ROBIN FASSIE

Your sound is distinctive and refined, improving with each project. Your professionalism is commendable—you always arrive on time and put in the work. Where does this discipline come from, and how has it helped you build your career?

The discipline comes from my upbringing in a very strict family, where it almost felt like being in the army. These qualities were instilled in me from a young age, growing up in a predominantly female household with my grandfather and occasionally my father. This background has shaped my approach to business and my commitment to ensuring everything on my end is sorted, even if things go wrong.

Music is an art form I take very seriously so I always present myself professionally. I’ve learned a lot about professionalism and self-presentation through collaborating with Dr. Nduduzo Makhathini. Observing how he upholds himself outside of music has been crucial. How you connect with people and carry yourself off-stage is often more important than when you’re making music.

“The bandstand is a sacred place, allowing me to transport myself and the audience to different emotional and spiritual places”

Creatives sometimes struggle to balance the creative and administrative aspects. How has your journey of collaborating with other artists helped you produce your solo work and shape your musical identity?

Collaborating with notable musicians from a young age, like Shane Cooper with Mabuta and Nduduzo Makhathini, has always been integral to my journey. While I only truly embraced jazz when studying at UCT, collaboration across various genres has been essential. It has given me a voice and allowed me to tap into my creative side as a solo artist. 

For my debut album, I felt intimidated by the high standards set by the iconic albums I’d worked on. I questioned if my music was good enough. My mentor, Nduduzo, encouraged me to release it, saying it was my unique voice and story. Partnering with the label Platoon has been great. The album title “Inguquko” symbolizes my growth into a fully-fledged solo artist, influenced by diverse life challenges and cultural experiences.

You mentioned the spiritual aspect of your performances. Can you elaborate on that?

When I perform, I feel something beyond the physical realm takes over. The bandstand is a sacred place, allowing me to transport myself and the audience to different emotional and spiritual places. My biggest wish is for people to experience this with me, even if just for a short moment.

Your debut album, “Intwasa: The Becoming” ,holds significant weight. Can you walk me through your creative process and how you balanced jazz traditions while reinventing the sound?

Each composition on the album marks a significant period in my life. For example, the first song pays tribute to the Cape Town marching band tradition. Growing up, I saw these bands but didn’t understand the history until later. The second song, “True,” reflects my journey of becoming a man and learning about my ancestors. It reminds me to push through hard times.

The third track is a tribute to my mentor, Andre Peterson, who passed away during COVID. I never got to say goodbye, so this song is my way of honoring him. Overall, the album deals with themes of birth, death, and rebirth, reflecting my personal growth and diverse cultural experiences.

“How you connect with people and carry yourself off-stage is often more important than when you’re making music.”

What are you currently listening to?

I’m currently into house music, particularly a song by Lilac Jeans called “90s Style.” I also enjoy listening to Soul Candi. My go-to jazz album will always be Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue.”