Pretoria has always produced artists who move with confidence, but Hxdi Stross is coming with something sharper this year: intention. The Pitori artist and video producer, known for his raw creative edge and uncompromising taste, releases his new single ‘Nakwela’, and it marks a clear turning point.
This is not just another drop. It is the sound of an artist coming into his own and letting the industry know, quietly but boldly, that he is not here to blend in.
While Hxdi Stross has built a reputation in the dance and hip hop space, ‘Nakwela’ arrives with a different kind of power. It is relaxed, Afro, warm, and controlled. In a genre built on attention, noise, and performance, Hxdi Stross chooses restraint. He leans into calm as a flex.
What makes ‘Nakwela’ stand out is how intentionally it is built.
“I mainly focused on busy backgrounds, a full song that sounds empty. This imitates the noise in my life, the comments, the energy,” Hodi Stross explains. “But it was important for the delivery to sound calm through all the mess. The balance was kind of difficult to reach because as much as I wanted a relaxing song, I did not want it to be soft.”
That tension between chaos and composure is the heartbeat of ‘Nakwela’. It is a song that refuses to beg for love, refuses to argue with opinions, and refuses to dilute itself to be understood. Even in the lyrics, Hxdi Stross’ voice feels grounded in lived experience, carried by the language and cadence of home, and unbothered by the need to translate himself for anyone.
“I have never made a song about my life experiences before; it has always been vibes. I think this is the best footprint I can leave on this earth for my offspring to better understand my circumstances in case they experience similar situations,” shares Hxdi Stross.
He adds: “Words and rhythm don’t just come to me these days, so I create a flow, 4 bars and wait a bit, patiently and humbly praying to God to give me another flow to build up on. I kept it honest, no punchlines, just a letter, a formal email. I avoided words that inflict anger.”
The making of the record was just as meticulous. Hxdi Stross worked through multiple engineers, pushed for the exact texture in his head, and refused to settle when people told him the song was already “done”.
“I had 5 different engineers work on the miix. My engineers would tell me that it’s hard to get what I want because it’s in my head. But we finally achieved my sound and I am very happy.”
Outside of music, Hxdi Stross operates as a creative professional and video producer, producing bold cinematic content for major international brands, and working from concept to final cut with a style that is both raw and intentional.
That same visual discipline can be heard in ‘Nakwela’, where every choice feels deliberate and every moment has purpose.
“It’s a relief for me to release it, I feel free, lighter, this is my duty to this earth, my honest and transparent contribution. This was like my personal homework and I feel free,” expresses Hxdi Stross.