“During lockdown, I spent more time learning about engineering and producing—I learned that I am an incredibly fast learner,” South African singer-songwriter Msaki tells Apple Music. “I gained a lot more independence as a producer, and learned other random new skills—I learned how to edit video. I also understand creative rhythms a bit better. I know when I’m in open-mode creativity and when I have the energy to close projects. I’m more determined than ever to intentionally grow my global audience into a cared-for community. It’s a challenging and exciting time.” Renowned for crafting poignant folk tales, Msaki carved out a second niche in house music, collaborating with some of Africa’s biggest names, including Prince Kaybee, Focalistic, and TRESOR. She explored her duality in the genre-bending 2021 double release of Platinumb Heart Beating and Platinumb Heart Open. For her Apple Music Home Session—the series in which we challenge artists to record intimate versions of their own tracks, alongside covers of their favorite classics—Msaki chose songs that illustrate her love of songwriting, including two of her own singles and one classic by Elton John. Here, she explains what captivated her about each track. Daniel “‘Daniel’ [by Elton John] is such a beautiful and brilliantly written song. There was something about the lyrics that caught my attention even as a kid in primary school. It made me wonder what the song was about, because there’s longing, affection, and a really unique storytelling style that left so much to the imagination, yet simultaneously gave us such beautiful imagery. I pictured the plane, the runway, the red lights, and the sense of goodbye.” Tiram “‘Tiram’ is a retrospective collaboration with my grandfather. He composed a choral song called ‘Nomeva,’ a song about a roving wasp. It’s a very dramatic arrangement that makes me think of ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’ [the orchestral composition written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov]. The song as it is now had come to take on so many more meanings. I get visited by wasps a lot, and in Xhosa custom, and many other Indigenous spiritual beliefs, this is a sign of the presence of ancestors. I composed and arranged a part for strings and added a verse where I am directly addressing my grandfather with gratitude for leaving us the gift of music. The strings carry so much of the emotion, so this version especially done for Apple with a string quartet is quite special.” Chemtrails (feat. Caiiro) “‘Chemtrails’ is the sound of my mgowo [Xhosa slang for ‘navigating life’s challenges’]. It’s so interesting how people have connected to the song in all its confusion and vulnerability. I loved working with Caiiro on this song, as he is a gentle soul. ‘Chemtrails’ is about falling in love. The chemical violence and paralysis of the process at a cellular level. The agony and the bliss of it. A blissful loss of control and a suspension of the heart falling and longing. This slowed-down and exposed version of it really takes it somewhere extraordinary.”