Interview: HisKing - Hard Knocks Digital's headhoncho.

Vusi Clement Landane, commonly known as "HisKing," is a music producer, podcast host, artist & repertoire manager, and Hard Knocks Digital record label head. He is a member of the duo "LimPre" and presents the "House Parliament Show" on Madville Radio. We recently had a chat with him and he also provided us with a guest-mix. Please listen to his mix while you read our Q&A with him.

Hello HisKing, and thank you for speaking with us today! What are you doing and where in the world are you?

Hello, Deepfossick Radio listeners. Thank you for inviting me. I am currently working as a full-time record label manager & a full-time music producer, situated in Pretoria "Soshanguve".

Huge congrats on your record label! Give us a brief history of Hard Knocks Digital for those who are unfamiliar. And why did you decide to start your own label?

Hard Knocks Digital is an online record label that provides a platform for both well-known and unknown musicians. We established HKD in response to industry flaws that we discovered. In order to expand their release rosters, most record labels prioritise established artists. We use our label to assist artists in their development.

How has COVID-19 affected you as a DJ/producer and the label?

Because the majority of our work is published and sold online, the pandemic has had little effect on our label's routine. And it has granted me more time to focus on the aspects of growing further than where we are now as a record label manager and music producer.

Give us some insight into your production process. How do you usually start building a song? Also, which instruments and effects (hardware/software) are your favourites?

I'm not a convoluted music creator, hehe. I typically use the classic "Kick, Hi-hat, and Clap" production process, and my favourite plugins to use are "FL Studio's GMS, Sawer, DX10, and Native Instruments FM8."

What useful studio advice would you provide to other producers?

The advice I would give to other musicians is to always seek to improve their sound, but never forget the quality that makes them unique.

What new projects/collaborations should your fans keep an eye out for in the near future?

I have an album forthcoming this summer. That one should definitely be on their radar. In addition, a remix package will be released on Blackpeoplerecords in August 2021.

What are Hard Knocks Digital's future plans?

HKD plans to release more music that is going to rock COVID-19 out of South Africa.

Does your girlfriend also call you HisKing? Or mjolo ke pandemic?

Lol. No, we can safely say mjolo ke pandemic.

Finally, is it D# or Eb for you?

D#

As we can see, idle hands are indeed the devil's tools, and HisKing, as well as Hard Knocks Digital, have been working. Their latest offering is Olofas In China, an Ep by Loxion OsnoTvni, and a first anniversary compilation was released in September 2021, showcasing deep house from several of Mzansi's most talented and hardworking artists.