Zubin Pietersen, or “ZUBIN” as his fans know him, began creating music as a hobby during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. At the time, he was still studying at Stellenbosch University. Today he is an independent music artist and content creator. He spoke to SMF News’ Iman Allie.
Zubin Pietersen learned how to create and produce music on his cellphone and from his childhood bedroom. In 2020, the then first-year student at Stellenbosch University, found himself at home during the Covid-19 lockdown.
He began creating music as a hobby and as an alternative to binge-watching series.
He then transitioned to making music on his laptop. Eventually, he began releasing his music under the name of “ZUBIN”.
Independent artist and content creator, Zubin Pietersen in his music studio. His childhood bedroom doubles as his studio. PHOTO: Iman Allie
A history of music
Pietersen, now 24, was born and raised in Paarl. He grew up in a musical environment with music rooted in his family. His grandfather is Frank Pietersen, the founder of the Frank Pietersen Music Centre in Paarl. And both his parents have music degrees.
Pietersen’s parents taught him that the world is much larger than his hometown and immediate surroundings. Despite not being musical mentorship on the surface, it shaped the way he approaches his career.
Although his grandfather passed away before he was born, he feels his grandfather’s presence in the stories shared by his father. Pietersen sees similarities in the way his father speaks about his grandfather, and the way his parents raised him.
“There’s a certain mindset and outlook on life that’s been passed down. One that encourages exploration, resilience, and dreaming beyond what’s in front of you,” said Pietersen.
Although he was never pressured to pursue music, his parents encouraged him to “dip [his] feet into as much as possible”.
Pietersen took an affinity to music as a child already. He recalls banging a wooden spoon against his mother’s pots and pans.
After attending Courtrai Primary School in Paarl, Pietersen was awarded a music bursary at Bridge House School in Franschhoek, where he completed high school. Throughout high school, Pietersen played the drums in the school’s jazz band.
This is independent artist and content creator, Zubin Pietersen’s studio, which is located in his (childhood) bedroom. He records most of his music, with the exception of collaborations, in this studio. PHOTO: Iman Allie
Pietersen said his biggest challenge as a new artist was managing his over-thinking and self-criticism. Not having a mentor was also something he struggled with.
“I’m looking back now and, like, a mentor is such a valuable thing. Someone that can just guide you… just tell you which way is the way, or which way is a way. [Because] I don’t think there’s a way,” said Pietersen.
The beginning of content creation
Pietersen began posting content outside of music, under the name “YOUR FAVOURITE INTROVERT”on TikTok in 2022. He saw his daily posts as a “FaceTime with friends”.
“The reason I started the ‘FAVOURITE INTROVERT’ account was not just to show my personality, but to build a world around ‘ZUBIN’ – in a non-egotistical way,” said Pietersen.
He explains this, by using Sabrina Carpenter “or whoever… the biggest artist in the world right now” as an example: “They have a whole world around them. The fans know who they are as a person. It’s not just: ‘Oh, that girl makes music.’ So, I think the main thing for me is just to build a world around myself.”
In 2023, Pietersen started filming and posting videos of himself doing activities, such as standing on tables and lip syncing his songs in the Neelsie Student Centre at Stellenbosch University. This was a way to overcome his social anxiety.
“I just told myself: ‘We’re in our last year, people won’t remember the guy standing on the table, lip syncing songs’,” said Pietersen.
Independent artist and content creator, Zubin Pietersen, is seated on his bed in his bedroom playing the keyboard. He often creates music on his bed if he is not creating in his studio. PHOTO: Iman Allie
Pursuing music full-time
Pietersen began pursuing music as a full-time, independent artist after graduating with a degree in BA (International Studies) in 2023.
His parents had agreed to let him do as he pleased, so long as he obtained a degree first. He decided to try music as a full-time career, for one year then “see what happens”.
Pietersen’s first year as a full-time musician then became the year, 2024, filled with most of his career highlights. These highlights include:
- Performing his first ever live shows
- Opening for artist, Will Linley on his tour, at the Old Biscuit Mill in Cape Town
- Becoming financially independent from his parents
- Multiple songs of his reaching over a million streams on Spotify
- His collaboration, ‘Take Me Home’, becoming the theme song for the SA20 cricket tournament. This song was a collaboration with artist, Booshle G. and producer, Paul Timitch.
“Working with ZUBIN is always such a joy. He is one of the most talented, yet humble people I know,” said Timitch.
Independent artist and content creator, Zubin Pietersen, owns two guitars, which he uses to create his music. He plays the electric guitar in his upcoming extended play (EP). PHOTO: Iman Allie
What is it like to work with Pietersen?
Quinn Conn, “Conn”, a musician whom Pietersen collaborated with on the song, ‘your love’ in 2023, describes Zubin Pietersen as “kind, creative [and] hardworking”.
“ZUBIN was absolutely amazing to work with. He gets things done and just overall has a great attitude. I think a lot of people can get touchy when it comes to changing a few lyrics or suggesting changes to their performance. But he was completely open to my ideas and was just focused on getting the best song possible out of it,” said Conn.
Pietersen draws inspiration from different experiences in life.
“When I write more introspective songs, it’ll [sometimes be] about the things I’ve experienced in life,” he said. “But a lot of it is a balance between observing other people and just experiencing. Whether it be friends, family members or just people in general. Even movies, TV series – I take inspiration from that, in terms of topics.”
Intertwining personas
Pietersen’s personas as content creator, “YOUR FAVOURITE INTROVERT” and artist, “ZUBIN” are now intertwined, as he posts regularly about his music and life on TikTok and Instagram, under his name “ZUBIN”, while creating music.
Based on the success of last year, Pietersen decided to continue as an independent artist this year. Pietersen is currently working on an extended play (EP) and a few singles which will be released in the last quarter of 2025. He also plans to release his first merchandise line.
Additionally, he is challenging himself to become a self-sufficient artist this year.
“I […] decided to create an EP and learn music and production on my own. Because last year it was such a blessing to be working with a lot of people, and with a lot of artists. And by the end of the year, I realised I was neglecting the music creation part of music,” said Pietersen.
“And I really want to […] create a system where I can be self-sufficient and control the means of operation and means of creation as much as possible.”
Finding a balance between creating music, handling finances and taking care of himself has been Pietersen’s biggest challenge of the year thus far.
Pietersen recently challenged himself with a new venture to overcome his social anxiety.
“I recently started vlogging. I bought this camera – a small action camera. And nowadays when I’m out, when I’m walking my dog, I vlog and just […] document my life and document the journey,” he said. “For example, I went to, I think, Checkers the other day and I was doing the whole ‘vlogger thing’ and I was like, ‘I’m probably not going to post this’, but I’m just doing it as a workout’,” he said.
“I think getting over social anxiety is like going to the gym and training that muscle,” said Pietersen.
Independent artist and content creator, Zubin Pietersen, is seated on the floor playing the electric guitar. He often records music while sitting on his bedroom floor. PHOTO: Iman Allie