Elizabeth Music Group Publishing is proud to represent Don Pyuza, a music producer, artist manager, and creative entrepreneur from Tanzania, whose journey into music production began after years of working behind the scenes in the East African gospel music industry.
Having managed Tanzanian gospel artist Joel Lwaga since 2017, Don Pyuza developed an interest in creating music that could bring something different to the region's sound. What began as a personal effort to learn production in 2021 eventually led to his first production credit on Joel Lwaga's “Olodumare” in 2024.
Since then, Don Pyuza has continued building his career as a producer, contributing to records including “Unikumbuke” by Joel Lwaga and Diamond Platnumz, while continuing his work in artist management and creative development.
We spoke with Don Pyuza about his journey into music production, his musical influences, the records that have shaped his career, his experience with Elizabeth Music Group Publishing, and his goals for the future.
Tell us a little about yourself. Who is Don Pyuza, and how did your journey into music production begin?
Don Pyuza: “I’m Don Pyuza, a Tanzanian music producer, artist manager, and creative entrepreneur. My journey into music began in church, where I served through music long before I ever imagined becoming a producer.
I’ve managed Joel Lwaga since 2017, when he began his career. At the time, my focus was on supporting his growth and helping him build his career. Production wasn’t something I planned to pursue. But as I worked in gospel music, I kept hearing possibilities for a sound that I felt was missing in Tanzania and across East Africa. Eventually, that curiosity pushed me to learn how to create it myself.
In 2021, I quietly began teaching myself production. There were no big expectations just a willingness to learn and experiment. By 2024, I had developed enough confidence to produce “Olodumare” for Joel. That record became a defining moment in his career and the beginning of mine as a producer. After years of helping guide an artist’s journey, I was contributing to it in a completely new way.”
Don Pyuza's journey is particularly interesting because he established himself in the music industry as an artist manager before pursuing production. His experience working closely with Joel Lwaga gave him an understanding of artist development, musical direction, and the creative decisions involved in building a lasting career.
Rather than entering production with the intention of immediately releasing records, he spent several years learning and developing his skills before contributing to his first major project.
How would you describe your production style, and what artists, genres, or life experiences have influenced your sound the most? What’s your favorite instrument or plugin to work with?
Don Pyuza: “I’m a versatile producer, and I enjoy exploring different genres. Much of my work has been in gospel because of my background and the artists I work with, but my musical curiosity goes far beyond one category.
Pop is my favorite genre. I’m drawn to strong melodies and the way a well-crafted song can connect immediately with people from different backgrounds. My church foundation also influences how I approach music, particularly the emotion behind a performance and the importance of giving the message room to be heard.
Guitar and keyboard are my favorite instruments to play. For production, my go-to DAWs are Logic Pro and FL Studio. I love their workflows; they give me the freedom to develop ideas and keep the creative momentum going. They’ve been reliable tools throughout my growth as a producer.”
Although gospel music has played a major role in Don Pyuza's career, his interest in pop and other genres reflects his ambitions to develop a versatile production catalog.
His emphasis on melody, emotional connection, and musical storytelling also helps explain how he approaches records intended to connect with audiences beyond a single genre or market.
What project, placement, or accomplishment are you most proud of so far, and why does it stand out in your career?
Don Pyuza: ““Olodumare” will always hold a special place in my career. It was my first record as a producer, and it became such an important song for an artist I had managed since the beginning.
What makes it meaningful is everything that came before it: the years of working alongside Joel, the quiet process of teaching myself production, and finally reaching the point where I felt ready to contribute in that way.
The song has remained significant since its release. Knowing that my first production could have that kind of lasting impact gave me the confidence to take this path seriously. It’s a record I’m proud of, and a reminder of what can grow from a small beginning.”
For Don Pyuza, “Olodumare” represents more than his first production credit. It connects his years of experience in artist management with the beginning of his career as a producer.
Having supported Joel Lwaga's development since 2017, the opportunity to contribute directly to his music marked an important transition in their professional relationship.
The record also demonstrated how the skills Don Pyuza had developed independently could become part of the work he was already doing within the Tanzanian music industry.
What made you decide to join Elizabeth Music Group Publishing, and what has your experience with the publishing roster been like so far?
Don Pyuza: “I want to build a lasting career as a producer and songwriter, and that means understanding and taking care of the business behind the music. Publishing is an important part of giving my work a strong foundation.
My decision to join Elizabeth Music Group began with a conversation with Zach, the CEO. When he explained EMG’s approach, several things stood out to me, particularly the monthly payment structure and the sense of security it offered.
