Executive Producer Darren Gordon says of the new addition to the They roster, “Steezus is an extraordinary talent, a true visual composer, with an impressive background in music videos and editing. His deep understanding of visuals and his skill in weaving the viewer’s journey into his commercial work sets him apart. With They, Steezus is set to create culturally resonant commercials that connect directly with his generation.”

Steezus’ work pulses with rhythm and poetry, no doubt partly thanks to his background in directing music videos and editing, and it’s clear he values aesthetics just as much as storytelling. “Pace and taste are everything,” he explains. “For me, my work must have rhythm, poetry, a flow.”

As a kid Steezus began shooting skate videos on a Samsung S3 he borrowed from his sister, his love for filmmaking never stopped and he went on to major in colour grading at AFDA, where he also edited and directed part time. “At that stage, I was directing mostly music videos and short films. When the pandemic hit, I started collaborating with rapper Focalistic, working with brands on creating content and visuals for the album roll out. I always understood social media, but this was when I honed my skills, figuring out how to hook viewers in those crucial first five seconds.”

You may have already come across Steezus’ work. In 2023, his music video for Msaki x Tubatsi’s ‘Zibonakalise’, co-directed with Sanaa Mothabisa, was named one of the top six most creative music videos by the 1.4 Festival and was featured by Nowness. “After that, I found out about 1.4’s film competition. I decided then to create something that would stand a chance of winning,” he says of his short film ‘Happyville’, an experimental blend of narrative, documentary and branded storytelling that captures a moment between two friends stretched over ten minutes. Steezus’ determination to win paid off. ‘Happyville’ did win. It’s this intentionality that’s really inspiring when being around Steezus. He is hyper-focused and conscious of each step it takes to be a good filmmaker.

‘Are you Happy?’ – A film by Steezus

Steezus’ short film ‘Ombres Silencioses’ written by Paula Comas and Directed by Steezus on a recent trip to Spain is now showing in film festivals so keep an eye out for it’s mainstream release.

A still from Steezus’ upcoming short film Ombres Silencioses

For Steezus, joining They feels like coming home. “It’s always been them for me,” he says. “I’m sure if Alan and Darren go look, they’ll find an email from me in 2019. I’ve always had my eye on joining them.”

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