Every era of music has a main character. Over the last decade, Hip Hop and R&B have often returned to the “Toxic King” archetype: guarded, commitment-averse, and ready to move on before they get hurt. In these stories, love is treated as something to conquer. For Kuzi Cee, that character didn’t feel quite right. “I think it was a gradual thing because I was definitely part of the toxic warriors, but it just didn’t feel authentic to me,” he says.
As a self proclaimed “Lover Boy” the Calgary-based R&B singer leans into emotional honesty; embracing both the excitement and uncertainty that comes with relationships. For Kuzi, music became the place he learned vulnerability and where emotions could live before he felt comfortable expressing them elsewhere. His single, “Shot in the Dark”, explores that tension, capturing the moment attraction and hesitation meet when two people decide whether they’re willing to take the risk.
As a kid, music and creativity ran through Kuzi Cee’s family. The youngest of six, his musical identity wasn’t something he chose so much as something he inherited. “They are the tastemakers, the actual origin of who I am as a person,” he says. His immediate sister and brother became his earliest influences. Kuzi recalls his sister Leonara with a sense of nostalgia, especially in early days when she used her karaoke machine to turn the home into a stage. As the only sibling younger, she would regularly recruit Kuzi as a backup singer for her big performances. Those moments and her ability to see things through an artistic lens left a lasting imprint on the singer.
His brothers’ musical inclinations shaped him in a different way. After moving from Zimbabwe, the two shared a room, and Kuzi watched him cycle through various instruments including the tuba, alto saxophone, flute, and violin. Each briefly became part of their shared space as temporary roommates in an ever changing soundscape. Kuzi Cee attributes much of who he is now to those early experiences. “Without them, their support and experiencing life through their lens, I would have no idea what I’m doing right now, especially making music,” he says. Unlike music, vulnerability was something he had to learn.
Originally from Zimbabwe, then coming to Calgary as a kid, Kuzi moved around a lot. He recalls that his constantly changing environments made it difficult to build an emotional connection. Never knowing when he would next up and leave the friends he spent the school year with, meant that he would put his attention to trying to be liked rather than being the expressive little kid he was at home. “It took a while for me to actually be vulnerable, and I think that’s why my music is so vulnerable too. It’s because I found the escape in putting my emotions there, and now it’s what I share with the world,” he says.
The way that vulnerability eventually found its way into his music is perhaps most evident in “Shot in the Dark.” Created alongside producer Ian, “Shot in the Dark” emerged from a shared appreciation for the emotional honesty of early 2000s R&B. Both grew up listening to artists like Usher, Ne-yo and Chris Brown, and such influences continue to shape the music they create together.
While writing the lyrics for the song, Kuzi found himself repeating ‘it’s a shot in the dark’ as a metaphor to describe the story, eventually becoming the title of the track. For Kuzi, the song captures a familiar feeling of the nervous excitement of getting to know someone romantically. “You’re not scared to see them,” he says. “You’re just like, oh my gosh, what’s gonna happen next?” Rather than resolving that tension, the song embraces it. He compares the song to a romantic comedy, where viewers already know the ending but keep watching for the familiar emotions. He continues to say that while love is serious, there’s also a lighter side that allows for one to look back and reflect on their own experiences.
“It’s like this roller coaster of emotions that you always feel, especially when meeting somebody new. And there’s those butterflies you get into your stomach and that anxiety, but it’s a good anxiety you know?” What makes “Shot in the Dark” interesting is that it is not a standalone story. Put beside his previous releases, “Rain” and “Rather Be”, it’s clear that this is a story following a relationship through the stages. First it’s the idealization, then the reality hits that both people aren’t so perfect. By the time listeners arrive at “Shot in the Dark”, the fantasy has worn off. Both people understand the risks, recognize the imperfections, and choose to move forward anyway. “You’re choosing to stay,” Kuzi explains. “You’re choosing to try it.”
However, the song offers no clear ending. Kuzi explains that it is intentional because the story isn’t finished yet. “There are a lot of songs coming up that provide more clarity into the situation,” he hints. To Kuzi Cee, love is less of a feeling but more of an action. He talks about discovering and choosing to put up with small quirks and habits that you may not like about each other. To him choosing to accept it and move forward despite the small things is part of love. “Its easy to love somebody when everything’s going well. It’s when you actually have to work… to put up with problems, put up with arguments, go through the things that you don’t like about them and they don’t like about you.”
In a generation where many relationships often end at the earliest sign of discomfort, Kuzi shares his key to making it through relationships and life. Just try. “I feel like discomfort is actually pushing you to the right places… You’re uncomfortable because you care, and that just shows you that you care about that person and that you should give it a shot.”
This perspective mirrors the examples seen growing up, where love was measured by consistency, not grand declarations. His parents raised a family with seven children, encouraging them to chase their dreams while still choosing each other through the hard moments. This loving effort is reflected in his siblings as Kuzi described the beauty of seeing how his family continues to grow and that it’s the result of people who continually do their best to show up for their partners, their children, and themselves. Kuzi Cee’s music reflects the collection of patience, love, and vulnerability which he has witnessed and experienced through his life.
Kuzi recently performed at the FIFA Fan Festival while continuing to build momentum through a steady stream of new releases. That momentum has not gone unnoticed. He was recently recognized on Rolling Stone Canada’s Future of Music list, reflecting his growing audience and emergence as one of the country’s most promising R&B voices. He attributes much of his growth and direction to his collaboration with fans online. “As a community, we pick the songs, we pick the vibes that we want next, and I think that’s a beautiful dance that we got going on,” he says.
Kuzi’s next chapter involves a new single, “GIA,” which introduces a more confident and seductive side of his character as his sound evolves without abandoning the openness that drew listeners in with “Shot in the Dark.” When talking about the song, Kuzi Cee often returns to the same image of a warm hug. “Shot in the Dark feels like a warm hug saying it’s okay. This is uncertain, but just feel it.”
“GIA” is out now on all streaming platforms via Universal Music Canada
Words: Elizabeth Lokang
Photography: Hector Omooba
Styling: Raeed “Moose” Mustafa
Photo Assist: Chish Kangombe
Lighting Tech: Jay Avillanoza
Flowers: Eternal Bouquets YYC
Location: Mas Studios
