"Time Can Heal Almost Anything. You Just Got to Be Willing to Go Through the Process of Growth and Change": South African Producer/Artist Cubbi Talks Debut EP nothingspecial

South African producer, songwriter, and artist Cubbi is reinventing electronic music and speaking to our hearts while he’s doing it.

Through poetic lyrics, rich melodies, and innovative electro-based beats, Cubbi provides his listeners with an intimate glimpse into the inner workings of his mind and emotions, tackling tough and deeply personal topics including being a queer artist, mental illness and drug abuse.

Cubbi just released his debut EP nothingspecial, an impressive collection of six tracks that confirms that the sky is the limit for this gifted artist who indeed has a brilliant career ahead of him.

Musical Notes Global sat down with Cubbi to talk all about making the EP, growing up in South Africa, and more. Check out the full interview below!

MNGBlog: Congratulations on the release of your debut EP! What does Nothing Special represent for you?

Cubbi: It’s how I felt about my music for a long time, you know the classic self-deprecating-musician trope. I use it here rather ironically, cause my music is my life. It’s one of the most special things I have.

MNGBlog: Did you learn anything new while creating the EP?

Cubbi: Most of the things I learnt was through the collaborations I did with Bubele Booi and David Balshaw. I find it can be rather easy to lose yourself to an idea and not really question it, so it’s great having other opinions and ideas in the room when creating something new. I find I work my best in a more collaborative environment.

MNGBlog: Did you learn anything new about yourself?

Cubbi: I learnt how bitter I can be sometimes, and how I can make fun of that bitterness through the music I make. With “Buzzkill” for example, I took a frustrating situation and turned it into a low-key diss track. I think it’s important to make fun of yourself and uncomfortable situations.

MNGBlog: Which track holds the most significance for you?

Cubbi: I think “Rippling” does. It’s a track that took me a while to get just right, lots of reincarnations while making it. I’m really happy where it's at now. Lyrically and melodically it speaks to me on so many levels.

MNGBlog: What do you think is the most important message that listeners should take away from this EP?

Cubbi: Time can heal almost anything. You just got to be willing to go through the process of growth and change.

MNGBlog: How do you think growing up in South Africa has influenced your music?

Cubbi: It has influenced the production of a couple of the songs on the EP. But mostly I think being from here it has influenced my music tastes which then poured over into almost everything when making the EP.

MNGBlog: Who are some of the artists on the scene right now that you look to for inspiration?

Cubbi: I've just finished listening to the podcast “And The Writer Is…” EP.53 with Jon Bellion as the guest for the episode. I really like his take on what it means to have your music stand the test of time. And how experimenting with weird or different sounds on a project or two is a good thing. Like not staying in one defined box as an artist. He also spoke about how some of the largest acts, The Grateful Dead and Bruce Springsteen for example, have never had a number one hit. Yet can play a sold out arena whenever they want to. It's all about perspective and following yourself as an artist and not necessarily what someone else sees for your music.

MNGBlog: What do you hope the rest of 2019 has in store for you?

Cubbi: Got my first show on May 10th at Evol, a nightclub in Cape Town (South Africa). Really excited for that. I’m also already in the beginning stages of my next project, which is heading in a much darker direction, both production wise and lyrically. So, lots in store for this year.

Stream nothingspecial now on Spotify.