The Artistic Chemistry of Kyle Lewis and Toya De Lazy

Funani music video

Neither are strangers to the creative industry, so it comes as no surprise that their latest offering to the world is fire. Zubenathi Malothana catches up with them to find out more.

Kyle Lewis is an acclaimed music video director, having worked on projects with some of our favourite local artists like Nasty C, Cassper Nyovest, and, of course, Toya De Lazy. Toya defines her music as Afro-Rave, inspired by her love of alternative rave music and channelling her isiZulu culture. Now residing in the UK, producers are loving her unique artistic style and take on all things Africana. But what drew Kyle to her sonic adventure?

“I’ve always been a South African music fan and I really enjoy working with them (musicians). When it comes to different artists, I like to connect with them on a creative level. They have created this incredible song and it is my responsibility to create a visual presentation that not only amplifies it but also gets the artist’s vision and my vision working in a collaborative way,” Kyle says. And buoyant by the release of

Kyle Lewis - Music Video Director

Toya De Lazy - South Africa Singer © Augustin

her single Qhawe, Toya De Lazy searches for a creative mind when looking for a music video director. “It’s all about how far they can take their mind and creativity but still present it with the highest quality,” which is something she says led to her collaboration with Kyle Lewis and the creation of their visual masterpiece Funani.

One of the greatest challenges in filmmaking is to implement what is an initial concept, and have that idea thoroughly reflected on screen. Taking a sound and creatively crafting a visual presentation is something Toya leaves to the genius of Kyle Lewis, she says. “What I love about working with directors like him is that we make art. From the cast to the costumes, it just shows how art can change lives.”

For the concept of the music video Funani, Toya remembers

WHEN IT COMES TO DIFFERENT ARTISTS, I LIKE TO CONNECT WITH THEM ON A CREATIVE LEVEL. THEY HAVE CREATED THIS INCREDIBLE SONG AND IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE A VISUAL PRESENTATION THAT NOT ONLY AMPLIFIES IT, BUT ALSO GETS THE ARTIST’S VISION AND MY VISION WORKING IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY

wanting Kyle to make a music video with unconventional style. Kyle then had to create a storyboard that could encapsulate the song – including the colourful nature of Afro-Rave. And as the cherry on top, all of this took just two weeks to produce. “When I heard Funani, it was one of the freshest tracks I had heard in a while, so immediately I said to myself, ‘I’ve got to do something creative’,” he reminisces. “We shot it in Tembisa, Johannesburg, and on a location scout we saw a car wash that presented itself perfectly with what we were trying to do. We really

pushed the colours to make it vibrant and pop out.”

One of the many things I have learned from Kyle and Toya was how in the creative process of making music video, it is vital to collaborate on ideas with an artist-to-filmmaker dynamic. Film production in general is a collaborative art form, however the creative chemistry between these two proves it to be ever so true.

Qhawe