“My breakthrough song ended up being an amapiano track, so I had to figure out how to bring both worlds together,” said Coolpixie, reflecting on the turning point that shaped his career.
The artist has embraced a sound that blends hip hop, amapiano and afrobeat, proving that following instinct can sometimes lead to the biggest opportunities.
Although amapiano introduced him to a wider audience, Coolpixie said that hip hop remains at the heart of everything he creates.
“I started as a hip hop artist. That was my first love. The bars, the storytelling and the energy,” he explained.
When his breakout record found success in the amapiano space, he knew that he did not want to abandon the style that first inspired him.
“Genre-fluid just happened because I couldn’t leave the old me behind. It’s me mixing the hip hop foundation that I grew up on with the amapiano sound that opened new doors. Now the afrobeat sits in there too because rhythm is rhythm. I just follow what feels honest.”
That honesty is at the centre of his latest project, “Love Land (Phase 1)”, an EP built around romance and emotional connection.
Unlike many love-themed projects that focus on heartbreak, Coolpixie wanted to celebrate affection, admiration and commitment.
“‘Love Land’ is all about love songs expressing love to someone, so I wrote from that space of admiration and softness. It’s easy to write about the spark, butterflies and choosing someone every day. The EP pushed me to sit in that space.”
His music often feels personal because many of the stories begin with real moments from everyday life.
Coolpixie said that inspiration can appear almost anywhere.
“Conversations I overhear at taxi ranks, hair salons and even late-night talks with friends. I’m always collecting those little moments. ‘Love Land’ came from all those everyday moments of love.”
While he is comfortable writing about his own experiences, he wants listeners to make each song their own.
“I write for one person first, usually someone I love or my younger self. If it’s real to me, someone else will feel it too. I try not to overexplain. I leave space for people to put their own person into the song.”
That same approach carries into the recording studio, where collaboration plays a major role in his creative process.
For Coolpixie, the best partnerships happen when everyone brings something different to the table.
“Energy and creativity. If you walk into the studio and you’re really listening, not just waiting for your turn, we’ll make magic. I also look for people who have their own world. I don’t want a copy of me. I want someone who brings a colour I don’t have, then we mix it.”
Away from the microphone, Coolpixie said that there is much more to him than fans may realise.
Music may be his first love, but it is not his only passion.
“Beyond the music, I’m just a versatile guy who wears a lot of hats. I’ve got different passions outside of music. I’m gentle, I move with energy, and I’m a man of my word.”
He also enjoys working behind the scenes.
“People hear the music first, but there’s more to me than that. I also love being behind the camera; that’s where a lot of the magic happens for me.”
