Rising star ‘Pweedy’ composes music for big dreamers alike
Siyabonga Kunene, also known as Pweedy, has just released a powerful new EP that is filled with diverse sources of inspiration.
Whenever Siyabonga Kunene, known by his stage name Pweedy, commutes to work in Fourways, he is filled with inspiration at the sight of luxury, which drives him to push and carve out a prominent place for himself in the music industry.
The cherry on top is the occasional opportunity he gets when he encounters the rich and famous living in the area.
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The 25-year-old artist has just launched his debut EP album, titled Farfromfinish. He attributes his success to the valuable lessons his mother taught him about staying away from the streets and concentrating on creating a better future for himself.
“I grew up in a rough neighborhood and my mom made sure that we preoccupy ourselves with hobbies. I began attending choir practices and that’s how I discovered my talent for singing; I was in Grade 7 at the time.”
As an active young boy, Kunene was always focused on playing soccer and didn’t pay much attention to music. However, in 2019, everything changed when he stumbled across a studio and began recording music.
“The response to my first album was overwhelming and inspiring. I produced more music which led me to this point now where I released my second studio EP titled Farfromfinish 2.”
He said he finds inspiration in his past accomplishments, the vibrant city he lives in, and his fellow professionals in the industry when he writes his songs.
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“I aim to tell the stories from different points of view. I intentionally want to educate the listeners about different races, their way of living, living conditions, privileges, and struggles. My music also is based on making the listener feel good about themselves.”
He said one of his songs speaks directly to the person who has nothing but a dream because he resonates with them.
“My music is based on inspirational, hardships, and romantic stories. These are typically South African stories, for instance, I wrote Ngelinye Ilanga [One day] and in that song, I speak about a young African couple that falls in love but lives far apart because of their nine-to-five jobs. The song says one day things are going to be okay.
“I always preach about following your dreams, having faith in your self and faith in your abilities to achieve more than you think. I preach about knowing your roots and what your people stand for. Above it all I preach about positivity, gratitude, and consistency in improving yourself and your family’s lives.”
Kunene was dubbed Pweedy by a producer he collaborated with early in his career. At the outset, he was referred to as Pweedy100 due to his striking appearance, undeniable charisma, and his ability to stay true to himself.
“Farfromfinish is a term I discovered in a song and it is used to describe the journey of an underdog.”
The album is available on all music streaming platforms.
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