Crossover talk with Prince Kaybee

Since releasing hits such a Better Days, Wajellwa, and Fetch your Life, DJ and producer, Prince Kaybee has become one of the few artists at the forefront of taking South African dance music to the world. The producer continues to spawn chart topping and award winning hits and bagging accolade after accolade. Fresh from the release of his acclaimed Crossover Music (The EP), Prince Kaybee has been on a winning streak with a South African Dance Music Award and MTV EMA nomination under his belt. We caught up with the producer extraordinaire to chat about his journey and finally crossing over to an international audience.

With the release of Crossover Music (The EP), you’re obviously taking the direction of appealing to a different audience, what pushed you to finally take that step?

 It was time, after all the work that I’ve put in ever since I’ve started making music I feel like now is the time.

 Looking at the recording process and collaborations, you mentioned that the EP was recorded in different places, how did being in those spaces influence the sound that came out?

You know, as soon as you leave South Africa you encounter different energies. You breathe something new, it has affected the music a lot. In the UK, especially Manchester, there’s a lot of electro and tech sounds, and I was hanging out a lot in the clubs hearing that distinct sound every day. I spent three months there.

Let’s touch on your recent European tour, you spent three months there. Besides the fact that it influenced the sound you’re bringing out now, how else did it influence you as an artist?

It’s very hard first of all to change a sound. When you change a sound you have to appeal to a broader audience and that is the hardest thing you can ever do as an artist. I’ve tried my level best to catch on to the world’s standard.

  Since starting out and growing into the artist you are, churning hit after hit and releasing chart topping albums, how has journey through music been?

 It has been great, it’s a question of affordability when you change a sound and I’m not referring to money but the ability to re-evaluate your brand. When it comes to art – music – you can afford to do something and move on to the next step once you’ve accomplished something.

There’s this subtle hostility and misconception attached to an artist changing their brand. At face value, you might even think people would rather see you doing thing over and over. What defines change in the music scene for you?

 Change is for the brave! If there’s one thing you must know it’s that change is for the brave and only the brave are successful. Like I said, you have to re-evaluate and go back to the drawing board and see if you have ticked your boxes and what you have to do next. Once you’ve accomplished things you set new goals, that is change for me – you keep going higher.

Now looking forward – from your growth and taking the cross over direction – you scored a nomination and the MTV EMA’s for the Best African Act. Do you consider that a right step and finally crossing over officially?

Of course! Like I said, only you can see where you’re going. When I said I was crossing over, nobody that I would be nominated for the EMAs. The EMA is a very dope accolade and for me the nomination is an accolade – the Europe market knows that I’m here. With that being said, it goes in line with what I’m doing – so why not cross over with an award?