Azania is an anthem for black unity says Rlord about his new single
Anele Khonto, better known as Rlord, is a 24-year-old musician, producer, and actor whose story is one of passion, talent, and determination. Raised in Duduza, his journey from a small town to the spotlight is one that resonates with aspiring artists everywhere.
Rlord’s introduction to music came early, with influences from his father, who was a musician. However, it was a spontaneous moment in Grade Five that birthed his alter ego, Rlord, during a classroom freestyle session. From that moment, music became not just a hobby, but a calling.
Inspired by artists like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Akon, he sought to create his unique sound. “My music is influenced by these artists, but I wanted to create my sound and my style of making music. My music is inspired by my personal and everything happening worldwide influences my music,” he says.
In 2014, Anele was introduced to FL Studio, a pivotal moment that ignited his passion for beat production. His background in piano gave him a head start in mastering the software, allowing him to seamlessly blend melodies and rhythms into captivating compositions.
A turning point in Rlord’s career came in 2021 when his song “Gadaffi” was featured on the popular television series, Generations: The Legacy.
“I felt Goosebumps when I heard it. It was always a dream of mine to have the song featured on the television soap. I didn’t know how, fun fact I guessed Mfundi Vundla’s email address and after about two or three days I got a call from one of Generation’s producers for a meeting. I was over the moon,” explains Rlord.
Another milestone was the success of his music video Thumamina, which addressed pressing social issues like gender-based violence. Collaborating with Kabion for the mixing and mastering.
In 2023, he ventured into acting, landing roles in TV commercials and securing a part in a movie alongside Bonko Khoza. Drawing from his experiences in music, he approached acting with dedication and authenticity, seamlessly embodying his characters.
“I’ve never had a dream of being an actor until 2016, we were doing drama at church and I nailed my character after church someone approached me and told me I should consider acting. I took that advice without a doubt. One thing I learnt from Bonko is that as an actor you forget about yourself when acting and be in character. When I get an audition or script from my agent I channel energy into that,” he shares.
On March 15 the rapper released his new single titled Azania, “Mbuyiseni Ndlozi inspired the song, listeners should know that as black people we need to stand together and be united.”
Balancing his roles as a musician, producer, and actor, Rlord remains focused on nurturing his creativity and pushing boundaries. Collaborating with Bee Nova under his label, HawksGang Entertainment, he continues to evolve as an artist.
Beyond music and acting, he harbours aspirations in filmmaking, with dreams of writing and directing his films. By immersing himself in the creative process, he lays the groundwork for future endeavours in the world of cinema.
In closing, Anele offers words of wisdom to aspiring artists, “Stay true to yourself, push until something happens, and always put God first.”
