South African multiplatinum-selling artist and Amapiano heavyweight Mr JazziQ is gearing up for the release of “KATALIA,” a new collaboration with Thesiix, Don Deeya, Magwe and Shazz RSA that brings together music, street culture and South Africa’s vibrant stance car movement.
Set for release through ONErpm, “KATALIA” ventures into Bujwa, an Amapiano subgenre pioneered by Thesiix, while drawing unexpected inspiration from one of the world’s most recognisable dance records.
Who — or What — Is KATALIA?
At the heart of the record is a playful concept built around KATALIA, imagined as a woman who is known, loved and recognised in the streets.
But the name takes on a second meaning through South Africa’s stance community. Within the world of customised and modified cars, “KATALIA” becomes a term that can be used to describe a standout ride — effectively turning the song’s central character into a wider cultural reference.
“‘KATALIA’ is about the streets and the energy around them. The idea started with this girl who is known and loved in the streets, and then we connected that idea to the stance car culture. When someone posts their car, they can say, ‘here’s my Katalia,’ so the name becomes bigger than just the song,” says Mr JazziQ.
The concept fits naturally into Mr JazziQ’s growing relationship with car culture through Stance Social, his event platform celebrating stance cars and the community surrounding them.
‘Macarena’ Finds Its Way Into Bujwa
Perhaps the most unexpected part of “KATALIA” is where its musical inspiration began.
The record draws inspiration from Los del Río’s global hit “Macarena,” after Don Deeya heard the song following Spain’s World Cup victory and began considering how its familiar melodic idea could be reinterpreted through a distinctly South African sound.
Rather than recreating the original, the collaborators use an interpolation as the starting point for something rooted in contemporary South African street culture.
Bujwa gives “KATALIA” its rhythmic identity, allowing the artists to move away from a conventional Amapiano formula while retaining the genre’s ability to absorb and reinterpret influences from elsewhere.
A Studio Session Turns Into a Collaboration
According to Mr JazziQ, the record developed organically in the studio.
Don Deeya revisited the melodic idea he had previously recorded and tested it over the beat. Once the hook was in place, Magwe added his contribution before Shazz RSA later joined the session.
“Don heard the beat and remembered the melody he had previously recorded after hearing the original after the World Cup game. Tried it on the mic and once done with the hook, Magwe jumped on the song,” Mr JazziQ explains.
Shazz’s arrival added another dimension, with the collaborators deciding that a softer female vocal texture could help complete the record.
‘KATALIA’ Brings a Series of Firsts
Beyond the collaboration itself, “KATALIA” marks several career firsts for the artists involved.
It will be Mr JazziQ’s first Bujwa release, while Thesiix will release his first Bujwa record featuring a female vocalist. Shazz RSA, meanwhile, makes her debut on a released Bujwa track, and Don Deeya will release his first record featuring a female artist.
For Mr JazziQ, the move into Bujwa adds another chapter to a career that has consistently evolved alongside Amapiano.
After emerging as one of the genre’s influential early figures through JazziDisciples, he has built a solo career extending beyond records into nightlife, cultural platforms, podcasting and entrepreneurship.
From the Song to Stance Social
The world behind “KATALIA” will extend beyond streaming platforms and into the physical culture that helped inspire its concept.
Mr JazziQ’s next Stance Social event is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg on 7 November 2026, creating a direct link between the record and the stance community it celebrates.
Alongside Stance Social, Mr JazziQ continues to expand his entrepreneurial footprint through ventures including Vibez on Main, while maintaining an active live schedule.
Amapiano Continues to Reinvent Itself
“KATALIA” ultimately demonstrates how far Amapiano’s cultural reach has expanded.
What began as a musical movement has grown into an ecosystem encompassing fashion, nightlife, dance, language and street culture. By combining Bujwa with an interpolation inspired by a globally familiar melody and imagery drawn from South Africa’s stance scene, Mr JazziQ and his collaborators are positioning “KATALIA” within that wider cultural conversation.
