We are excited to get to know you Shane, thanks for talking to us. So, Let’s start at the beginning;
Who is Shane907?
Dumisani Darlington, Masombuka
Where is Shane907 from and where did you grow up?
I grew up in Mpumalanga, Mapotla, e Siyabuswa. It’s a Township.
What was it like to be a member of your family?
My Family was very strict, they were strict at home. My Mom & Grand Mother and my Uncles who used to play Traditional Ndebele Music. Music is in my blood. My uncle used to be a producer, drummer, sessionist, guitarist and pianist. I took it from him, where he wasn’t there I would use and play his instruments.
Do you have any siblings?
Yes, I do. 3 siblings, – 1 Girl & 2x boys. I am the last born. Mr. Maker.
Can you share 2 of your Favourite moments growing up?
I enjoyed my childhood a lot. Everything I did was related to music, I used play drums with my friend using condensed milk teen and buckets. I was always into music, performing at home, playing around. I was never into sports so I never went when others went.
What one memory of your childhood was the most difficult for you?
Growing up without a father and seeing other kids expressing that their fathers got me presents, being bullied because I didn’t have a Dad and teasing me because I used to be a dark skinned kid who was quite. I used to also get teased because of my hands. My Mom used to console me and that it was a gift from God, I that it had a purpose. I used to me hurt by the teasing Until I made peace with it. I have got Sifiso Ncwane like fingers but his were bigger than mine. My Father, I, I knew him. He passed in 2010. I was 13 years old and we were close. He didn’t like me wanting to be a musician, he believed music was an evil thing. He was a ZCC.
When were you first exposed to Music and how?
My uncle was my first exposure to music where I was 8 years old when he played traditional music and In got into music of all the greats, Bojo Mujo, Brenda. Bojo Mujo was my favourite artists, I looked up to him and I wanted to be like him. He is still my Favourite. When I am down, I listen to all of his hits and I remember how much he has come and how far I have come. DJ Cleo too, they inspire me and I want to be like them.
How did you discover your love for music?
Through my Uncle, a Cultural Musician, and he was part of a band, Mapotla Boys.
Traditionally you have a smooth RnB-Soul sound, is that the music you are passionate about? and what inspired the shift into Amapiano?
I started producing deep house, then house music, then I discovered Oskido and Cleo, but I have never produced Barcadi. I switched to hip-hop until 2019. I started producing hip hop in 2015. In 2015, my Cousin Mr. Maker blew up a little bit, he was a G nge freestyle, he started Piano this year. He is a Rap God that guy. You cant be spiritual and do Bacardi, but it’s the spirituality of Amapiano and it’s similarity to Deep house and also because deephouse on the low and Piano was on the up. It’s the spirituality of it. I can play a Keyboard. Chords I do on my own.
When you think about this music genre, Amapiano – what do you feel it means to you personally?
For me it’s a very spiritual thing, It touches be deep in my soul. It’s healing music.
Can you name some of the songs you have worked on or some of the artists you have worked with?
Album MFR Souls – Elements of life, Sje Konka – It’s Okay, Ngifanawe, with Kabza de small and others.
Given that you are also a performer, when you are performing and can see people dancing and being moved by something you put together, how does that feel?
It inspires me to make more good music, that they love my work, the feeling is too much, it pushed me to work hard. A lot of Piano producers come from Hip-hop and deep house
Do you remember a moment or interaction with a fan that left you thinking about the impact your art can have?
I was playing unreleased music at 1am at a big club in the hood, she came to me and she expressed her happiness and how the music reminds me Soshanguve. She tipped me R500, bought me 1L jagermmeister, redbulls, took my details and connected me with gigs from Shosha, Mabopane and I working with her ever. We drank together
Take us into the studio, into your world for a second – how does it start? How do you write this music? What is your ritual? Your process?
Before I even get to studio, it starts with a melody or vocals in my head and only then do I open my PC and start working. It starts randomly, even when I am chilling with my gents, every now and then and sometimes after three weeks, I used my emotions to create music, whetever I am feeling, I put it in my music, I have made my best music when I was upset or down, or angry. When I am angry, all my pain, I put it into all my music. I pray daily before I leave the house, I pray about whether I am about to do, I pray before I work too.
