The Amapiano heavyweight says new music, emerging artists, podcasting and his growing network are all part of a much bigger vision
Mr JazziQ may be best known as one of the artists who helped push Amapiano into the mainstream, but the producer and entrepreneur is increasingly thinking beyond music.
Speaking to TheJournalistDJ.com in a candid interview, JazziQ opened up about his latest single “Katalia,” his commitment to working with emerging talent, the growth of his podcast ambitions and why he believes owning media is becoming increasingly important for artists and entrepreneurs.
And in an unexpected moment during the conversation, content creator and podcaster Shabba Shabba, popularly known as Shabbawama2K, interrupted the interview to jokingly pitch himself for a job, resulting in what could potentially become a new podcasting collaboration.
‘Katalia’ is about pushing Amapiano into new territory
JazziQ described “Katalia” as an attempt to combine nostalgia with a new sound, while continuing his broader mission of creating new branches within Amapiano.
“We’re trying to do something very nostalgic, but with a new type of vibe,” he explained.
For JazziQ, developing new sounds and subgenres isn’t simply about experimentation. He believes Amapiano’s longevity has partly been made possible by the different musical movements that have grown around its core sound.
“For Piano to be where it is today, it’s obviously because we have created all of these other channels that are supporting it from a distance,” he said.
The producer believes there is still room to build further, adding that they intend to continue creating new musical spaces that can help the movement “multiply and maximise.”
Mr JazziQ continues betting on the next generation
Another defining element of JazziQ’s career has been his willingness to collaborate with relatively unknown artists and producers.
During the interview, he spoke warmly about the young creatives currently surrounding him, pointing specifically to their hunger and work ethic.
“You can see the dedication in their eyes,” JazziQ said. “The effort in their work. Every day they are waking up to actually become more and more of what they want to be.”
He also confirmed that some artists from earlier chapters of his label journey remain part of the operation, describing the label as a platform that still has considerably more to reveal.
It continues a pattern that has become closely associated with JazziQ: using his established position in Amapiano to introduce new names and give younger musicians access to a wider audience.
Watching Amapiano go from small rooms to FNB Stadium
The conversation also turned to the extraordinary growth of Amapiano and the significance of seeing the movement command massive audiences.
Reflecting on a journey that began with producers making music and livestreaming from relatively humble surroundings, JazziQ said the scale Amapiano has reached doesn’t surprise him.
“Piano is a lifestyle,” he said.
“This thing, we saw it from when it was still this small. It actually is supposed to be running the world.”
His comments came against the backdrop of Scorpion Kings Live at FNB Stadium, where tens of thousands of fans gathered for a stadium-scale celebration led by Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa.
For JazziQ, who witnessed Amapiano long before its international explosion, moments of that scale represent just how far the culture has travelled.
JazziQ has bigger plans for podcasting
Music, however, is increasingly only one part of JazziQ’s business interests.
He revealed that the current season of his podcast is nearing completion and said plans are underway for an official launch and expansion of the platform.
“We’re obviously expanding the podcast now,” he said. “There’s a whole lot more we’re going to be seeing, and a lot of different topics we’re going to be tapping into.”
More significantly, JazziQ suggested that the ambition extends beyond growing a single show.
He wants to widen the network itself, with additional platforms potentially joining the ecosystem.
“There’s obviously other platforms that are also gonna come and join the network and expand, because that’s what we do,” he explained.
‘Media is currency’
Asked about building what increasingly resembles a wider entertainment and media business, JazziQ offered perhaps the most revealing line of the interview.
“Bro, I’ve been doing this shit all my life,” he said.
He then summed up his philosophy simply: “Media is currency.”
JazziQ referenced the principle of creating your own currency in order to “run your own world” — an idea that appears to mirror the ecosystem he is building around himself.
Alongside his career as an artist and producer, the interview touched on his interests across a record label, distribution, Vibes On Main, podcasting and live experiences.
Rather than relying solely on releasing records, JazziQ appears focused on creating platforms capable of supporting the music, personalities and culture surrounding it.
Shabbawama2K crashes the interview — and asks JazziQ for a job
Then came an unexpected interruption.
Shabba Shabba, popularly known online as Shabbawama2K, walked into the conversation while JazziQ was discussing podcasting and the expansion of his network.
Shabbawama2K is a fast-rising South African content creator, livestream personality, MC and podcaster who has become part of the Podcast and Chill Network ecosystem, including appearances as a co-host on Kasi Jam and Spreading Humours.
What started as an interruption quickly became an impromptu job pitch.
When the possibility of joining JazziQ’s growing podcast network was raised, Shabbawama2K indicated that he was open to opportunities.
JazziQ’s response turned the exchange into one of the interview’s funniest moments.
“The job is his,” he declared.
Whether the spontaneous exchange develops into an actual collaboration remains to be seen, but it offered a glimpse into the increasingly interconnected worlds of Amapiano, livestreaming and South Africa’s booming podcast culture.
More music — and a Stance Social EP is coming
JazziQ ended the conversation by making it clear that his expansion into media and other businesses doesn’t mean music is taking a back seat.
He teased several upcoming projects and events, including Stance Social on 7 November, a 16 December homecoming event, and plans for a Stance Social EP.
His final message was straightforward.
“There’s more music, more music, more music.”
For an artist who has already watched Amapiano evolve from an emerging township sound into a stadium-filling cultural movement, JazziQ’s next chapter appears to be about something broader: building the infrastructure, platforms and opportunities around the culture and making sure the next generation has somewhere to take it.
