Beloved contemporary R&B and neo-soul singer Marcus Harvey has signed a new deal with Stay Low, a Johannesburg based record label and management company, which falls under the greater Steyn Entertainment umbrella. This comes after years of making waves as an independent artist who has garnered a cult following amongst music aficionados who see him as a semi-hidden gem within the South African music industry.
Hailing from the township of Alexandra in the North of Johannesburg, Marcus Harvey made a quiet entry into the music scene as far back as 2020 when he released an album called I Am Marcus Harvey: You Don’t Know Me Yet. He followed this up with the critically acclaimed 2021 EP I Am Marcus Harvey: You Still Don’t Know Me. He has now released his sophomore album, titled Now You Know Me off of the back of announcing the deal with Stay Low.
From the time he made his debut, as well as the offerings released between that first project and the latest one, Marcus gained a reputation as a new, exciting and innovative vocalist possessing a strong command of English and Sepedi lyrically, while singing creatively on a bed of traditional and contemporary R&B, soul and hip hop soundscapes. He dazzled during live performances, shined in collaborations and built a steady following up to the point that he is right now.
Before signing to Stay Low, Harvey worked independently and released his music through companies such as Tales of the Cool and Paradise Sound System. He stacked plenty of collaborations with the likes of A-Reece, Tyson Sybateli, DJ Clen, MashBeatz, Big Star Johnson, as well as Stay Low artists like Priddy Ugly, Zulu Mecca and ShooterKhumz. Perhaps it was these alliances that brought about the realisation that he would fit perfectly with Stay Low, a label that has managed to build a roster of artists who offer an eclectic sound that feels modern and contemporary, while also retaining a sincere creativity that’s punctuated by an artistic freedom possessed by each individual signee.
A short documentary-esque announcement video was released on Stay Low’s YouTube channel, marking Harvey’s partnership as an artist with the record label. In it, Harvey takes us through his come up in the place he is so fond of, Alexandra, where he was born and raised. Both entities sound excited and hopeful about a fruitful relationship they believe will be mutually beneficial to both sides, and it’s very encouraging to see an artist take time to understand himself and his market, and then identify the correct vehicle for his creative pursuits.
Check out the [Stay Low] x Marcus Harvey Announcement below.
