Muroki is officially being crowned our next best artist. The New Zealand-based musician is making some of the smoothest, breeziest, yet grounded sounds we're listening to right now. A perfect concoction of great musical influences, sounds from the streets of North and South America, his Kenyan background, (as well as his love for surfing and skating in his hometown of Raglan), all come together to create Muroki's magnificent world, where an ultimate state of flow is achieved. We spoke to Muroki about creating Heading East, his new EP, out today.

Heading East is so good. Introducing made us dance, Heading East gave us chills… Tell us about creating it. What was inspiring you?

"Thank you, thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Yeah, creating it has been a bit of a journey haha. It's been inspired by traveling through Europe and Africa, the pandemic, relationships, touring and playing music. It's a taste of everything I’ve been doing over the past 4 years."

Where did you write it? It feels very connected to nature.

"These songs have been written all over the place. Some I wrote in my bedroom, some in the studio, some on the rooftops of buildings in Morocco and Spain."

Do you produce your own music? Who did you work with on this project?

"I like to write instrumental parts and play most of the instruments in my music, but my production some would say is quite lo fi haha. Some of the songs off this EP I wrote and produced myself, but then I’d get Josh Fountain or Djeisan Suskov to spice them up and make the songs feel polished. Djeisan Suskov and Josh Fountain produced the EP. To finish up the songs we had a bunch of people get involved which was awesome. MAALA did some co-production. I had Ash Wallace and BENEE do some higher range BVs. Joe Kaptain played keys, Ezra Donnelly played drums and JY Lee played Sax and flute."

What did you learn about yourself while you made this EP? Did you feel an evolution from your first EP?

"There has definitely been an evolution from the last EP, it’s a lot more live sounding."

How do you hope people feel listening to it?

"I just hope they feel. Music to me is about evoking emotions and feelings."

How do you think growing up in Raglan has influenced your sound?

"I couldn’t really pinpoint it to be honest, I guess growing up anywhere influences your creativity in one way or another. Maybe it made my music more laid back haha."

Who inspires you musically? Who would you love to work with?

"The list goes on and constantly changes but lately I’ve been listening to Black Pumas, Kanye West, James Blake, Leon Bridges, Bill Withers, D’Angelo. A soulful female vocalist would be dope to work with, someone like Joy Crookes."

We like your style. Is fashion an important part of the Muroki universe?

"Thank you. I wouldn’t say fashion is a pivotal part of the Muroki Universe, but I’d be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it haha."

What’s something - other than music - that you’re passionate about? Something you’d like people to know about you?

"I really enjoy surfing."

You’re about to embark on tour. What can we expect? Where are you most excited to play?

"Yes, I’m very excited for everywhere I'm headed. I’ll be playing lots of new music and some old music too. My band will be tearing it up with me as well, so it should be fun."

Listen to Heading East here.

@murokimusic