Mongi Ngqulanga (24) is an artist and a music producer born and bred in the Eastern Cape in a small Town called Flagstaff. He helps underground artist record their songs and Albums: his love for music steams from his mother who is also a great singer who was part of the church choir when he was growing up. “I was always good with song lyrics and my mother would always say I remind her of herself when she was my age”
His love for music led him to be surrounded by likeminded people who shared the same passion for music. He started doing music when he was doing grade five started with Hip-Hop which he later realised was not his kind of music, so he ventured into RnB that is when he realised he had a good voice, however good was just not enough for this talented young man, He then found a group of people who helped him sharpen his craft.
“I started by singing for friends and family because I had no Idea of how to publish music the right way and with school on my neck I didn’t really have time to juggle both school and my love for music” by 2017 Mongi released two house singles (Vuleka Mhlaba and Sonini) featuring a guy called C’phe. It was straight after these two singles when the bug for production grew and he started producing music for different genres Hip-Hop, RnB, House, and Gqom.
“I came up with something called Gqom Twist which had drum kicks, claps and hats sounded like a mixture of Gqom and piano, we then decided to call it Gqom Twist” ATEAN (Mongi’s stage name) featuring DJ Deniwa released a Gqom Twit single called Akekho ofananawe. The song did well and gained them recognition in one of KZN local radio station Radio Sunny South.
After ATEAN realised he was great with Production he started saving money for his own production equipment. In 2019 ATEAN opened his own studio (INITIATIVE STUDIO) kwa-Msomi in Bizana to help underground artists like DJ Deniwa, Dropper, D_Trap, C’phe and many more. Mongi says all the artists he has worked with appreciate his production skill.
Mongi recently moved back to Flagstaff to set up his studio there to help people who have the same passion as him “moving back home has been the greatest challenge because it is like I am teaching a children footsteps and I have to hold them until they are able to run” Mongi says he does not regret moving back home because music is not just for fun, even though people are still learning their music carries a message that might help people heal.
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