Local muso heads to LA
Local music teacher and well known artist, Tresor Riziki, lands an international contract.
TRESOR Riziki, a music teacher at the Westville Senior Primary School, has recently signed a contract with Universal Music Publishing Group.
Riziki, who teaches guitar, told the Highway Mail that it was a combination of hard work, passion, perseverance and luck that landed him the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Over the years I have steadily gained various contacts in the music industry. I phoned a contact number I had for Universal, as I wanted to send them some of my songs. It just so happened that Ryan Hill, the managing director, answered the phone. I told him about my songs and he urged me to send them through to him,within a few days he phoned me back to say that he loved them,” said Riziki.
The passionate musician has been playing the guitar and writing songs since he was eight years old. In 2007, the Eastern DRC refugee moved to South Africa and made a living working as a security guard and a car guard.
While maintaining his two jobs, Riziki built up his connections and status within the music industry. Soon he began playing gigs as the lead singer of the Durban based Afro Fusion band, Maisha, and performing alongside popular African artists such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Freshly Ground.
Riziki was also featured on the second album of South African Afro-pop singer-songwriter, Zahara, which won the Best Selling Album of the Year award at the 20th Annual South African Music Awards, in April.
He has remained humble, despite the growing fame and success. “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to have worked with really talented and passionate musicians. It is equally rewarding, amazing and fun to work with pupils who don’t have any knowledge about music, and then to see in a month or two how they have learned to play the cords or even their favourite song. It brings a smile to my face,” said Riziki.
Barry Oosthuyzen, the head of the music department, said, “The pupils love him, and he has been a great asset to the music department. We are proud of his achievements.”
At the end of the year, Riziki will move to Los Angeles in America.
