Introducing Symphonic Africa’s Live Interview Series: Beyond The Beat

Following our launch of Beyond The Beat in the U.S. comes our next interview series over in Africa led by the incredible Chuma Hlawula! Head of A&R for Symphonic Africa and seasoned industry veteran, Chuma will now be leading Beyond The Beat in Africa, bringing some of our favorite artists into the spotlight to come chat, connect, and vibe out. Here’s everything you need to know…

Introducing Symphonic Africa’s Live Interview Series: Beyond The Beat

When: March 6th 15:00 SAST // 8AM EST

Where: Instagram Live @symphonicafrica

About Beyond The Beat

On our first episode, we’re honored to have the multi-talented King Lutendo (@lutendotheking)! His take on hip-hop is experimental, using sounds not commonly associated with the genre, and drawing inspiration from having studied design and illustration, he imbues his music with an arresting visual aesthetic. Hosted by our very own, Chuma Hlawula (@chvm_xxii), this show is all about connecting with artists and their fans in a fun and interactive way.

How does it work?

For this series, we will be posting on our Instagram asking for any questions you’d like us to ask the upcoming artist we’ll be interviewing. Then, we’ll select 5 of your questions to ask during the Live. ❤️

Meet Your Host: Chuma Hlawula

Chuma, affectionately known as “CHVM.”, is a professional executive producer and A&R from South Africa. He is responsible for the operations management and business development of the A&R department for Symphonic Distribution – Africa offices. His diverse range of responsibilities include talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists and labels within the independent music sector. Chuma is also the founder of his own hip-hop & alternative music record label, XXII Records, based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In addition to his A&R and business duties, Chuma enjoys making music, reading books, keeping up with fashion trends, watching Netflix, and listening to all the great music that’s out there. His passion for music and dedication to cultivating talent make him an invaluable collaborator in the music industry.

Meet The Artist: King Lutendo

“Born to a musical Venda family, he was raised with a love for the arts. Having studied design and illustration, he imbues his music with an arresting visual aesthetic. His take on hip hop is experimental, using sounds not commonly associated with the genre. He describes himself as alternative and occupies a space built around his Venda Heritage. His brand has reverberated with sites such as Redbull Music, Hype Magazine, etc…” (via Hype Magazine)