Ijay Swanepoel, known as Stephen Gawking, is a resilient South African musician living with type 2 Spinal Muscular Atrophy—a neuromuscular disorder causing the loss of motor neurons and progressive muscle deterioration. Instead of succumbing to the challenges posed by his condition, Swanepoel uses his music project, ‘Stephen Gawking - The Nuclear Lyricist,’ as a beacon of hope and inspiration for those facing adversity, including those with disabilities, those who feel different, oppressed, bullied, or anyone struggling in between. Marcel Smuts recently had the privilege of engaging in a conversation with him on the show, courtesy of Devographic Music Agency, and here are some captivating takeaways.
The Genesis
Every artist's journey commences somewhere unique, and Ijay's journey is particularly captivating due to his dual involvement in Hip-Hop and Pop music. We delved into where it all began.
Ijay shared, ‘It's always been a hobby. Wordplay was my outlet—writing poems and such. Simultaneously, I played music at church functions. One day, it struck me that I should fuse the two and create something extraordinary. I initiated this band with the aspiration of building on it and inspiring people.’
Knowing Your Limits
In our interview, Ijay discussed working with Bobby Johnson on production, highlighting the crucial notion of ‘knowing your limits.’
He stressed, ‘You have to know your limitations. You can strive to be better, but there are certain things you will never be able to do, but you can get help. So don’t be egotistical and narcissistic, there is help out there and if people work together, great things are possible.’
Staying Grounded
Amidst an industry often characterised by ego-driven personas, Gawking remains firmly grounded, mindful of the necessity for hard work and personal growth.
Ijay emphasised, ‘Try and stay as grounded as possible and focus on that vision. I’m not going to say it’s easy, but the more success you achieve, the harder it gets. I’m the type of person that often self reflects at the end of the day, and I’ll realise that maybe I was wrong there and I should work on that.’
In Closing
Extracting bits from the engaging audio interview into this article was no small feat, given the multitude of insightful gems that Stephen Gawking shared. These gems are not only for casual listeners but for anyone seeking the essential tools to prosper in their respective industries. Ijay Swanepoel is undeniably a remarkable artist, fully embodying the essence of his music and story—to be a beacon of hope for those facing oppression, disability, bullying, or underestimation. We are thrilled to present this enlightening discussion in collaboration with Ijay and Devographic Music Agency. For more enriching insights, catch the full audio episode here and discover even more treasures.
