Eagle-eyed hip hop fans may recognise 24-year-old MuRli as one-third of the very exciting God Knows/MynameisJohn collective. The trio released the much acclaimed Rusangano/Family album last year, and more recently, MuRli’s EP Surface Tension has been making waves, both in his hometown of Limerick and beyond.

Born in Togo, West Africa, MuRli has reached an interesting stage in life, having now spent the same amount of time in Ireland as he did in his birthplace. “Yeah it’s funny,” he begins, “I spent 12 years in Togo, and now I’ve been here 12 years – I’m in the balance! By the end of this year, I’ll have spent the majority of my life here.”
What was it like arriving in Limerick as a young ‘un? He laughs; “It was the coldest place I’d ever been! It was okay at first, as I came around summertime, but then it got really cold. As a 12-year-old, I couldn’t understand what was happening.” He continues; “But I loved it. I couldn’t speak English when I arrived, and the fact that I had to learn a new language – there was a certain excitement around that for me. I had to find a way to learn, which in turn led me to music.”
Had there been any earlier musical influences in Togo? “I listened to a French rapper called MC Solaar”, he recalls. “In my house at the time there were American gospel songs playing, as well as Togolese music, plus the likes of Phil Collins and Elton John. It was a great mix! As well as that, my grandfather and some of his brothers were musicians and singers, but for them it was all about storytelling. They made music, but wouldn’t call themselves musicians. So I’ve always approached music as a way of communicating with other people – creating stories.”
Having relocated to chilly Ireland, it wasn’t long before MuRli hooked up with Zimbabwean musician God Knows, then living in Shannon, and Ennis man MynameisJohn. “God Knows and I became friends around 2008,” MuRli explains. “He was making a mix tape with the group he was in at the time, and since I had the equipment, they came over to record. John was a youth service worker in Ennis. God Knows and I used to perform at youth service events there, and got to know him through that.”
The trio released the Rusangano/Family album last year, though MuRli was also writing songs for what would become his own debut EP, Surface Tension. Over seven thoughtful tracks, the rapper verbalises his own experiences, from a tense relationship with his father to a pretty dark time in his life a while back.
“I had made the decision to become a musician, but after college [he studied Music & Media at UL] not finding a job in that sector was tough. I took a job I didn’t like, and that made me realise that you have to focus on what you’re good at and what you want. I’ve learned a lot about patience and perseverance.”
With regard to his lyrics, he reflects, “I can’t ignore the issues around me, including my own. As a human being I feel like I have a responsibility to contribute to the bettering of society. You may not be able to change the world, but you can use making music as an opportunity to get ideas across.”
Though the EP is fresh off the press, MuRli, God Knows and MynameisJohn are already plotting their next project. “We’re going to officially amalgamate into one group,” MuRli reveals. “Then we’ll head back to the studio for what will be our most ambitious project so far.” Can he tell us more? “I would tell you”, he grins, “but you wouldn’t believe it!”