8nine Muzique celebrates 15 years of good music

In an era where music is always evolving, a sound that has been there is now changing with time. The kick drum that hits your chest, the percussion, the shakers, the congas, the subtle wooden clicks that speak to your head are all now laid in a different sequence than before.

The evolution is the “smart sound,” a term often thrown around in the Deep House community. For Nkosana Mpofu, who is well known as 8nine Muzique, he has seen all the changes and he has embodied them with excellence.

This year, the lanky dreadlocked wheel spinner is celebrating 15 years in the game. With such experience, he has been quietly stitching together two distinct musical worlds, the raw grassroots township soul of Zimbabwe and the highly commercialised, polished Deep House sound of South Africa, where he is based.

As he settles into 2026, fresh off the heels of his critically acclaimed album “Defined Elements” and the late-2025 smash Extended Play (EP) “Deep Is Home,” the producer takes his fans back to the beginning of his career.

He isn’t just a DJ who presses play. He is a percussionist, and perhaps importantly, a patient observer of the culture, something that has kept him on the apex for such a long time.

Just like every creative, 9nine Muzique’s story has a beginning. It didn’t start in a high-end studio with soundproofing. It started in 2009, in the humble township of Cowdray Park, in Bulawayo, with little more than a computer and an obsession.

“My journey started when I was experimenting with different sounds and immersing myself in the underground electronic scene. I spent countless hours learning production, DJing in small local gigs and parties, and slowly building my sound in the process,” he said.

Back then, the music production software wasn’t as intuitive as it is today, and the hardware was scarce. For a young kid in Zimbabwe, “access” was the ultimate gatekeeper.

“Equipment, studio time and exposure weren’t easy to come by as resources were few. There were also moments of self-doubt and feeling overlooked. But like they say, constraints often breed creativity. Without the flashiest of equipment, I had to rely on the groove itself.

“What drew me in was that feeling of connection with the sound, watching how music could move people emotionally and physically. I was fascinated by how DJs could control a mood, tell a story and bring people together through sound. I dreamt of changing the world through music,” said 8nine Muzique.

Early in his career, the wheel spinner was experimenting a lot, trying to find his identity. But as the years passed, the experiments calcified into a specific style.

With the music world evolving in the process, 8nine Muzique said he has found balance between the digital and the organic manner of creating music, an added advantage to his production.

He described his sound as a fusion of emotion and rhythm, as he said that helps him in creating music that works both on the dancefloor and in personal listening spaces.

Despite the evolution, his influences are unapologetically African, a sign that he is always rooted in his identity.
One of the most interesting aspects of 8nine Muzique’s career is his ability to operate in two different ecosystems.

“South Africa is arguably the world capital of Deep House. It is a commercialised industry, competitive and massive. However, both have strong talent and passion, just expressed differently. As a person who has lived and operates in both countries, I have found balance and it’s working to my advantage,” he said.

With all the success, 8nine Muzique said his triumph is credited to teamwork. He has had fruitful collaborations that have propelled him in the game. His music has been published at respected stables including Deep House South Africa Records, Fat Catz Music, and Groove On, which are massive Deep House music distributors in the world.

“My most notable partnership was with Kevin BlaQue. The chemistry between us is undeniable, and it culminates in projects that feel seamless. I also have great collaborations which helped me grow creatively and made me understand different approaches to sound, culture and storytelling through music,” he said.

The year 2025 has been relentless for 8nine Muzique. He dropped the album “Defined Elements,” a project that many critics felt was his most mature work to date.

He followed up rapidly with “The Resurrector EP” in September, and closed the year with the “Deep Is Home EP” in November. He said in 2026, he is focusing on dropping more projects, as he has collaborated with great Deep House heads.

In his career, he has played in a number of venues and events in Southern Africa, namely Natalis Pub, Maracana, and Bubble Bistro, DEEP EXPLOSION, Altitude, Gourmet Nova Sunday and most recently Garden of House in Bulawayo.

As an elder statesman of the local music scene, 8nine Muzique often finds himself mentoring younger producers who are desperate for instant fame. His advice to them always encourages them to be patient as growth takes time, and consistency matters more than hype.