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Canvas Sativa

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Hard Work Meets Talent

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Canvas Sativa is a DJ, musician, and event organizer from Mafikeng, South Africa. While he is best known for his smooth transitions and unique sets, his latest project, Sativa Season, has been praised for its soulfulness and candid lyricism. In a recent interview, Sativa gives us insight on the creative process behind Sativa Season, his unique approach to DJing, and his hopes for the future.

On Sativa Season

"Working on Sativa Season was quite therapeutic, because it gave me a chance to express my experience of coming to Pretoria and trying to find my place in this industry," Canvas reveals, "I released an EP in 2021 titled 'Enter The Rage', and the project didn't land the way I hoped it would. Even though it's still one of my personal favorites, someone told me that my music is missing a personal touch. As much as the music is fire, they still felt like they didn't know the artist behind the music. So I challenged myself to create a project that was personal and vulnerable."

On being a DJ

We segue into the skill that earned him the title, "lord of the transitions", DJing. Canvas shares his sentiments on what makes his sets unique to those of his industry peers: "For me, I only play music that I genuinely enjoy. But I also need to think about the crowd and the mood of the event. My sets are unique because of the smooth, creative transitions in between each song. I love playing local hip hop because I feel like it's slept on. And I still believe in the DJ culture of putting people onto new music. So you'll always find a new song, sometimes even an unreleased song, on my sets. My goal, as soon as I touch those CDJs, is to make sure everyone on the dance floor is out of their heads and into their bodies. That way, we can create memories and moments."

The deck vs the booth

Being both a musician and DJ certainly has its advantages, however it isn't without its challenges either. One can only wonder if it is possible to create the perfect marriage between both art forms, without completely indulging one and neglecting the other. To that effect, Canvas admits that he is still learning.

"Everything up until this point has been trial and error," he says, "because there aren't many artists doing what I do, it's been a challenge. For the past two years, my DJ career has been consuming most of my time and energy. So I've been struggling to make as much music as I'd like. But I'm glad that since releasing Sativa Season, a lot more people are interested in my music now. And that's going to motivate me to cook up some more tunes. I think the marriage works well because they all fall under the persona 'Canvas Sativa'. And when you think of me, you think of hip hop. From the way I dress, speak, and express myself."

On the musical influence of his roots

"My Maftown roots influence my hustle mentality and also my uniqueness. Growing up in a town like Mafikeng, there aren't many opportunities and platforms for the creative space. But fortunately for me, when I was in high school, artists like Espacio Dios, BLFR & B.O.G were making waves in Jozi. So I realized that being in Mafikeng shouldn't limit me. Rather, I should use that to my advantage. HHP being such a pioneer in his own right, that also inspired me to pioneer and start events like Escaping The City. And I believe that's gonna be one of the things that cement me as a GOAT some day."

On the relevance of superstars

"It's important to have superstars, because they create inspiration and sometimes role models. I think for me, I've inspired more people to believe in themselves and not limit themselves. I've inspired more people to become Hip Hop DJs in this Piano climate."

He gives us an exclusive look into his impact on the culture, as he speaks about his role in the creation of 'Escaping The City', a recurring event that puts the spotlight on rising stars who are contributing to the growing musical landscape in Pretoria and beyond.

He explains, "I've shown people that you don't have to follow the crowd and what's popular. You can really do your own thing and find a community of people who share the same values and ideals."

On his relationship with music

"Music has saved my life. It's given me purpose and made my relationship with myself stronger. The challenges I've faced in this journey have forced me to deal with certain doubts and fears. And through that, I've found growth and some level of peace. It's been helpful not only on a personal level, but also on a spiritual level."

As a musician, he wants his music to heal people and help them get through the day with ease. He elaborates: "There's so much negativity lately across the entertainment industry, and I just want to spread love and positivity, as cliché as that sounds."

Canvas Sativa is a rising star in the hip hop scene. With his unique sense of purpose and his passion for music, he is sure to make waves in the years to come.