United Kingdom based Farhaan Khan better known in the music circles as Kazz Khalif or Mr Boomslanghas released a new track titled “You”.
YOU” is an R&B track produced by the talented Kunswagg(Norway)and Scott Whitman (UK) with a fusion of Afropop and Soul that sees Kazz Khalif & Bloodly deliver passionate vocals in both English & (their native Zimbabwean mother tongue) Shona.
KazzKhalif who has previously worked with the Zimbabwean duo Diamond Boyz and the high flying dancehall artiste Nutty O, is a versatile artist who has been consistently improving his music catalogue. Leo Muzivoreva, our Lifestyle and Entertainment correspondent caught up with KazzKhalifa and had a rich conversation spanning from Jazz’s background to his dreams and aspirations.
L.M: Who is Kazz Khalif? Full name, place of birth, date of birth? Where do you draw inspiration from?
Kazz: Kazz, formally known as Farhaan Khan was born in Blantyre, Malawi in September 1984. My family moved to Zimbabwe within a few months of my birth so Zimbabwe is and will always be home.
I am inspired by my surroundings, family and friends who consistently keep pushing me to do the best I can.
L.M: How and when did your journey as a musician begin?
Kazz: My love for music stemmed from watching my father perform in his band, I saw his eyes widen and brighten whenever he picked up his guitar, he was a big part of my love of music and I knew that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up.
My brother and I started off singing at parties, and weddings, we entertained guests at every function and opportunity we got.
L.M: The music industry is not a walk in the park. What’s the biggest problem you’ve had to overcome so far.
Kazz: The biggest challenge I’ve faced so far is probably having to balance my personal life while trying to have a healthy career. I found that with proper time management, you can achieve anything.
L.M: What do you enjoy most about being a musician? What do you hate most?’
Kazz: I enjoy the whole process of the game, from writing sessions, to recording melodies, the preparation of a release right to travel to perform your material and seeing people sing back to you, what an amazing feeling that is.
With the industry continuously changing, keeping up with it all can be very frustrating, especially if you are an independent artist.
L.M: You are based in England. Has that contributed to your career? If so, how?
Kazz: Being based here in the UK has contributed to my career. I have been lucky enough to represent my country as an ambassador for the tourism sector. I have been lucky enough to share the stage with the greats such as NeYo, Jay Sean, Omarion, Sisqo, Tony Mattaron, Oliver Mtukudzi, Andy Brown and more.
L.M: Let’s talk about #You, your latest offering. Perfect timing given that Valentine’s day is around the corner. How has the reception been?
Kazz: The reception has been amazing. The song was inspired by the popular Netflix program called YOU.
The song is an R&B track produced by the very talented Kunswagg (Norway) and Scott Whitman (UK) with a fusion of Afroswing and pop. Bloodlyne and I decided that if there was ever a moment to seduce the listeners, it has to be Valentine’s day. And what better way to deliver than with passionate vocals in both English & (our native Zimbabwean mother tongue) Shona.
L.M: Being a Zimbabwean artist in the diaspora brings a whole set of dynamics as far as getting music in rotation on local Zim radio. How has that been going for you?
Kazz: Zimbabwean radio stations continuously show me love and I am truly grateful for that. Whenever I go to Zimbabwe, I always make an effort to foster relationships with DJs and network as much as I can.
L.M: What are your long-term goals for the Kazz Khalif MrBoomslang brand?
Kazz: Long term goals are to try and stay as consistent as I can in this game. Help the next generation however I can and experience different parts of the industry. Honestly, I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy the journey so far… Let’s see where it takes me.
