijima” has been voted as being “HOT” by viewers of the very same TV show “Live”.

• 2011 - collaborated with Bozza on "Sex Machine" taken from "House Warming" album

• 2012 - collaborated with Dj Whiskey on "The Way You Move" taken from. "Rebirth" album, also wrote for two new artist featured on the same album

• 2014 - collaborated with various artists on an Ekse voting awareness song, featuring artists like: CaspperNyovest/SiyaShezi to name but a few

• 2014 - collaborating with Gigi Lamayne/Zakwe to name but a few on "yajika Lento" single.

• 2015 - Produced and wrote 35% of the. New THEBE album "The Legend" working along SA's greatest producers: Mandla "Spikiri" Mofokeng and Bruce "Dope" Sebitlo.

We are still sleeping on this super talent that writes, composes and sings. His discography is enough to have anybody in the industry asking themselves what they've been doing all along. I look forward to hearing more of Kruna's signature voice and killer harmonies in the future. With peole like him still in it, the RnB in Mzansi is looking ALRIGHT!

NAMANJE!

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@IamKruna