Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena [email protected]
MULTI-award-winning Afro-Soul musician MJ Sings is charting a new path in his music career, combining his trademark soulful vocals with DJing in a move that is broadening his creative horizons and expanding his appeal to new audiences.
The musician has developed a hybrid live performance concept that merges live singing with DJ sets, a format that has gained popularity internationally, particularly in Europe where Afro House and electronic music continue to enjoy strong support.
MJ Sings joins a growing list of African and international artists who have successfully bridged the gap between vocalist and DJ, among them Black Coffee’s collaborator Shota, Grammy Award-winning musician Zakes Bantwini, Koven, Porter Robinson and Kaleena Zanders.
For MJ Sings, the transition was a deliberate step aimed at challenging himself creatively and expanding his musical repertoire.
To achieve this, he enrolled at Nizhe De Soul (NDS) DJs Academy, where he spent two months learning the fundamentals of DJing under the mentorship of acclaimed DJ Nizhe De Soul.
“I studied DJing at NDS Academy, which was founded by Nizhe De Soul. He has been my teacher throughout the entire process, from the very first step to the live performance implementation. It took me about two full months. Luckily, I already have a background in music, plus he really broke everything down for me easily.
“At first, it was a really tough adjustment from performing as a vocalist to DJing because I had to leave my musical ego outside the door and start learning the basics of music from scratch.
Fortunately, I have a great teacher, so he carried me through the process while monitoring my strengths and weaknesses,” said MJ Sings.
The musician admitted that returning to the role of a student after establishing himself as a successful vocalist was one of the biggest challenges of the journey.
“Some days, I felt discouraged because I was no longer used to starting afresh, but I knew it was something I wanted. So, I continued to show up every single day for two months with the same hungry attitude. It’s so funny that I still go to the academy now and then because you never stop learning,” he said.
His dedication has already begun paying dividends.
MJ Sings has since introduced the DJ-vocalist concept at several events, including Suk Festival, Nizhe De Soul and Friends, Skyz Metro FM and The Mix and The Menu, where audiences have been exposed to his new performance style.
The artiste is also preparing to take the concept to Roots Zw in Harare, where he is set to share the stage with Afro House acts JNR SA, Tefo Foxx, Ryan Synth and Samuel Cosmic.
MJ Sings said the response from both music lovers and fellow DJs has been overwhelmingly positive, with many embracing the unique blend of live vocals and DJ performance.
He believes the concept stands out because it offers audiences a richer live experience, combining technical mixing skills with the emotion and musicality of live singing.
The Wangi Thembisa Nami hit-maker said his move into DJing has felt like a natural progression rather than a departure from his roots. He likened DJing to playing a musical instrument, saying the decks have become another tool through which he expresses his artistry.
With DJing now firmly part of his creative arsenal, MJ Sings is setting his sights on international markets, particularly Europe.
“We’ve been getting some enquiries about touring Europe, but it’s a different ball game. Everything that side moves by the book, so we’re trying to secure an agent because everything needs to run through that process,” he said.
Despite embracing a new dimension to his career, MJ Sings insists that soulful live music remains at the heart of who he is as an artiste.
“I always believe that I carry my soulful side to every genre I tap into. But if I were to choose one, then definitely the live soulful music will always be my home. I’ve made sure that my DJ sets include some live singing so that the audience gets a balance of both worlds,” said MJ Sings.
As he continues to refine his hybrid performance style, MJ Sings is positioning himself among a new generation of artistes who are redefining traditional music boundaries while remaining true to their musical identity.
