Rapper's songs a message of hope

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GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - Georgian Maxwell Matiwana is a bookkeeper during office hours, but put him behind a mic and a talented muso shines through.

The 33-year-old gospel rapper who performs under the name Max Gozo, uses his songs to inspire and encourage people and his latest single, I got love for You, has a strong message of redemption and grace.

"Not so long ago I was living as if I could make it on my own, but life threw me a curveball and I realised that I can't make it without Christ. This new song reflects my journey back to Him, drawing from the biblical parable of the shepherd leaving the 99 sheep to find the lost one," says Gozo.

He debuted in 2016 with the album Ultrasound, followed by various singles. "I only later migrated to gospel as my outlook on life changed."

He grew up on Klipdrift Farm between George and Oudtshoorn in a big, close-knit family.

"We were six children and my parents set a wonderful example of a life of faith.

"I was fascinated with music from a young age and my mom encouraged this.

"She always hummed and whistled songs around me, telling me to listen carefully to the lyrics of songs. I remember her giving me a tape recorder as a young child."

He attended Franken Primary and High School in Herold, but earned a scholarship to complete Grades 10 to 12 at Cape Academy in Cape Town.

"While there, I won a laptop and this was when I taught myself to do music recordings. In 2009 I knew I had the tools to start creating my own music."

Rap suited him because he is vocally not very strong, and it is the ideal genre for telling stories. He set up his own recording room at home, but later some of his music was also recorded by Mrree Studios in George.

Group Editor's Udy Obi (left) and Max Gozo. Photo: Alida de Beer

"The best part of it all is the creative process where I sit down to write and then experience how my imagination springs to life," says Gozo.

In addition to speaking through music, he is also reaching a young audience through two educational children's books that he self-published: Learn with Lucy teaches on being wise about money, and Planting a seed sets out the principles of a successful life.

"Children don't necessarily learn life skills at school and I hope my books will help impart some lessons I've learnt in my own life."

Currently, he is working on a book for adults about leadership as well as on a second music album titled Every day is Sunday.

"My message through it all is for people to not lose hope and that you don't need to be a captive of your circumstances. More is possible."

He aptly expresses this idea in one of his Afrikaans songs, Oor begin: 'Hou aan met glo, moenie moed verloor, daar's altyd hoop. Maak nie saak waar jy begin, jy kan altyd oor begin." (Starting over: "Keep on believing, don't lose courage, there's always hope. No matter where you start, you can always start over."