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Adrian Dzvuke (pronounced Zu-Kay) is quickly becoming one of the most exciting emerging talents in the Australian music scene. A multi-award-winning Afropop artist with a unique sound that blends African rhythms, soulful Afrobeats, and R&B, Adrian has already captured the attention of both local and international audiences. Originally from Zimbabwe, his musical journey began at just 12 years old, performing in church choirs and drumming, before expanding into the dynamic, genre-blurring artist we know today.

With standout performances at major festivals like Splendour In The Grass, SXSW Sydney, and BIGSOUND, alongside sharing stages with acts such as Omah Lay, POND, and Coldplay, Adrian’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. 

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Ones To Watch: What influenced you to pursue a career in music, especially moving from Zimbabwe?

I grew up in a very religious family, a very Christian household so I used to go to church every Sunday and now my dad would drag me to band practices. One day the drummer wasn't there and I played drums really terribly, from there on I just fell in love with it. 

I just started producing bits for other artists in the city but it was really whack stuff - nothing crazy. I built my skills and then at some point I wanted to make my own music. 

What influences has your upbringing given?

One thing that I've realised is the fact that I always say I make Afropop music, but recently I've realised that my kind of Afropop is so different from the normal Afropop because of the Australian upbringing that I have. It’s almost like this amalgamation of the two cultures.

I moved back to Zimbabwe for a year or two in 2012. So when I went back that's when Wizkid was popping and all these artists were blowing up. I got to experience that in Zimbabwe and I just fell in love with it. So when I moved back to Australia, I needed to put this into my music. It just became part of who I am. It's not even like I make it because I'm trying to be in this box, but I just really love it. It just comes naturally. Because it’s more Australian and more vibrant, it becomes more and more funky.

How is the Perth scene in terms of music?

I think Perth is really good because it's so far from everything but the community there is really supportive. Everyone knows each other in the scene. I'll bump into so many people and musicians because you would just see them walking. It’s so normal and everyone just shows love. I do enjoy that about being from Perth.

What do you think makes you stand out?

In Perth you get to really hibernate for so long before anyone even knows who you are outside of it. If you look at Australia, those from Melbourne or Sydney almost act like Perth doesn't exist right? It's almost like this place is not in Australia.

We get to rehearse, we get to play our live show a million times before anyone sees it and then when it comes over to the other side of Australia, that's people realise that they’re incredible but they've always been great. They’re selling out now. We really get to practice our craft. So I think being from Perth lets you really hone into your craft and learn about yourself without anyone judging you. Every artist in Perth at the beginning wishes they were in Melbourne, but you don't realise what power you have by being able to prepare and be ready.

Do you make music base on feeling or sound?

I like to make music from what I hear in my head and the more that I played gigs, the more I was thinking about how it's going to translate live. When I'm writing certain parts, I imagine that this is where everyone does a certain thing and for me that's because I've spoken to so many different artists and for them they feel like that stops them from creating something that they're proud of. For me though, it’s why I do what I do. I want people to be able to sing along with me. It's a big part of my creative process.

I think with Afropop, it's very much based on the feeling, the groove and the way that it feels. You're not going to listen to the lyrics unless you’re more lyrical like Tems. The lyrics are cool and they're there, but there's a feeling that they give you and that's why you're buying into it. 

Do you experiment much in your music?

Yeah 100% it gets boring if you don't. I'm a huge fan of Childish Gambino because every album he's made has been so different from the last and his evolution has been insane because of that. I really respect that and I want to be able to look into different times in my life where I had a certain sound that I was pushing. 

Now I'm kind of pushing like I’ve almost found my sound, but I want to push it further into a new space where I put everything together.

What’s your favourite experience so far?

Probably supporting Coldplay, that was insane. You grow up and listen to Coldplay but you never think that as an artist you're going to support Coldplay. You never even think about that. So the fact that we're talking about it right now is insane. That’s been the most insane experience I've had so far. Hearing Chris Marting saying my name on stage was just an insane experience - he knows who I am now.

My manager told me that Chris texted one of the Live Nation crew saying that he was watching my set and he was like, this guy is really killing it. I remember after the show being like, what else do I do with my career?

Is there a piece of advice you’d give to emerging musicians like yourself?

That’s an interesting one. It’s not something that someone has told me but really something that I’ve told myself is - look how far you've come. Every time that I'm feeling a bit disappointed or a bit unmotivated, I look back at the journey from when I started and think about how I would have never done any of this if I had given.

Just a reminder that you’re doing well.