Manyano-Ngamandla Malusi was born on 13 March 2004. He is commonly known by his stage name, Unir (formerly known as Manny as Skyrocket). He is an artist, songwriter, and producer. His producer name is Moniker Space Man.

Now going by the name Unir, he is ready to tell his story.

He was raised in Umtata and grew up in Gounbie, which is on the outskirts of East London. During his early life, he discovered a love for music and began producing at the age of 14. Two years later, at the age of 16, Unir began uploading music to SoundCloud.

Independently, his first release was titled Pinkskies: Psychedelic Thoughts, which served as his debut single. Following that release, he then dropped Pinkskies: Heartbreaks in My Psychedelic Mindset.

After the global pandemic in 2020, Unir released FREE FROM THE DEMONS and GONE GIRL as he looked to make his mark on the South African music industry.

For more on Unir, read our interview below: 

Can you tell us about your musical journey—how did you start, and what inspired you to pursue music?

Unir: It all started with my love for cartoons and great theme songs. Gravity Falls, as we know, was a classic. Its incredible theme song got me into beatboxing. I even took it a step further and added 808s and trap production to it—just as a joke on GarageBand, really. As I grew older, I got deeper into producing. At 15, my friends told me to rap seriously, and I’ve been creating music ever since. I freestyled a bunch, using boxes as beats. I even starved for an entire month just to buy a microphone I ordered from Germany. After all that, I was undoubtedly reborn. I used to go by Manny Skyrocket, but now I’m Unir.  

What message or emotions do you aim to convey through your music?

Unir: I want to give people something to be excited about something they can be captivated by. My music comes from real experiences I’ve lived through, and I make it for a wide audience: for the open-minded, and for those who think like me. Instead of just delivering surface-level substance, I aim to craft music that carries emotional depth, drawn from the stories I tell.  

 Who are your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound?

Unir: In today’s musical landscape, I’m drawn to artists with theatrical flair. Sonically and in terms of world-building, I look up to SahBabii, Playboi Carti, Yves Tumor, and Abel Tesfaye. In terms of artistic execution, it’s Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, and Future. They all push boundaries.  

 What sets you apart from other artists in the industry?

Unir: I want to provoke minds just by being myself. In the current South African underground scene, there’s a formula people follow to blow up—usually by replicating the American underground. I want to disrupt that. What sets me apart is that I do it for the art.  

How would you describe your musical style and overall brand?

Unir: It exudes elegance. I want listening to my music to feel like watching Kaká play football in his prime for AC Milan. I strive for quality and integrity—and I want to set a standard I can stick to.

 What do you want people to think of when they hear your name?

Unir: Icon.  

Walk me through your creative process—how do you go from an idea to a finished song?

Unir: When I’m crafting a song, I usually start by building a strong chorus. I use it as a vehicle for the whole track. Then, I write verses like chapters in a story. When it comes to features, I don’t want someone just phoning in a verse—it has to stay true to the theme.  

What's the most personal song you've written, and what's the story behind it?

Unir: Most personal? Rolling Stone, probably—though most people call it Flip Phone. Shoutout to Eem Triplin; he really cooked on the production. The song came to me after I walked into a club recently. People were more focused on looking cool and posing for aesthetic pics than actually dancing to good music. To me, that’s not living. Flicking up is cool, but standing in the corner? That’s cringe—it’s never been cool, and it never will be. Let’s bring back flip phones to break our addiction to tech. Real talk.  

Do you have a dream collaboration? If so, who would it be and why?

Unir: I’m always drawn to disruptors when I catch wind of them—Kwesta, Internet Girl. I’d also love to write songs for Beatenberg. Lastly, Brother Kupa. I want to work with him. He’s got his own sound and things to say. He’s a trailblazer in his field—no one else is doing what he’s doing.  

How do you use social media to connect with your fans and promote your music?

Unir: I use Twitter because it’s kind of like a blog. Tumblr too. On Instagram, I post photos with hidden details, and I use Stories to speak out and make announcements. I also message my supporters directly.  

What's the best way your fans can support you right now?

Unir: Buy the merch I’m working on, once it’s available. Come to the shows when I pop out. Tell your friends—on some scummy shit.

 Have you experimented with any unique marketing strategies to grow your audience?

Unir: Nah, not really. Next question.  

What has been your most memorable performance so far?

Unir: Most memorable? Lately, it’s got to be at Roots in Obz. It was my first ever set in five years of doing music. The energy was so high, I forgot I even had stage fright.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years, and what are your goals as an artist?

Unir: In five years, I want to change music on a universal level—like the greats before me. I want to fully embrace performance. It’s a dream to perform at Rocking the Daisies and Cotton Fest. I want to preview new songs at Paris Fashion Week and perform at Lollapalooza and Coachella for massive crowds—with the legends I grew up listening to in the audience. For now, that’s all I’ll say.