What is your most Popular Amapiano song to date?
Bawo – Russell Zuma & MFR Souls.
When you created/wrote that song, how were you feeling? What happened that day? Was it an ordinary day? What about that track moves you?
We had prayed for a break through from God, and then Russel Zuma arrived and converted what was originally a Gospel song and he changed it. Tebza the Guitarist played guitar for it and encouraged us to pray for the song verd hard, Maero & Force then added spice to the track after which Russell pulled up and did the vocals.
Delving a little more into your music, what parts of yourself do you see the songs you produce?
I see the part of me that likes to make people happy and make people enjoy the music I make.
How do you conceptualize the music you write and execute the delivery so that even with all the many elements of a song coming together, it still feels so incredibly authentic Amapiano, considering your background and love for RnB-Soul?
It comes as a though or melody. I write a lot of music, hooks and choruses. When I create the beat, there is already a hook, lyrics and melody already. Usually four bars and a hook.
What goes through your mind when you write and when you sing?
See melody,
What is it that you are trying to express in your music overall? Is it joy, is it perseverance – what would you say is your driving theme in your music? Joy, it’s Joy.
I want to heal people, I want people to relate to heal. I want to make timeless music that heals even after 5 years and that’s my true purpose with music
When you create your music – what comes first in the process? The lyrics? the melody? The beat?
Melody first, and then everything else follows, drumkits are straight forward thing, it’s the melody that is the most important thing in music. If you lose the melody, your beat is lost. If the melody doesn’t come, you are not spiritual, music is not your thing, just quit. It’s the melody, a spiritual thing. Music with a melody fills people with love and happiness, it gets people to sing along. I don’t ever want to make none healing music,
What do you love about being an Amapiano artist?
Because I make music that satisfies me, even spiritually and Amapiano has put food on the table for so many, it’s Amazing.
What do you hate about being an Amapiano Artist?
Lack of discipline, lack of focus, too much attention and face chasing, too much focus on sex and alcohol. As soon as you have a hit, every girl wants you, especially in the hood and you end up getting caught up.
We see a lot of successful collaborations in the music Industry and for the best ones it really boils down to chemistry and huge mutual respect – if you could choose – who in the Industry would you love to collaborate with and why?
It would be Sun El Musician. He doesn’t do Piano but me makes music that I would like to include and incorporate into Amapiano.
As a genre Amapiano is evolving – what do you feel is your contribution in its evolution? How would you describe the future of Amapiano musically speaking?
The future of Piano is bright and it will vusa lot of people and a lot of homes yet. It’s here to stay. It will be around Forever!!! We were used to Tap and Clap drum kit and Kabza introduce I percussion, and it’s only arriving in the States now. Money made from Piano is in the Billions.
How would you describe your genre of Amapiano to a layman?
Spiritual Piano. We play Piano for the Ancestors, Maskandi Piano. Mawhoo sings Maskandi, she sings Masnakdi on a Piano beat. You will hear it if you pay attention.
What excites you about the future of Amapiano music and what scares you if anything?
It’s evolving, it’s ever evolving. The scary thing is how everybody thinks Piano is a thing they can get into randomly even people who aren’t in music and then bad mouth Piano. I don’t like that.
For those who may be new to piano, what is one track you would recommend they listen to from you?
Ngifa Nawe – Mawhoo, MFR Souls, Tman & Kabza, Shane907
For someone who doesn’t know you, who hasn’t hear your music before, how would you describe your musical style overall?
It’s more Gospel, Jazz.
You are presently working on any New Music?
Yes, I am working on an EP. I can’t say how many songs.
What can people expect from that EP?
They must expect ukuphola in their hearts and must be patient with life and the universe. All will be alright and all bad things shall pass. There isn’t a Bad thing that doesn’t Pass.
Thank you for taking the time to talk to us – we look forward to sharing your music with the rest of the world. Here’s hoping your music’s powerful rhythms continue to move, connect and heal the world. Wishing you boundless creativity and success!