INTERVIEW: Marco Pex

From Durban to the global stage, Marco Pex has steadily emerged as one of the most expressive and spiritually grounded voices in contemporary Afro House. His presence on the new Mayonie Productions compilation—released by the influential label founded by Grammy Award–winning artist Zakes Bantwini—marks a defining moment in his artistic journey, reinforcing both his roots and his forward-looking vision.

Across the release, Marco Pex delivers some of its most introspective and emotionally charged moments, moving seamlessly between collaborations with BlaQRhythm and deeply personal solo cuts. Tracks like Crazy and Solus highlight his ability to fuse rolling Afro rhythms with evocative synth work, subtle percussion, and a sense of atmosphere that feels both ancestral and future-facing. Rather than simply aiming for the dancefloor, his music speaks in a wider cultural language—one shaped by emotion, storytelling, and spiritual depth.

On the occasion of this new chapter with Mayonie Productions, we sit down with Marco Pex to talk about creative identity, collaboration, and how Afro House continues to evolve through South African voices shaping its next horizon.

Mayonie Productions has become a cornerstone of Afro house worldwide, with deep roots in Durban. What does it mean for you, as South African artists, to contribute to a label with such a strong cultural and historical legacy?

For us as South African artists, contributing to a label with such a strong cultural and historical legacy is both an honour and a responsibility. It means stepping into a lineage that has helped shape global dance music, while bringing our own lived experiences, rhythms, and perspectives into that space.

This compilation feels like both a celebration of the label’s journey and a statement about where Afro house is heading. From your perspective, how do you see the sound evolving right now, both locally and globally?

Afro house is in a really dynamic phase right now. At its core, it remains deeply rooted in rhythm, storytelling, and cultural expression, but the way those elements are being interpreted is expanding. Locally, there’s a renewed confidence in drawing from indigenous sounds, live instrumentation, and spiritual influences, while still pushing modern production techniques. Artists are less concerned with fitting into a global template and more focused on refining an authentic voice, which is giving the music greater depth and identity.

The opening intro sets a very evocative and spiritual tone for the release. How did you approach creating that first moment, knowing it would frame the listener’s entire experience of the compilation?

The approach to creating the opening moment was very intentional. The idea stemmed from a song on the project titled “Cazy,” which is an acoustic version of the album’s second track. We felt that introducing the project with this stripped-down rendition would gently ease listeners into the experience. The melody is soothing and emotionally resonant, making it the perfect entry point. Starting this way allowed us to immediately communicate that the album is centered on music, melody, and emotional depth. More importantly, it sets the tone for the project as a healing experience—something meant to connect with and resonate deeply with true music lovers.

Marco, your solo tracks like “Crazy” and “Solus” explore deep emotional and rhythmic territories. What personal or musical ideas were guiding you while working on these pieces?

With tracks like “Crazy” and “Solus,” I was guided by a desire to explore the balance between emotion and rhythm that defines Afro house for me and most importantly showcase my sound to the world. I focused on creating space: allowing the groove, percussion, and subtle melodic elements to breathe and evolve naturally. Rather than overproducing, my goal was to let the rhythm tell the story, so listeners could connect emotionally while still being driven by the dancefloor energy.

Collaboration seems central to this release, with many voices, vocalists, and producers contributing distinct energies. How do you approach collaboration in Afro house while keeping a cohesive spiritual and sonic identity?

We invite vocalists and producers who naturally resonate with the vision we had for this album, allowing them the freedom to bring their authentic energy while staying aligned with the core essence. for us Afro house thrives on subtlety groove, space, ancestral rhythm. so we were very intentional and collaborated with artists who naturally align with that energy.

Afro house often connects dancefloor energy with storytelling, heritage, and emotion. How important is it for you that listeners feel that deeper narrative when engaging with your music?

Afro house goes beyond rhythm it carries story, culture, and emotion.for us that’s the important part of Afro house. When listeners connect with that deeper feeling, even subconsciously, the music becomes more meaningful and memorable, not just something to dance to.

Finally, with this compilation marking another milestone for Mayonie Productions, what do you hope international listeners take away from this release—and what’s next for both of you after January 2026?

With this milestone, we hope international listeners experience the essence of Mayonie Productions sound, vision, and commitment to authenticity. Beyond January 2026, we aim to expand globally through new collaborations and releases. Both of us plan on releasing our own individual projects/Ep before the second half of the year.

Pre-order/Preview the EP HERE

Marco Pex: Instagram - Soundcloud - Beatport

Mayonie Productions: Instagram - Beatport