Meet The Malawian-British Artist George Kalukusha
George Kalukusha’s good vibes and fantastic music are infectious in the best way. As a child, George was surrounded by the sounds of southern African music, which eventually led him to learn guitar. The singer-songwriter moved from Blantyre to London at the age of 11 opening his eyes to a whole new world of music. After years of honing his talent, he made his debut in 2018 with his acoustic ‘Hourglass’ EP and has been grinding ever since. With a sound similar to artists like Tracey Chapman and Jack Johnson, George Kalukusha is a talent that creates feel-good music for music listeners everywhere. The release of his latest track – ‘Tender (265)’ with Mr Eazi – is a prime example of his vocal and lyrical talent.
We got the chance to chat with George about everything from the first song he ever wrote, moving to London at 11 years old and so much more…
What type of music were you surrounded by growing up?
Growing up, the place we would listen to music was either in my father’s car radio or in the house. My father loved southern African music, Oliver Mtukudzi, and Brenda Fassie were among the most played! Oliver Mtukudzi is probably why I love the sound of the guitar so much!
When did you realize you wanted to pursue music?
Like most black/African kids, the church was a big part of my upbringing! One unassuming night, a friend of mine did a surprise performance at a church event – I hadn’t really seen a live performance featuring acoustic Guitar and Vocals before – I was mesmerized. I wanted to be like him, to move people like he had moved me! My friend releases music under the name Rocky Nti, it’s been great watching his sound evolve.
You are a wiz with the guitar! If you could learn another instrument, which would it be?
I love the guitar, but I think the trumpet is quite cool! When I grew up, I started to listen to a lot of jazz, and fusion! Miles Davis and Fela Kuti to name a few, and they have really cool trumpet sections! Since then, I’ve secretly wanted to learn how to play it!
Is there an album or EP that you’re obsessed with at the moment?
Currently, I love GuityBeatz’s project called “Different EP” it’s a refreshing fusion of new house sounds from South Africa and Afro beats! The two main sounds that are dominating the continent right now, and it’s great to see them fused together!
At 11 years old, you moved from Blantyre to London. What was that experience like for you? Did you experience any culture shock?
Yes! A lot! The first thing I realized about the UK was the fact that it was very liberal, it was this celebration of differences and individuality that allowed me to chase music, and really engulf my identity in it growing up, George the music kid, this was my brand and the people around me really supported this and that helped me turn this into a career!
Do you remember the first song you ever wrote?
Funny enough, the first song I wrote ended up being one of my favorites! (Fun fact: it took me a year to write) the first song I wrote is called ‘desperado’. I wrote the hook, and shelved it for a year, during the year I was writing other songs, and I had gotten better so when I came back to Desperado, finishing it was a breeze, and I loved it! A lot of fans do too!
What has been the craziest thing you’ve experienced so far in your career?
The emPawa Masterclass camp of 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa was amongst one of the craziest things to happen to my career, and sparked a bunch of other crazy and exciting things! The camp allowed me to meet so many amazing artists and filled a gap which my career was missing! The music business side of things! I also love collaboration, so two weeks with a bunch of talented artists and producers making music was heaven!
Your most recent project Millennial Vanity, is fantastic (Love ‘Run’ and ‘Supermodel’) Can fans expect a new album or EP from you this year?
Yes! I’m excited about the music I’m releasing this year, I think it’s the most mature and best music I’ve ever put out! I’m keen for the fans to hear it! And fans can definitely expect an EP later in the year! No excuse, Covid 19 has forced me into the studio! Lol
Make sure to check out his latest track ‘Tender (265)’ featuring Mr Eazi below…