Those early conversations gave me confidence in taking that step. As a creative, it matters to know there is a structure supporting the work you put so much of yourself into. That was a major part of the appeal for me, and it’s the foundation I want to build on through this relationship.”
For Don Pyuza, choosing publishing representation was part of a larger goal of building a sustainable career as both a producer and songwriter.
Elizabeth Music Group Publishing works with producers, songwriters, and composers to organize their music publishing rights, register eligible compositions, and collect publishing royalties from applicable sources worldwide.
The company also provides monthly royalty payouts in months when royalties are received, subject to its payment threshold, alongside access to publishing information and opportunities available to its roster.
As Don Pyuza continues expanding his production catalog, establishing a strong publishing foundation is an important part of supporting his long-term career.
What does your creative process look like when you're starting a new beat or song? Are there any habits, techniques, or instruments you always come back to?
Don Pyuza: “I usually start with the emotional direction: what are we trying to say, and how should someone feel when they hear it? That gives me a starting point for the musical decisions.
An idea might begin with a melody, a chord progression, a rhythm, or even a single phrase. Once something connects, I build around it, making sure the production supports the voice and the story. Guitar and keyboard are instruments I enjoy returning to when exploring those ideas.
I also believe in leaving space. Every sound should contribute something. Sometimes removing a part allows the performance to become more powerful. I want the finished record to feel carefully considered while still carrying the energy that made the first idea exciting.”
Don Pyuza's creative process places the emotion and message of a song ahead of the technical elements of production.
Rather than building a record around as many sounds as possible, he focuses on making sure each musical element contributes to the overall composition.
This approach is especially relevant to his background in gospel music, where the relationship between the instrumental arrangement, vocal performance, and lyrical message can be central to how a song connects with listeners.
Tell us a story about one or two records in your catalog. What was it like making them, or how did it feel when they came out?
Don Pyuza: “The story of “Olodumare” really begins before I knew how to produce. I had spent years working with Joel as his manager, thinking about his direction and the possibilities for his music. Meanwhile, I was learning production privately, without knowing exactly where it would lead.
By 2024, those two parts of my journey came together. The artist I had supported since 2017 became the artist on my first production. That makes “Olodumare” deeply personal to me. Whenever I think about its success, I also think about the beginner who started learning in 2021 with no major expectations. I couldn’t have predicted where that decision would take me.
“Unikumbuke,” with Joel Lwaga and Diamond Platnumz, represents another meaningful chapter. Having worked alongside Joel and my other co-producer Kaniba who started the beat melody from the beginning, I see a collaboration like that within the longer story of his growth. There is the record people hear, and then there are all the years of work that led to it.
That is one of the most rewarding parts of being both a manager and a producer: you get to contribute to individual songs while also witnessing the bigger journey taking shape.”
Both records highlight different stages of Don Pyuza's development as a producer.
“Olodumare” marked the beginning of his production career, while “Unikumbuke,” featuring Joel Lwaga and Diamond Platnumz, brought together artists and producers on a collaboration that reached audiences across East Africa.
The success of “Unikumbuke” also reflects the growing reach of Tanzanian music, with the record achieving major chart recognition across regional streaming platforms.
For Don Pyuza, however, the significance of these releases goes beyond individual milestones. They represent years of artist development, collaboration, and the creative relationships that helped make the records possible.
What are some of your goals for the future?
Don Pyuza: “I want to keep growing as a producer, explore my versatility, and work with artists across different genres and countries. Different Pop music style is an area I would love to explore more deeply, alongside the gospel music that has played such an important role in my journey.
I also want to build a catalog that lasts songs people continue to connect with years after their release. My experience in artist management has taught me to think beyond a single moment and consider how each decision contributes to a longer career.
Through my wider creative work and Ospo, I want to help create more opportunities for artists to develop and reach audiences. My ambition is to make music that travels beyond our borders while retaining the character and perspective of where we come from.”
Don Pyuza's ambitions reflect the combination of creative and business experience that has shaped his career so far.
Having spent years supporting artists from a management perspective, he understands the importance of developing music that can remain relevant beyond its initial release.
His interest in expanding into different styles of pop music, collaborating internationally, and creating opportunities through Ospo also points toward a broader vision for his future in the industry.
From his early involvement in church music to managing Joel Lwaga and eventually producing records of his own, Don Pyuza's career demonstrates how musical curiosity and long-term dedication can lead to new opportunities.
As he continues developing his catalog and working with artists across genres and countries, Elizabeth Music Group Publishing is proud to represent Don Pyuza and support the publishing side of his growing music career.
