Born in Mbeya, before the spur of being a music star relocated him to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzanian singer-songwriter Raymond Shaban Mwakyusa, also known as Rayvanny, is one of the many recognisable faces of the Bongo flava movement, rocketing up to worldwide fame with his introductory hit “Kwetu”. With one album and a chain of EPs under his belt, his crowning moments have come in small but dynamite-like chess moves, proving that what matters is timing and quality.
Talking about his inspiration and what got him into music, Raymond spoke about the invaluable experiences that chiseled him, being involved in real-time within the working machine of showbiz as a means to augment his know-how.
“Initially, I faced significant challenges, but I persevered through hard work. I dedicated ample time in the studio, aiming to absorb as much knowledge as possible and surround myself with diverse individuals. This effort resulted in gaining valuable experience, collaborating with others, and deepening my understanding of the industry. These connections have played a pivotal role in shaping my journey and have brought me to where I am today.” he said.
Exploding from obscurity to stardom under the Diamond Platnumz-founded WCB Wasafi Records, his tenure under the label (2016 – 2022) saw him release his debut hit “Kwetu”. For his exploits, he commanded the attention of global audiences, garnering international acclaim and a BET Award for International Viewers’ Choice Award in 2017. Furthermore, he was nominated for Breakthrough Act at the 2016 MTV Africa Music Awards and Best Newcomer at the 2017 AFRIMMAs.
As successful as he was under the stable, he admitted to the existence of something greater within him: the need to lift up younger artists still on the come-up, as he once was. Seeing it best to follow his heart, he left Wasafi to start his own record company.
“I’ve always harboured the desire to influence the next generation of creators and inspire musicians beyond myself. This aspiration is what drove me to establish Next Level Music.” he said.
His latest single “Down” has surpassed 1 million views on YouTube since its release a month back. Standing on the foundation of sensuality and desire, Rayvanny spoke about the creation process of the song. The Director Kenny-steered visuals came not long after, with dynamic dancers dovetailing with the kineticism of the track.
“The song was created in South Africa at the ZiiBeats recording camp. I was in studio with Blaise Beats from Nigeria, and we were vibing along to the song then one thing led to another. We wanted something that would sound appeal to wider audiences. As we were jamming, these thoughts came to mind that, you know, this is a very sensual song and we felt like everybody can relate to this concept. We just tried things out and this is where we ended up.” he said.
Staying true to himself and never following what “everybody else is doing”, the thirty-year-old musician classified himself as an eclectic, noting that his influences varied and that there was no one person or a particular group of artists that breathed life into his craft. A keen listener of Bongo flava, hip-hop, and afrobeats, he conceded that his participation has been one of sampling far and wide without discriminating.
With that said, he listed the genres he’d like to work with in the future.
“I’m willing to work on many genres, which has led to my international collaborations in the past. I’m keen on amapiano, hip-hop, and pop. However, I’m also open to anything new.” he said.
Watch “Down” Below:
Speaking on his upcoming plans, he had a lot to say, alluding to tours and new songs in the bank, including one with an unnamed South African beatsmith.
“I have a lot of projects lined up for this year and international collaborations. I have a few new tracks from the ZiiBeats camp that I’m excited about, like “Alone” and “You”; which I’ll be collaborating with international artists on. I also have an amapiano track from ZiiBeats that we will be releasing, which was created in tandem with a local South African producer which is fire! I won’t say who it’s by, which everyone should keep an eye out for these tracks. Additionally, I will be in the UK this February on a tour, and I’ll be hoping to work with a few artists from the UK and Europe as well during the tour.” he said.
