“I’m like, ‘Okay, cool.
Who’s your boss?’
And she’s like, ‘I can’t legally say her name.'”
Credit: Laura Beckerdite; Disney
So how did Booi end up working with one of the biggest artists on the planet?
The story involves good timing, mysterious phone calls, and the right people believing in his talent.
Booi sent some music to the Parkwood team but didnt hear back as the weeks went by.
Laura Beckerdite
He eventually returned to South Africa, assuming the opportunity was dead in the water.
Then he received a phone call.
She says to me, Hey, I just wanted to tell you something.
My boss likes your music, Booi recalls.
So Im like, Okay, cool.
And shes like, I cant legally say her name.
So Im like, Oh, you mean theboss-boss.
And now Im freaking out on the inside.
Thats pretty much how it was for the next few months.
Long stretches of silence, punctuated by the occasional phone call.
Her team operates like the CIA, they are incredible at what they do, Booi says.
Dont leave L.A., Parkwood told him.
They invited him to a camp to focus solely on the project.
That was an incredible moment for me.
I cant even express how ridiculous it was, Booi says.
Its a week of meeting and interacting with the coolest people.
He is credited (although incorrectly as Bubele Boii) as a producer alongside Robert Magwenzi and Beyonce.
Interestingly enough, Find Your Way Back wasnt created during the Los Angeles songwriting camp.
They had no inkling it would end up in the hands of Beyonce.
I just cant even believe someone of her caliber would do something like that.
But I guess someone of her calibercando something like that.
The Lion Kinghas massive significance in South Africa, being released in 1994, he says.
So being involved in a project like this, for me, is monumental.
Theyre like, ThisLion Kingmeans so much.
And its based in Africa.
First, he has to wrap up his masters at NYU.
The dream is to live a life and have your kids have a normal life.
And once in a while though, Auntie Beyonce comes in for a barbecue, Booi says.
I said that completely jokingly many years ago.
But now its like, Wow, its a possibility.
Not bad for a kid with a suitcase and a keyboard.
