What was a blisteringly hot day just a few hours ago has quickly given way to gloomy clouds and patter plashing rain on the roofed fence. In front of me was Anatii, who hosted me and my sister on the veranda of her house in Benmore, Johannesburg.
The last time I was in this house, in 2018, was just days before he released his critically acclaimed sophomore album, It’s medicine. At that time I didn’t know, the album wasn’t ready yet. It wasn’t until a day before release that he sent the final file, he recalled.
Anatii lit up together as she remembered the story behind it It’s medicinean uncertain and exciting release week.
“I had a listening session on the same Thursday and the original venue, which was an art gallery, just turned back at the last minute…. Then we had to go and do it in a venue where we would only take one of the scenes to shame on you. Everything was like boom, boom, boom, even when I made an album, because it was only for a moment. It’s a feeling; you have to capture the moment.”
You will not know from the calmness and control of Amountforwhich firmly established Anatii among the most gifted artists of his generation, which was created in the background of chaos.
Two months ago, the 30-year-old creative multi-hyphenate, born Anathi Bongo Nyango, came out of a musical hiatus with ancestryhis first solo release since It’s medicine. When I asked him when ancestrywhich features LOOKATUS, created, Anatii begins, “ancestry made in …” then paused. “Hectic, shucks. I just stopped revealing when it was made,” he said with a laugh.
“This is wild, I know it will seem esoteric to the readers, but we are in the future. When you create magic, and all of this is out of thin air, you are in the future. Like the ancestors just gifted whatever in the future.
“If I told you when the sound was made, you’d be like, ‘What?’ It was wild, but it was also about timing. The timing was right. And I saw 11:11 for November 11th and I was like, ‘Okay, boom!'” ancestry released on November 11. Anatii is big in numbers. Earlier, after weeks of trying to set up this interview (Anatii is very popular), he asked us to meet at 4:44 p.m.
He explains that his appreciation for these numbers comes from deep understanding, study, scriptures and a desire to understand how the universe works. “All mathematics, all numbers, all equations, all constructions that we do. So you know, it’s not the meaning of life, but the way we live and the way we work, there are always numbers involved. So I started to pay attention to numbers and pattern recognition as a big thing . My memories are crazy, photography.”
This philosophy is also reflected in his music.
“If someone goes back now and looks at, let’s say, the length of the track…” He pulls out his phone and opens Spotify. The first song that appears in the It’s medicine intro, You. It’s 4:20, he said, prompting laughter from my brother and I – in cannabis culture slang, 4:20 represents cannabis and hashish consumption and is also often associated with cannabis-oriented celebrations on April 20. Then he saw shame on youthat is 3:33.
Numbers also affect the BPM at which the music is recorded. “I like to record some songs lately in 93, and I was born in 1993. Also symmetry and things like that play a role and that’s how I see it. I hope there is a clearer explanation about this.
It is quite clear.
In conversation, Anatii often took long pauses, as if to ensure that she chose her words carefully and expressed her thoughts clearly. The word “like” is used as a filler when he can’t find the right word.
When we talked about the upcoming album, Anatii spoke about how carefully he processed it and decided how much he would reveal in real life.
“I don’t know if it’s wild to open, like, how long have I been listening to it … because then for that person it will feel like maybe it is…” pause. “Does it look old?” I offer. “Yes, but not old. I mean, I’ve been listening to it for weeks, you know.”
So, what does it mean it’s over?
“It’s honestly never finished. I’ve updated the song before, like The Saga at Be careful what you wish for. Mixed, everything. So, maybe it’s not over yet. Maybe I’ll release an album that I haven’t updated.”
After a moment he laughed, then added, “Well, I’m joking. But on a serious note, there is. I don’t know what other word for it. It’s just another, like, not even figures out, but just laying out the way that people will accept it, that’s where we are at. Like, how do you accept this medicine? We need to determine the dosage.
Back to the album. I asked him if he felt any pressure to imitate or beat him It’s medicine.
“I have a song that has that atmosphere, that frequency, that vibe, but you can’t recreate it. Why would I be there? I hear people, I admit, it’s thanks. The important thing is to have the ability to create magic, when i say magic i mean out of thin air is music – why do you want to keep doing the same tricks? why don’t you want to learn something new and keep growing?
“And I’m more about expansion. We have to keep unlocking our minds and ears and hearts and our spirit and energy at the highest level so that we can raise ourselves in terms of consciousness. And I’m not trying to be deep, but real. And we can still have fun while doing it.
In December, Anatii headlined Cape Town’s first ever Cotton Fest. As a long time friend and collaborator of the late founder of the festival, Riky Rick, it is a big moment for him.
“Power! It was just a magical moment. Riky’s spirit is at its highest level. The whole place has been sanctified because there is no negative energy. Only beautiful people are there for an amazing time and enjoying themselves and connecting with players. It preserves the integrity and legacy of people like Riky.
“The fact that someone can live in a moment like this and immortalize it through events and sales, it’s powerful. It’s intensity.
With Anatii now taking the show for what feels like the first time in forever, I asked him if he has finished hibernating and is fully back “outside” now.
“I mean the hibernation seems pretty cool because it’s not like I’m doing anything,” he said, before pausing to think. “It’s really wild, the concept that if you stop using social media, then people will think you’re not doing anything. That’s crazy. When you’re busy, you don’t have time to say you’re busy.
“You know what I mean? I can’t end a conversation now and be like, ‘Oh, sorry, I’m busy.’ No, I’m busy creating, doing, learning, healing, growing, developing. So, when I say that I am back outside, I mean that people will come to me in different forms.
A few weeks after we spoke, Anatii hosted a private listening session at the Opera, in Rosebank, to preview some unreleased music. A few minutes before he went to the DJ booth, he stood alone anxiously, his eyes searching the crowd. Music executives from Universal Music, Sony Music and Africori, as well as industry friends like Sjava, Nomuzi Mabena, Moonchild Sanelly and Msaki, are scattered throughout this small restaurant wondering what he has up his sleeve.
Finally, Anatii calmly went down to the deck and pressed play. Low and behold! It was Anatii on the amapiano for the first time. In no time, the camera starts flashing and the body starts dancing. Behind the booth, Anatii smiled and bops his head as a group of friends and collaborators gathered around him. When I asked him when we can expect a new album, he gave me a wry smile, and said, “Which one, the first or the second?”