At just 24, Johannesburg-born artist Shoka Sunflower has already carved out a space defined by honesty and introspection. Music first came into his life when his older brother shared it with him at 12, and by 16 he knew it was more than a passion, it was a way of making sense of himself and connecting with others. That spirit of raw self-exploration runs through his new album, For Now Keep Dancing, a record that doesn’t offer neat resolutions but instead captures the messy, nonlinear process of growing up.

Produced entirely by Moo Latte (G-Eazy, Freddie Gibbs), the album is unflinchingly personal. Written during a difficult period back in his childhood bedroom, it grapples with avoidance, identity, and the quiet chaos of your early twenties. “The biggest thing I realised about myself was my inability to confront things directly,” Shoka reflects. “So I made a project that mirrors that.”

The album takes you on a journey through purposeful ignorance, realisation, and breakthrough, with Shoka embodying “The Fighter”, a character he envisions as Baby Hake, drawing from South African boxing legend Baby Jake. But for Shoka, there’s no final knockout or clean ending. As he puts it, “The album has no answers. The only option The Fighter has is to keep going — to keep dancing, for now.” Variance spoke with Shoka about the record, the ideas behind “The Fighter”, and what it means to keep moving when life offers no easy answers.

The title For Now Keep Dancing feels like advice. When you’re not in the studio, what does “dancing through life” look like for you?

Someday it's making it from one minute to the next - in general it's being alive and having the privilege to create.

The album grew out of avoidance and unresolved emotion. Do you see avoidance as weakness, or is it sometimes a form of survival?

Growing up it was survival - now I tend to face things head on - as brave as it is, it's also painful and very vulnerable cause you realise everyone else is avoiding too. All to say it is a method of survival BUT why chill when you could live? feel it all.

Baby Hake, the boxer character, is such a strong visual. If he could step out of the album and walk around Johannesburg, what would he get up to first?

His life consists of going for a run, pushups then eating - so he is definitely going to get some chicken dust in mabz with the homies. Gotta bulk up to make weight for the next fight. However I've been led to believe he is extremely introverted. Not much house leaving.

You built the record with Moo Latte, whose credits span hip-hop heavyweights. What did his perspective unlock in your story that you might not have reached alone?

My process was quite separate from Moo's. He let me do my thing and I provided him the same space. Think our musical connection was emotional, a lot of it is unsaid.

You’ve talked about the album being non-linear. If it were a film, would it be more like a thriller, a coming-of-age, or an art-house piece?

Coming of age for sure. At its core I'm growing up on this album. Having grown up thoughts about life, love, grief etc. It would be a super off beat coming of age though.

GUSHER is about supporting other artists. Who’s someone new from South Africa we should all be listening to right now?

MECCAMIND, Lerato Orchestral Collective, kyabo, SEI SIREN & INKINGA YOMHLABA

When you finally step away from the studio or stage, what’s the one thing that grounds you back in everyday life?

Other than my gut wrenching 9-5? My mother, my sister and my brain.