Cape Town Top 100 Projects Of 2024
It’s finally here and my god was this one of the biggest challenges I’ve had to face in a long time.
2024 was a year full of sublime music releases from the brightest minds coming out of the Western Cape, ranging across so many different genres and sounds.
It was a year that introduced us to a range of brand-new artists, showcasing why they need to be taken seriously. At the same time, the more established figures continued releasing music that reminded the public why they reached that position in the first place.
VERVE constantly had me up to date with the Western Cape music environment, always peeping new music from different talents. I thought it’d be a cool idea to do a ranking of the many projects I listened to throughout the year.
This list is filled with the many EPs, LPs, mixtapes, and albums I had the joy of experiencing. I ranked them according to not just the quality, but more on how the project left me feeling after listening to it. To me, music is about how it makes an everyday person feel, telling stories through unique sounds.
Strap in those seatbelts and enjoy the ride. And remember to check out the projects I mention down below. This province is filled with the most incredible creatives and I’m so proud of what they were able to produce over the year.
100. Changing Channels - Tae Legolie (14 June 2024)
Bursting onto the scene with her debut mixtape, Tae did a decent job of displaying her stunning vocal ability over smooth instrumentals. What impressed us the most was how the whole project was made by her and nobody else to assist her. There’s a ton of potential stored in this young songbird.
99. THE CABIN - Mr T. the CABIN MAN (December 2024)
I have no idea what I was listening to with this four-track project. All I knew was that I enjoyed the mysterious instrumentals I was hearing backed by exciting drum kicks while Mr T’s vocals awkwardly hovered over the sounds. A very interesting project indeed, but in a good way.
98. FAMILY HOUSE - phenyo WAZE (1 September 2024)
This six-track EP had WAZE reflect on a dark moment in his life, narrating his story over gloomy instrumentals. I wasn’t sure how I truly felt about the project after my first listen, but somehow, I kept going back and finally understood how and why the whole dark-toned project worked so well.
97. The Great Dabane - Soso x Kelly (3 August 2024)
I don’t recall how I stumbled across the track “I DID IT”, featuring Simulationrxps, but I remember immediately checking the rest of the EP. This tape was filled with energetic Hip Hop joints that had the Xhosa rapper flex his lyrical talents in a special kind of way. I especially enjoyed the track “Amankazana” which had Anele Matshoba impress us with his sweet verse.
96. New Chapter - IsiieBoi CPT (5 November 2024)
IsiieBoi’s talent for crafting enjoyable Qgom music is a gift not many in Cape Town have. This project was filled with entertaining dance tracks, infusing explosive Qgom beats with enchanting instrumentals. If you’re a fan of the popular genre, I highly recommend you peep this project.
95. Mthatha Othathayo - DJ Switch & BhutLegend (31 May 2024)
This dynamic duo merged their gifts together to bless us with a highly entertaining project packed with thrilling Xhosa Hip Hop joints. What we also loved about this project was the massive list of cameo appearances, having the likes of Soul T iDyan, Ngezking, Orish, and many more talented musicians all do their thing on the project.
94. DEEP DOWN - TrustedSLK & PFLONERD (22 November 2024)
In this seven-track album, another talented duo flexed their musical gifts over heavenly sounds. SLK really has a way with her lyrical abilities, and this project was a bliss to listen to.
93. SilkRoad - L3bby (23 September 2024)
A unique attempt from the Cape Town music world. This album attempted to use riveting instrumentals (similar to Drum n Bass) with an upbeat tempo while merging unfamiliar sounds and raunchy vocal performances over the beats. A strange but intriguing sound from SilkRoad.
92. Thunderous Lover Strikes Again - Jimi Priceless (4 June 2024)
Jimi Priceless, a brilliantly minded musician from Mitchell’s Plain, dropped his fifth project in the timespan of six years, continuing to prove his worth with his workload. This project had a bundle of bouncy love tracks that had us grooving with every tune.
91. SHAWTY MUSIK & DEMONS - BoMalone (30 August 2024)
Dropping his first project of the year, BoMalone did a fantastic job building such an astounding body of work. While sticking to his traditional Hip-Hop tones, this twelve-track album had the talented musician also take on more of a soft RnB approach, going for a more singing approach, and we loved every bit of it, especially on the tracks “What’s Next?” and “Aint No Sleep II”.
