Soaring ascents, the kind that can take an artist from obscurity to stardom in what seems to be the blink of an eye, don’t occur often, in dance music or elsewhere – those who are lucky enough to have that experience often disappear just as quickly. But there’s little chance of a quick fade for [...]
AfroTech is a prominent dance music style in clubs around the world — but in its country of origin the genre's future hangs in the balance. Setumo-Thebe Mohlomi reports on the need to support creativity and spirituality within South Africa's scene Waving hands reach for the sky, or something beyond it; some with flat palms [...]
In South Africa's burgeoning ballroom scene, pioneering figures and DJs are finding their own ‘Ha’ in the country's past, and in the contemporary sounds of gqom, amapiano, and Afrobeats. Tazmé Pillay learns more “DJ, cut the beat.” The room falls silent — an unforgivable sin anywhere else, but this is no nightclub. This is a [...]
Award-winning DJ and producer Nkosinathi Maphumulo, popularly known as Black Coffee, is set to make history on October 7, 2023, when he becomes the first South African act to headline Madison Square Garden in New York City. The show will feature a 12-piece orchestra, surprise guests, and a 360-degree stage setup, according to Billboard. Black Coffee will [...]
The musical artist Musa Keys performing at the Afro Nation festival in Miami, in May.Photograph by Chris Allmeid / Courtesy Afro Nation A new form of South African dance music is thriving. A pair of twin brothers, known as Major League Djz, want the rest of the world to pay attention. It was [...]
Apple Music today announced the latest featured artist in its Africa Rising artist development program is Nkosazana Daughter, an Amapiano singer-songwriter hailing from KwaZulu-Natal. “I am over the moon to be the cover star of Africa Rising for my debut album that’s just dropped! Thank you to Apple Music and to all of you [...]
For those who don't know you, tell us a little about yourself, where you are from, and how you first got into dance music. I was born and raised in South Africa, but grew up in the US. I got into dance music via the Winter Music Conference. Some NYC friends suggested [...]
Uncle Waffles and DBN Gogo to headline Audiomack House debut in Johannesburg, South Africa Africa’s leading music streaming platform, Audiomack has announced the launch of its latest initiative “Audiomack House”, a platform created to connect its best performing artists and partners with audiences through a series of live shows across Africa. The event will make [...]
The identical twin brothers and DJ partners Banele and Bandile Mbere speak on the origins of their sound, ‘New Beginnings’ EP and recent set at Tulum’s Day Zero festival. Low-tempo bass, scattered piano melodies, pounding percussion dotted with synth – there’s a chance, if you’re into house music, that you’ve heard of an emerging [...]
Madzadza Miya speaks to triple threat amapiano star Musa Keys about inspiring new evolutions in amapiano, fashion and the importance of being independent WORDS: MADZADZA MIYA | PHOTOS: MISHAAL GANGARAM 3 JANUARY 2023 In the highly competitive amapiano scene, the multi-faceted, trailblazing, and fashionable Johannesburg-based Musa Keys possesses talent and star quality that makes him stand out. The [...]
