Coca-Cola introduced the updated version of Coke Studio with an exclusive launch event at the Hard Rock Café in Johannesburg on Thursday evening.
The event featured a panel discussion moderated by the media figure Moozlie. Major Steeze, an up-and-coming vocal duo, participated in the panel discussion and expressed their delight at being a part of the show.
During the debate, the panelists discussed how African music is now trending and how the brand is excited to provide a platform for the continent’s artists to flourish internationally.
The company added that the worldwide Coke Studio programme is digital-first, always-on, and gives creative talents the ability to partner, create, and deliver new and exclusive creative collisions to new and current audiences.
“Conductor” is a re-recording of Queen’s legendary “Kind of Magic” by seven foreign musicians, which was released in May of this year.
Coke Studio remarked, “This worldwide creative collision was developed from the belief that our magic rests in our unique diversity; it is in the actual magic of creative collaboration that we find the collision, the impact that feeds new ideas and captures new minds.”
Coke Studio also recruited a wide group of artists, including Ari Lennox, a Grammy-nominated American R&B star, Griff, a British singer-songwriter, Ekin Beril, a Turkish electro-pop producer, and Tems, a Nigerian singer-songwriter and producer.
They stated, “Here in South Africa, Coke Studio will come to life with some of the most brilliant local artists recreating their most popular songs into fresh and original musical experiences.”
“By collaborating with these artists, Coke Studio provides fans with mashups of their favorite music and content, thereby fostering deeper connections via music.”
Following the debate, DJ Zinhle began the celebration with a typically outstanding DJ set that drew guests to the dance floor. She was later joined by Zuma and Reece Madliss on stage.
Focalistic and Ch’cco performed a high-energy performance that included individual sets and a collaborative performance of “Sjepa” before R&B superstar Lloyiso closed out the night.