In the Studio with Keith Kugo on Sound, Stillness, & Homegrown Creativity
Photos: Jonathan van der Knaap (@jvdkphoto)
Could you tell me your name, age and a little bit about yourself?
Hi, my name is Keith - i'm 25 and i'm an artist originating from Zimbabwe. My art ranges from music to architecture, design, and painting.
How did you first get into music?
I've always had music around me growing up, my parents were involved in church choirs and stuff, so music and singing are ingrained into my culture and family. I started producing when I was like 11, I remember I had a group of friends. We all used to play video games after school - one day, my best friend downloaded 'FL STUDIO' thinking that it was some sort of musical game - but it was production software. I downloaded it too, so we could play together, but when I realised that it wasn't a normal game, I somehow just instantly fell in love with it and started my music-making journey.
Did you do any music or creative subjects throughout school?
Yeah! I took a class called 'IPP' in high school, which taught us how to make magazines, posters, and use Photoshop/InDesign. I never took music as a subject because I used to go to choir practice most days after school, I didn't feel like I needed to sit in school to learn music when I was learning it so much outside.
How would you describe your style of music?
A fusion of R&B, trap, and electronica. If it had a name, I'd be 'Future Soul'. I like making whatever I feel like at the time, though. Sometimes I'll make some house music if I feel like dancing.
Who or what inspires you?
I have so many muses and inspirations. One of my biggest would have to be Virgil Abloh. He showed me that you can be a multi-disciplinary creative and still make waves. Also, he had a background in architecture, which i felt resonated with my journey. I love Daniel Arsham, Lido, Samuel Ross, Sam Gellaitry to name a few.
Have you always had dreams of being a creative? If not, what did your younger self want to be when you grew up?
Yeah, I always knew I'd be doing something creative. Some of my earliest memories are of me drawing cars and objects. I was always making stuff, you know? I found so much joy in it that it didn't make sense to spend my life doing anything else.
Would you say your family and friends have supported your aspirations in pursuing a creative career?
Yeah, my dad has always been supportive of my creative pursuits - he's fairly creative himself, so I guess it runs in the family. At first, however, my family was a bit wary of me doing music, but as time went on and I didn't quit, they realised that I was doing what made me happy.
Do you have a favourite song you’ve created?
That's a hard question, i feel like it changes depending on what mood I'm in. I feel like 'On My Mind' is one of my favourites, i was on cloud nine when I made the beat and the lyrics are super raw and have a special place in my heart.
What are your thoughts on the Adelaide creative scene?
I feel like the Adelaide scene is starting to blossom with the rise of networking on the internet. There are so many people really putting themselves out there and just working hard. There are some incredibly talented artists here.
Your last three tracks have been in collaboration with a fellow Adelaide-based artist & previous FRND Mag featured artist, Stefan Rossi. Could you tell us about your relationship with Stefan, and why you enjoy collaborating with him?
My collaborative relationship with Stefan has fostered so much growth for me as a producer and as an artist. He's the first artist I've sat down and created more than 1 song with. Our sessions are always super intuitive - he's easy to work, and an incredibly versatile artist with which makes it fun to make great music. I can't wait to show the world what we've been working on.
You’ve also worked pretty closely with other musician friends of ours in the scene, including Barkada, EXTC, etc. Are there any artists ( local or international) that you’d love to work with?
Yeah definitely, locally I'd love to link with Ethanrip. I love how he experiments with different vibes & genres but still has his sound in the songs. I feel like I could produce some insane beats that he'd glide on. Internationally, I want to have a session with Lido. I feel like our musical choices are so similar that we'd make some futuristic-sounding music.
How did you first get into design & architecture?
As a kid, i was obsessed with drawing and Lego. I got this program on my family computer called "Lego Digital Designer", which was like a 3d program that you could use to make Lego models on a computer. After I got used to that, I moved to a proper 3d modeling software and went to uni for it. Designing just came naturally to me.
Your visuals for each single & album are incredible and we feel you look at every little detail in your artwork. Do you think it’s important for artists to have good & engaging visuals to pair with their music?
Being such a visual person, I'm usually thinking about what scenes my music evokes as I'm writing it. I love cinema and film, so I always try to make sure that every aspect of my music has the right visual details. I sometimes get lost in designing artwork for my music - it's just as fun for me as making the tracks. I think it's really important that artists at least factor in visuals in their music - our world is full of screens now, and everything is so captivating, so it pays to have visuals that stand out.
What’s your favourite song right now?
I've been listening to Brent Faiyaz's album 'Fuck The World' on repeat lately. It's insane - I've got 'Been Away' stuck in my head haha, it's my favourite song right now. Resonates with where I'm at in life, too.
What’s your all-time favourite film?
That's another hard question, probably 2001 A Space Odyssey, or Django.
Dune 2 is very good too. I can't decide.
What is your wildest dream as a creative?
Working with Pharrell Williams on a track and then working with him on some fashion/designs. It'll happen one day, for sure.
Now this magazine is titled “Homebody”. What makes you feel most at home?
Candles. I love scents so much. Coming home to a room that smells good immediately relaxes me.
What dish or food reminds you of “home”?
There's this traditional Zim dish called 'Sadza Ne Nyama', which is like a mix of Pap & Beef Stew. It's so good, it reminds me of home and my childhood.
Do you have any memorable childhood or adolescent memories of something that feels like home to you?
Just playing with Legos in my parent's living room. That sense of wonder and freedom to create always feels like home to me. I feel like creating anything in general just helps me tap into my inner child. I'm always trying to keep that part of me alive and thriving.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career similar to yours?
Be relentless, be a scientist, and just experiment a lot. Also, don't listen to the naysayers who will try to shoe-horn you into a box or tell you you're doing too much. Be willing to blaze your trail, and develop and trust your intuition. What is meant for you will be yours.
Where does Keith Kugo hope to be in five years?
Definitely in L.A running between music studio sessions and design studio sessions. That's my vision, and I see it getting closer every day.
What can people expect to see from you in the coming months?
My debut album. I've been working on it for a year now, and it's in the final stages. I've got a few things to wrap up, but expect it to be a moment for sure by the end of 2024.