The Kalux Touch – Every Collabo Is A Hit

Multiple award-winning Afropop and Afrofusion star Saggarias Karunga, simply known as Kalux, has proven time and again that he is no one-hit wonder.

Ever since the Outjo-born superstar won best newcomer at the Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMAs) for his hit ‘Hafifange’ in 2014, there has been no looking back.

Kalux, whose music career was inspired by the late Brenda Fassie and the Karibib-based Ras Cool band, also took inspiration from local artists like Killa-B, The Dogg and Sunny Boy.

The multilingual hitmaker, who is now based at Otjiwarongo, is one of Namibia’s most sought-after artists.

The word on the street is: a collaboration with Kalux guarantees you a hit.

Kalux has some of the hottest collaborations in the industry with top Namibian artists like Adora, Jaliza, Mooi Ngaro and One Blood.

His duet with Mooi Ngaro, ‘//Khoara’, is his most-liked to date with 2.4 million views on YouTube.

His collaboration with One Blood, ‘Keer My’, has garnered more than 1.3 million views, while ‘Touch’ featuring Adora is currently at 600 000 views.

The former Otjiwarongo High School pupil currently also features on Jaliza’s trending hit ‘Sa Kei Te’, with over 400 000 views.

The former artist of the year is currently riding on the success of his latest hit ‘!No’, which is fast becoming a street anthem, having reached 800 000 views and being popular on radio.

“My career is reading like a fairytale right now. It is not only by luck that every song I release becomes a hit. I spent a lot of time perfecting my craft in the studio,” Kalux says.

“I’m fortunate to have a home studio, and that is where I spend most of my energy. I work really hard when I’m not on the road to go perform. They say that hard work pays off.”

A proud best Damara punch artist award winner, Kalux started off as a dancer and later joined a boys group, Majimbos, which also included Kallo on the Beat, one of the elite producers of modern-day Namibia.

“We also released a few singles with Ogopa Butterfly that trended well locally. I was the lead singer of the group. The track ‘Vera’ became a real hit at Otjiwarongo,” he says.

“Singing didn’t come naturally for me either. Coming from a dancer’s background, I was inspired by a lot of people, most notably Ou Seth, who said I sounded like PDK’s Patrick.”

The award-winning track ‘Hafifange’ is on his debut album, ‘Superstar’, which also features his super hit ‘Netira’, a song he describes as career-breaking.

“My songs are inspired by things we experience in our daily lives, both good and bad, and I sing for men and women. I am mostly singing about the beauty of love.”

Four studio albums later, the star has also become an ever-present figure at live shows around the country.

“After just finishing a tour to the south, where I performed at Mariental and Gibeon the previous weekend, I am back from another busy weekend,” Kalux says.

He says his first big break came when he performed at American R&B star Trey Songz’s show in Windhoek in 2015.

“It was my first time performing in Windhoek and in front of such a big crowd, which also accepted me well.”

Kalux says he is selecting the songs that will feature on his fifth studio album.

He is leaning towards releasing the new album in the first quarter of next year.

The performer says he wants to be remembered as a hard worker.

“People should see me as a humble and hardworking human being who likes to see people happy. I enjoy making music that makes people happy,” he says.

Kalux notes that he doesn’t regret becoming a musician, adding that music has given him his dream life.

“A lot of people claim that you can’t make a living from music alone in Namibia, but I have proved them wrong. I bought my house and car out of music,” he says.

Kalux is advising young artists to work hard and to maintain a level of discipline that would earn them the respect of their fans.

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