Ryan Samuel Mungai’s sound reflects a life shaped by movement, discipline, and cultural fusion. Popularly known as Reezy Reez, he’s a 24-year-old artiste whose relationship with music began almost as early as memory itself.
“By the age of three, I was already learning piano, an interest my mother recognised and nurtured through formal training. I’ve since followed a classical path under the ABRSM system and naturally music became second nature to me, layingFr a foundation that that defines my artistry,” he says.
Throughout his childhood and school years, music remained a constant presence. “With my mom’s backing, I constantly performed at events, received awards, and stayed deeply involved in creative spaces wherever we went,” he says.
With a strong classical grounding, he naturally progressed into playing songs he loved and writing his own. This early immersion allowed music to grow alongside him, not as a hobby, but as a language through which he understood the world.
In 2019, Reezy moved to the United Kingdom to pursue university studies, arriving just before the COVID-19 pandemic brought global travel to a halt. ‘When lockdowns began, I remained in the UK, a period that really proved transformative for me.’
At the time, he was balancing ambitions in both football and music, but his connection with his university’s music society shifted his focus more deeply toward sound.
“I really wasn’t a strong singer but through formal vocal training, collaboration, and constant experimentation, I can say my artistry sharpened,” he says, adding that, that season of curiosity, discipline, and isolation became a defining chapter in his growth, marking the transition from trained musician to fully realised creative artist.
Progressively, Reezy began recording, engineering, and releasing his own music. Taking control of the entire process allowed him to translate years of training into a sound that felt personal and intentional. His influences are wide-ranging and global, but at the core of his inspiration is possibility itself; the idea of seeing what can be achieved and pushing toward it.
“I credit my mom a lot. Her love for art remains my earliest influence, having introduced me to music and encouraged my passion from the word go.” He points out.
Growing up in Kenya, the impact of Sauti Sol was particularly profound. What began as admiration eventually evolved into creative sessions with Bien, an experience Reezy describes as surreal and deeply motivating.
“Sharing studio sessions and composing with Bien was magical. Working with stars like The Compozers, Sammy Soso amongst other people I looked up to taught me the great milestone of putting my own imprint,” he reveals.
Beyond East Africa, artists like Chris Brown, Michael Jackson, and Tupac have influenced his performance and storytelling, with composer Hans Zimmer — deeply connected to Reezy’s roots — standing as his greatest inspiration.
“Today, as a result, my sound exists at the intersection of that classical foundation, modern trap energy, and East African soul; a fusion that feels both expansive and grounded for my work.” He says.
Social media has played a central role in taking Reezy’s music beyond borders. He views the digital space as global by default and has been deliberate about reaching not just fans, but producers, engineers, and industry professionals.
“Social media has led to connections with people involved in major international projects, from working with renowned American star Gunna’s engineering to recurring creative spaces with Bien and his team. Now my music has reached audiences and collaborators in countries including Nigeria, Spain, France, and Jamaica.”
The next step, he says, is transforming that reach into tangible collaborations, travel, and cultural exchange, all while carrying his Kenyan and Swahili identity into global sounds.
“Nigerian, South African sounds have been able to break barriers and penetrate globally. It’s time even sheng takes up that space on the table. Bien always encouraged me with the words, that our music is taking the stairs.”
Reezy is deeply hands-on, co-producing his music and shaping every stage alongside global collaborators, drawing on his piano and guitar skills and a love for synths and orchestral textures that define his sound.
His latest project, TKFE: Zimmer Reez, releases today, January 23. Inspired by Hans Zimmer’s cinematic influence, the two-track project fuses classical composition with modern Afro-trap elements and marks a defining moment in his creative direction. It also introduces a wider system he plans to follow, releasing two intentional records every month.
Despite living abroad, Kenya remains central to Reezy’s heart. Though it has been a few years since his last visit, he plans to return this year. “Home is where my heart is. Lazima nitarudi home.” He believes.