A New Chapter: Beyond Piano Movement
South African dance duo Major League DJz have officially entered a new phase in their musical journey. In an exclusive conversation with Tim Sweeney on Beats in Space (Apple Music 1), the twins detailed how their sound is evolving past the Amapiano genre they helped globalize.
“We have the thing called Beyond Piano,” explained Banele Mbere. “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.”
An Unreleased Gem: Jorja Smith and ‘Come With Me’
They also revealed the backstory behind their collaboration with Jorja Smith on Come With Me—a song that had been in the vault for four years.
“We tried to release it before, but Jorja was going through some stuff… It was originally more of an Afro Amapiano or Pop Amapiano track, but we reworked it to make it more dance-oriented,” said Banele.
YouTube Evolution: The Untitled Mix Series
Their recently launched Untitled mix series on YouTube reflects the duo’s genre-fluid approach, incorporating Afro Tech, 3-Step, Afro House, and global dance elements.
“It’s our way of showing 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.”
Spiritual Power of the Drum
The duo also touched on the spiritual significance of drums in African culture, describing it as a tool of ancestral communication.
“Music in Africa is bigger than parties—it’s used in celebration, mourning, and spiritual connection,” said Bandile Mbere. “Even when we don’t understand it, the people feel it. That’s what makes it spiritual.”
London: A City That Got It First
On global reception, Major League DJz pointed to London as the first international city to fully embrace their sound.
“They connected with Amapiano first, and with us. London’s always been open to different genres, so they were natural early adopters,” shared Bandile.
2025: A Year of Building Toward Headliner Status
As for the rest of 2025, the twins are focused on integrating into the global dance market—laying groundwork for a headline takeover in 2026.
“This year is for building. More shows, more music, more entry into the VIP dance scene,” said Bandile.
“Next year? We’re headliners. Hopefully. That’s the goal.”
🎧 Tune in to the full Beats in Space episode on Friday, July 25th—live at 8AM PT / 11AM ET on Apple Music Club and at 1PM PT / 4PM ET on Apple Music 1, or anytime on demand.
