Earlier this year, Metro FM radio personality DJ Sabby announced that he has teamed up with online talent scout agency, Flemoji, to spotlight some of the finest unsigned musicians in the country, effectively giving them a stage and audience so that they can further their careers as musicians. This is incredibly on-brand for DJ Sabby who has always been passionate about the local music industry and providing a space for young talent to be seen on a much larger scale. Now, the ‘Next Up’ project is here.
What began as an Instagram initiative for DJ Sabby to connect with upcoming talent during the Covid-19 pandemic has now become a complete and polished project as the ‘Next Up’ EP showcases up-and-coming talent he has discovered over the past few months alongside their packaged singles.
Over 40 artists were shortlisted for the project and 20 have been selected to collaborate on various tracks that were recorded and packaged at music recording studio and podcast radio station, Blueprint Studios in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. These include Pillboyy, MorenaQ, Maglakz, Nest, DeCool, KwaziM, Rowmy Flamez, CJaymnandi, Miss Nozinatorr, GTwizz, Leezy, Chemi, Spacesave Logic, Kaydoo, Soweto Acapella and Picasso BaBy.
“Everyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about building the local music industry and giving new artists a platform to showcase their work. We had a talent Search in the mist of the pandemic and it was all virtual via Instagram and it’s how the project was born. I am so excited to showcase these talented up-and-comers on this body of work,” DJ Sabby says of the ‘Next Up’ EP. “The group of people I picked for this had the right energy and were in the right mindset for such a task and it comes across in the music. It’s an experience that I won’t forget.”
