Vuli Mkwananzi
Artist Bio
Vuli is a producer, Saxophonist, DJ and multidisciplinary artist.
Vuli's sound blends a range of his musical influences, Afro-rhythms; Bass heavy beats and electronic production with a soulful twist together to create a distinctly global sound inspired by his cultural heritage as a Zimbabwean Australian.
Vuli has released music and toured Australia and the world, playing DJ sets from South east Asia, to Berlin to Southern Africa, as well as playing at Glastonbury with his band True Vibenation. Vuli was also featured on CNN Africa’s coverage on the new wave of Zimbabwean musicians.
His credits include two songs swept up on high rotation on Triple J, co-production that topped the Spotify viral charts peaking at #4 globally and #1 in the UK, support for high profile international artists including Dead prez, The Antibalas Afrobeat orchestra, J5 and Kurtis Blow as well as credits spanning multiple albums distributed and released in Australia and around the world.
Vuli is also a part of the Bare necessities team, both a show on FBI radio, and a collective of diverse Australian musicians bringing global sounds to local ears and highlighting the contemporary world music that is being pioneered in Australia.
Vuli also is part of the BMAA an independent, not-for-profit association that represents People of African descent in the Australian music industry. Vuli plays with his band True Vibenation regularly, as well as with the Bare necessities' collective and as a solo artist.
Inspiration
Born in Zimbabwe and raised in Sydney. He started out in a squat in Erskineville upon arriving in Australia with his family (twin brother, Bheki aka Moody and his parents). Vuli's father is from Zimbabwe and his mother is Australian, both activists who met fighting against the apartheid in South Africa. Vuli's mother was also very active in the women's liberation and queer movements in Australia, and was a graphic designer who printed posters to support these movements.
As a result he has grown up in a very political household with an awareness and education of the wider world beyond Australia his whole life. "We lived in the housing commission flats in Glebe, and eventually moved out to Campbelltown. When I was older I moved back to the inner west where it all began and have never left!"
Vuli's upbringing has always informed his artistic practice, and perspective on life, where the wider world and larger themes of truth, equality and understanding how the world works ring through.
Vuli studied at COFA UNSW where he graduated with a BA arts specialising in Sound design, and since a child has played in school bands and got into Campbelltown performing arts high school playing the clarinet. Hip-hop and African music, particularly the music of Hugh Masakela, Fela Kuti and Outkast have informed his musical practice. Studying Black music was his extra curricular education and has informed and guided and inspired everything he does now.
Since childhood Vuli has passionately advocated for recognition and respect of African music, mainly because of how much music he loves that comes from the continent and how much he wants everyone else to be able to access an enjoy it. "Right now we are seeing the true rise of African music, from artists like Burna boy and Rema, to the rise of Amapiano and Afrobeats its really having a moment which I don't see shrinking any time soon. Due to the very long and complicated history between Africa and the West, there has been a huge underestimation and a lot of ignorance about Africa which I want to challenge, and also introduce Australia to contemporary African Sounds and ideas, not just pre-colonial Africa which still seems to be what a lot of people seem to focus on. Through my art I aim to challenge this by presenting both contemporary African music from myself and the Diaspora, and where possible aim to provide a platform to the incredible talents that exists locally".
"The world is starting to switch on to African electronic music now, and I have been lucky enough to be a witness on the ground at the early formations of some of these movements, from Gqom and Pantsula as it exploded in Southern Africa to dancing to the pioneers of Kuduro in the sweaty clubs of Portugal, each time soaking in the sounds and rhythms that make African electronic music so exciting and adding that to my foundations in African music growing up and my formal music education…my aim is to bring these sounds to the Australian music landscape".
Upcoming shows
Vuli is currently working on lots of music with his band True Vibenation, as well as working away on some solo projects. He also work with BMAA an organisation dedicated to furthering the careers of Musicians of African descent on Australia, and teaches Music at Ultimo TAFE.
True Vibenation and Bare necessities are playing at Subsonic Festival 2023. Check our Socials for upcoming shows!
Website linktr.ee/truevibenation
Youtube Introducing True Vibenation