90. NEW DAWN - Sani Lockeheart & Tiffany Harvey (1 May 2024)
Having two talented singers on a project was the smartest move these two artists could’ve pulled off, displaying how easy it was for the two to bounce off of each other, crafting beautiful R&B love songs for us to relish.
89. Forever Greatful Album, Vol. 4 - JabsCPT (25 October 2024)
The Capetonian Gqom hitmaker delivered yet another banger. This album was filled with exhilarating dance numbers that had us blasting this in our Ubers over the festive season. An absolute stunner of a project.
88. Skree en Huil - Elle E (2 October 2024)
The Afrikaans genre continues to push intense heavy rock tunes with large amounts of raw energy. This tape from the talented vocalist had her rock out to loud guitars and riveting kicks from the drums. This was a fun project to indulge in.
87. Cocoon - Ama Gaisie (15 November 2024)
What we may believe to be her debut project, Ama Gaisie produced a soulful five-track EP, exploring wonderous sounds while utilizing her soft yet enchanting vocals. The track “Foolish” is the one that stole our hearts, but the entire EP was gorgeous to listen to.
86. Glimmer - Ollie & The Wulf (19 January 2024)
There’s a reason why Techno music in Cape Town is such an adored genre. With projects like this releasing, displaying dystopian sounds and hypnotizing beats, it’s no wonder this city is the one that represents the underground genre with such pride.
85. SLo -Motion - iamSlolo & Moshito (22 March 2024)
With only four songs on the EP, both Moshito and iamSlolo did an impeccable job at combining their distinct wordplay, flows, and energy over attractive Trap instrumentals. The two did a wonderful job at manufacturing a jovial project.
84. ZOMBIEZ. - makwil. (3 July 2024)
The talented Capetonian has seen a steady rise in the music world, and this short but sweet EP proved exactly why that’s the case. Every track presented how versatile an artist makwil. is, and we’re confident he’s got more in the vault for his hungry fans.
83. Dayimane - GRIZZLY_SA (15 November 2024)
If there was one artist who had one hell of a 2024, it was GRIZZLY. The guy just couldn’t stop releasing new music, topping off the year with his phenomenal album release that gave us countless entertaining Xhosa Hip Hop numbers to enjoy.
82. Tronics Land Series 3 - Mr Thela (6 December 2024)
The Metro Award-winning Gqom producer continued his dominance, the next installment of his “Tronics Land” series, blowing dance fans away with his stimulating dance tracks.
81. Pareidolia - Thor Rixon & Helena Goddard
It’s been an amazing experience following Rixon’s journey through the Techno scene, and this two-track project had him teaming up with the gifted Helena Goddard, bringing us some of the most beguiling dance tracks. It’s a shame we couldn’t experience one or two more songs of the project, but we still loved what we received.
80. Crossroads - The Bird (19 July 2024)
Indie-folk music is simply just happy music. This project brought emotions of joy and sunshine, a true feeling of ecstasy. We adored the groovy instrumentals while the gifted singer graced every tune with her stunning melodies. Whenever you’re feeling down, add one of these tunes to your playlist cues. We assure you that you won’t be disappointed.
79. 21 - phenyo WAZE (11 August 2024)
This was a brilliant three-track EP from the talented poet, having him speak on various topics that have been troubling him over decorative instrumentals. We especially enjoyed “UNDERSTAND” and having recently dropped his newest tape, titled “FAMILY HOUSE”, the constant hustle from the youngster will surely reward him in the near future.
78. The 1 - Mwai (1 August 2024)
Mwai continued his ascension within the underground Hip Hop scene with his 2024 album, “The 1”. This project had the eighteen-year-old Trap sensation dominate every track with his captivating vocal performances over menacing instrumentals and Trap beats.
77. Mama Ghost - Holy Alpha (29 August 2024)
Seeing Alpha’s stocks continuously rise in the Hip-Hop scene is always impressive to witness. The bright star from Khayelitsha used this album to explore different sounds, bringing out an even more dynamic side of her, and it was awesome to hear such a dope project from the rising gem.
