Musician and producer Fiji Mageba looks back and laments in his latest release, Take Caution. It is the fifth release after his album ‘My View‘ in 2023. Despite the lo-fi, chill pop signature he adds to the music he produces, Fiji’s jazz influences are indisputable. “Jazz opens up our minds,” he said on Instagram, the social media platform where he’s most active. Fiji Mageba’s melodies are meditative, minimalistic yet monumentally emotional. His music is ambient and adult, compatible with people who actively fill their space with music. If you are unfamiliar with Fiji Mageba, Take Caution is a strong introduction to his musical uniqueness. If you’ve been a fan, prepare to listen to the charming synthesis of Fiji’s jazz, soul, and hip-hop influences.
As the age of immodest marketing of music fully sets, word-of-mouth has kept Fiji Mageba an open secret. ‘Silk’ from his 2023 album ‘Textures‘, accumulated almost 300,000 streams on Spotify so far. Notably, this accomplishment is an exciting discovery for local artists tempted to deviate from the mainstream. Amapiano and South African hip-hop’s global influence gives a monolithic view of the diversity in South African artistry. Nevertheless, Fiji Mageba’s confidentiality cleverly quiets the noise, refocusing it on his creativity. This choice to evade the spotlight takes courage. Therefore, it is this courage that clusters the music community around his unexplored ethos.
“Your talent shines through in every sound you produce,” said Marcus Harvey. The singer/songwriter and frequent collaborator with Fiji Mageba has made it a point to have the producer’s signature all over his music. ‘Legendary Living’ from his 2024 album ‘Now You Know Me‘ is one of six tracks produced by Mageba on the project. Additionally, he has formed a brotherhood with musician KayTorture, contributing to his 2024 album ‘From The Hills‘. “We always have the same mindset when we are working on projects,” he said about collaborating with Mageba. “We understand each other’s strengths and abilities. It’s something we had to learn over years while working together.” ‘Jazz For The Kids’, released in 2023, was Mageba’s first joint project with KayTorture. Furthermore, they’ve joined forces in later projects, leading up to the release of ‘Take Caution.’
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“Fiji decided on the cover art almost a year ago”, said Swank, an illustrator, and designer of the album’s cover. ‘Take Caution’ plays out like a gradual awakening and reflects on the lessons learned from taking risks. Initially, the album has a strong, upbeat start from ‘We Were Too Close’ to ‘Carefully’ featuring KayTorture. Even more, the features transform the album from ambient to collaborative. This allows for the filling of the space with the beautiful instrumentals for which he is known.
‘Ozone’ featuring Luuigie_itis and Styles Davis stretched the album’s tone outside of its comfort zone. Nevertheless, the boom-bap backdrop of the track still fits the downbeat atmosphere of the project. Importantly, ‘Take Caution’ is a prime example of the phrase that says ‘good things take time’, even down to the album cover. Fiji Mageba is mastering the downbeat, soulful jazz essence present in all of his songs. Assuredly, his patience with his sound will soon pull an equally pure and prudent crowd.
After five albums, one EP, and dozens of producer credits, Fiji Mageba’s creative journey is calculated yet calm. As soulful jazz downbeat sounds make their way into the South African mainstream, Fiji will be ahead of the wave. ‘Take Caution’ can also mean ‘pay attention’, a call to look closely and take notice promptly. In essence, Fiji Mageba’s sound is on the radar. His monthly listeners have pushed the envelope and will take him far.
