The Pretoria music scene has been dominated by releases from hip-hop and amapiano artists, however, the Alternative scene is budding and growing into something exciting. Listeners are searching for a sound that is raw, refreshing, and deeply personal, one with an equally diverse community. An artist to note in the continuous growth of this scene is ZRi [pronounced Zuu-ri] with his latest contribution, an EP titled “Green”. His music refuses to be boxed on as it pushes the boundaries of circular and mainstream music. We are experiencing a new wave of artists who pull from wider sub-genres while remaining deeply local. His sound is a blend of genres that often feel an airy dream state that somehow manages to bring it all back home to the streets of Pretoria.
ZRi has evidently been in the studio a lot this year. Having dropped his album “Purity.” in late January, followed by “Purity.: The Return Of A Meta Angel” which was released in April this year. Engaging with ZRi’s music feels like being in a world that is both familiar yet continuously widening, creating an interesting musical soundscape. The music has the magic of intimacy and expansion, reflecting his world while reminding us of our own influences and upbringings. “Green” features contributions by Steveisfrench, Archi, Phonikz, Prod By Esco, and Scarface Panda. In a recent X post, ZRi told listeners to expect the sounds of Bossa Nova, Indie Pop, and Swing Jazz from the EP “Green”. Safe to say that the promise has been well delivered upon.
Expect bossa nova , indie pop & Swing Jazz.
Songs for the heart https://t.co/bfR1dPLbFr
— ZRi. (@ZRITHEWICKED) May 23, 2025
Music from artists like ZRi reflect the musical palette of those who have a global playlist but are still rooted in the local reality, creating a space for the kid who code-switches between the world of African drums and western guitars, and those in-between. “Green” opens with a song titled “Caroline” which is underlined by smooth jazz textures that feel like memories achingly remembered, a song of numb nostalgia. In “Lobola”, Zri turns the cultural rite into a personal vow, while the pulsating instrumental builds a rising tension. It is followed by “Miss Evergreen”, the memory of a lover-turned-stranger, and “Uzobuya Nini”, a jazz number reminiscent of boozy late Sundays mixed with heartache. The listener is brought back with “Owami Pt.2“, a hip-swaying number that reminds us of Lira’s own ballad, “Ngiyazifela”, with the added intimacy of that throwback 2000s RnB texture of a voicemail interlude only to be heard by your lover. Finally, the EP closes with “I Sob”, the raw anguish of living under the world’s weight and scrutiny.
The growth of the Pretoria Alt scene is one to closely watch, with each name contributing to a larger piece of the community as a whole. It is always refreshing to experience and hear music from artists like ZRi who bring forward a new world of influences, stories, and adaptations.
Listen to “Green” by ZRi here:
