He pursued a music engineering course in the United Kingdom in the 80s. That afforded him a chance to work with the internationally acclaimed Scottish outfit, Orange Juice. On his return to Zimbabwe he worked at the Baptist music studio as a sound engineer. Mhlanga recorded the solo albums "Mukai" and "Music Ye Africa" with Jethro Shasha, both at Shed Studios in Harare. In 2001, he assembled The Louis Mhlanga Band with musicians who were influenced by jazz. The band was invited by SAFM, a South African radio station, to perform at the National Arts Festival. The group released the album "Shamwari" (Sheer Sound).