South African twin duo Major League DJz have officially marked a new chapter in their career, debuting their evolving sound on Tim Sweeney’s Beats in Space on Apple Music 1. Known for pioneering the global rise of Amapiano, the DJs are now pushing boundaries with what they call “Beyond Piano.”
“We have the thing called Beyond Piano,” explained Banele Mbere during the interview. “It’s still House, like Amapiano is House, but now we’re taking the tempo up while still using log drums. Some call it a mix of Afro House and Amapiano—but it’s really just us evolving.”
This new sound signals a genre-fluid evolution for the duo, blending Afro Tech, 3-Step, Afro House, and global dance elements into a high-energy offering aimed at the international dance scene.
Among the highlights of the conversation was the long-awaited Jorja Smith collaboration, “Come With Me,” which finally saw the light after four years in the vault.
“We tried to release it before, but Jorja was going through some stuff,” Banele revealed. “It was originally Afro Amapiano, but we reworked it to make it more dance-oriented.”
Their Untitled Mix Series on YouTube is also part of this transition—serving as a creative playground for testing new directions while keeping fans looped into the process.
“It’s not about leaving Balcony Mix behind—it’s about showing different phases of our evolution,” said Banele. “Televising our sound is important in this era.”
Beyond sound, the Major League DJz also tapped into the cultural and spiritual importance of drums, emphasizing how African music transcends entertainment.
“Music in Africa is bigger than parties—it’s used in celebration, mourning, and spiritual connection,” added Bandile Mbere. “Even when we don’t understand it, the people feel it. That’s what makes it spiritual.”
When asked about their international breakthrough, they credited London as the first city to embrace Amapiano and their artistry.
