Listen to a playlist of dynamic drum-led tracks curated by Masego

Masego may be selling out global stages off the back of his recent sophomore album, and flaunting an enviable list of collaborators from Drake to Kaytranada — but the Kingston-born artist will be the first to concede that his triumphant solo career could not have been possible without the hard-grafting bandmates that have helped make his story a remarkable one.

Known best for his seamless blend of jazz, hip hop and R&B, the singer and world-renowned saxophonist holds down a platinum certification for his head-turning 2017 hit ‘Tadow’ with FKJ, and features on music from the likes of Yussef Dayes, Ari Lennox, Kehlani, and GoldLink, to name a few.

Now in the thick of a 25-date UK and European tour, ‘Where We Goin?’, the GRAMMY-nominated artist is looking beyond his victory lap — preparing to jump into “other facets of entertainment” outside of his usual music-making hobbies. “I’m looking to create more and expand the brand of Masego,” he tells Mixmag. “I’m a huge fan of comedy, and this year I want to introduce that side of me to the Sego tribe. I’m working with my manager Mohamed Kheir and my assistant Mike Damn to create a unique experience for my audience.”

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Ahead of his headline show at London’s Alexandra Palace, Masego puts together a 10-track playlist in an ode to his drummer, Jon Curry, celebrating some of his favourite drum-led tracks. “It’s dope to know that my friends and bandmates contribute to other tracks that I admire,” Masego explains. “These are all songs my drummer Jon Curry played on. I’m all for dynamic instruments and my drummer is as cold as it gets.”

Check it out below.

"This track has a good drum swing, saxophone and vibes!"

"JID is a generational artist, the rapping and instrumentation on this is prestige. JID is in his bag, I love when he raps."

"This is what I envision when I think of future jazz. Fast-paced, driving instrumentation with this world of sounds."

"Classy and dynamic. I’m big on travel and I love the continuous “meet me there” lyric on this track. Sometimes you just gotta tell them to meet you!"

"This song feels like bare toes buried in hot sand. The gospel sample here brings me back to holding the camera in church as my dad preached."

"I just created a library in my room, and this is the song I cue when I’m looking for the perfect book to indulge in."

"One of those songs you never skip when it’s shuffled into your playlist. A pleasant vibe."

"Jamaicans out here making tunes that are an evolution of the music we’re used to hearing. Jesse is my fellow Jamaican-American bredda and his sound is the perfect mix of culture and new age."

"Mac Ayers is cold as ice, the smoothest to do it. Braxton Cook is who I call when I have questions about the sax."

"Sometimes we need a reminder to slow down."

Masego is on tour now. Grab your tickets here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter