Local and International Summer Singles

Plan your summery escape this holiday with these red-hot local and international songs. From breakout amapiano anthems, to the rise of Generation Z prodigies, these are the red-hot songs that are about to soundtrack your summer.

Whether your plans for the summer consist of poolside chilling, or top-down cruising, here are some of the freshest local and international tracks from the brightest artists that are set to be the soundtrack to your summer!

Amapiano continued its chart domination this year with MFR Souls’ “Amanikiniki featuring Major League DJz, Kamo Mphela & Bontle Smith” picking up a nomination for TikTok Song of the Year, while Manu Worldstar’s “Choko (Amapiano Remix) featuring. MFR Souls” saw Apple Music’s Africa Rising recipient branch out into a more dance-rooted territory, and Black Motion marked their 10 year anniversary releasing the uplifting  “Marry Me featuring Msaki”.

The cream of SA’s hip hop crop also didn’t come to play this year with AKA’s blistering “Casino featuring Sho Madjozi” off ‘BHOVAMANIA’, K.O announcing a new chapter with “Lucky Star”, Yanga Chief cementing his place in hip hop on “BBAF”, and Riky Rick dropping a fashionably-forward video for “UNGAZINCISHI featuring Tyler ICU & Focalistic”.

Shekhinah also returned with synth-laden single “Fixate”, R&B breakout star Elaine released her debut video for “Risky” after announcing a historic signing to Columbia Records, and Sho Madjozi fused gqom, hip hop and contemporary Xitsonga in the fast-paced “January”, gqom anthem “Sena Ala”, the broody “Jamani” and “Shahumba” featuring Thomas Chauke in his first-ever collaboration.

The First Lady of Amapiano, Sha Sha, also branched out by incorporating different genre elements into her new single “Woza”, while Afro-pop songstress Simmy experimented by teaming up with Da Capo and Sun El Musician for the stirring dancefloor banger “Emakhaya”.

Aubrey Qwana, the new voice of Zulu soul, released a cutesy single and video for “UKiss”, while Mlindo the Vocalist teamed up with Afro-pop singer Nathi for “Mali”, a versatile song brimming with emotion and soul.

On the international front, Miley Cyrus shed her pop persona for a new rock-rooted identity with “Midnight Sky” and “Prisoner featuring Dua Lipa”, while Harry Styles’ infectious “Watermelon Sugar” and his most recent, fearless anthem “Golden” see him enter a new phase of his pop career.

Lil Nas X returned with his own Christmas anthem “Holiday” but the current wave of Gen Z artists are hot on his heels – 24KGoldn is burning up the charts with “Mood”, Tate McCrae’s breakout hit “You Broke Me First” is about to surpass 50 million views on Youtube, and newcomer The Kid Laroi has staked his claim with melodic hip hop hit “So Done”.

So if you’re still confused with what your playlist should look like, let Sony Music Entertainment Africa’s new Playlist Generator help you in making an educated decision. By entering your name into their slick Playlist Generator it will create a playlist for you based on SMEA’s most popular songs from the last year. Just head on over to SMEA’s social media to find out what you or your BFF’s name says about your song selection.

If you’re hitting the road this festive season be sure to look out for the flashy digital billboards featuring AKA, Simmy, Sho Madjozi, Yanga Chief, Elaine, Sha Sha and MFR Souls across Bedfordview, Bryanston, Brooklyn, Edenburg, Menlyn, Pretoria East, Sandhurst and Sandown in Gauteng as well as Selborne in East London, that will run from 14 to 24 December.

And if you’re doing the long commute home, keep a look out for the same artists on taxi rank screens in Alexandra, Daveyton, Randburg, Bloed Street Pretoria in Gauteng; Nelspruit and Hazyview in Mpumalanga; Botshabelo in Free State; Rustenburg in North West; Polokwane in Limpopo;  Berea Station/Warwick, Richards Bay, Vryheid and Newcastle in KZN; Mdantsane in Eastern Cape; and Kimberley in Northern Cape.

So whether you’re in the front seat or catching a ride, there’s no reason for you to be without a banging soundtrack this summer.