76. Cape Riot - Cape Riot (13 September 2024)
I’m pretty sure that if I had to play this project around my God-fearing mother, she’d probably send me for another baptism. This EP had the Capetonian Rock band go awol with loud guitars, heavy drums, and raging vocals that had my eardrums losing their shit. This is the true Rock sound Cape Town has been so popular for producing.
75. 7100 MAFIOSO’S - Slim Lanez & iamSlolo (18 December 2024)
Another project featuring iamSlolo, this project was filled with unparalleled sounds and beats that had the duo easily vibe out too with their gripping lyrical abilities. You could tell they had a blast making this project, especially on the track “KNOCK KNOCK”.
74. WAVVY IS A BEACH - Wavvy Flava (31 December 2024)
Honestly, this could’ve been at a higher position. Unfortunately, it’s only here because it literally released four days ago so I haven’t really had the time to fully absorb it. Not to worry though, this was still a brilliant project that had Wavvy impress on every Afro-inspired beat thrown his way.
73. Sgubhufontein - Cairo CPT (15 November 2024)
The talented Gqom producer set the tone perfectly with this tape, having Cairo produce invigorating beats while featuring many talents like Minollar, Anelisa N, uBiza Wethu, and T-Man all put in an impressive shift with their cameo appearances.
72. OkLonwabO - Tallrickyworldwide (13 December 2024)
The “CHOM” sensation dropped his 2024 EP, continuing to prove why his name is making massive waves within the Cape Town music world. With the success of his hit single, it only made sense for a remix for “CHOM” that had the likes of LaCabra, Buzzi Lee, Apexdontplay, mtshanakamalume, Barblee, Simulationrxps, and Sonwabile all have fun on the hit single.
71. AnXieTy / Smalltown Boy - Aidan Fraser (16 August 2024)
Aidan Fraser is a name we’ve got high hopes for, with the polished vocalist continuing to drop stunning music. This short but sweet project had the singer capture our hearts with his bubbly yet sorrowful performance on the tracks “AnXiety” and “Smalltown Boy”, showcasing how gifted of a musician he is.
70. NOVELTY (VOL.1) - TVZ (23 June 2024)
This dark and moody Trap EP by the enigmatic TVZ had us fall in love with his distinct sound, having the ability to shake the room with his high-pitched vocal performances over spine-chilling instrumentals. We look forward to a full-length album from this rising gem from the Mother City.
69. RICHER TASTE - Sonic C (25 October 2024)
What fun this was to listen to. Sonic C has this incredible gift of turning any of his joints into a Trap anthem that had me turning up to each and every tune on this exciting EP. I messed with the cameo appearances too, having the likes of MC.CPT, TeddyJames III, PatricKxxLee, and KindlyNxsh enhance the listening experience by a thousand times.
68. 7even - Lynn Cupido (3 October)
A mate of mine introduced me to this gifted songbird after playing her song, titled “Move”, and I instantly fell in love with Cupido’s luscious voice. The whole project followed the same formula, displaying her heavenly talents over charming instrumentals.
67. Expressionism - Pat Mckeown (28 November 2024)
Pat used this album to introduce listeners to a whole array of strange and unique sounds that had my head scrambling all over the show, however easily piecing all the sounds together. These sounds are especially present on the track “Cosmic Horror Tape 1” (which I highly recommend) and moments like these are why I adored this project.
66. 31 Y?EARS AHEAD OF TIME - YoungstaCPT (16 August 2024)
The well-respected Capetonian lyricist used this project to reflect on his past experiences, detailing his growth over the years, and proving how much of a better person he’s become. It’s actually insane knowing this is his 33rd mixtape and it just shows how much of an inspiration Youngsta truly is
65. TLC: Ezamathsothso - Bvse (31 July 2024)
There’s just something about Bvse’s heavenly vocal performances, that always seem to put us in some sort of trance. This project did just that, with the talented singer voicing his love stories over brilliantly crafted beats, produced by Villainbehindxx.
64. Inception - Chaise Williams (16 August 2024)
If we had to describe this project using one word, we’d define it by simply saying it was lively. Chaise has an incredible gift in terms of bringing out the vibes and energy on anything he touches, and this album from the Capetonian entertainer showed how easily he’s capable of doing so, with assistance from multiple well-respected artists in the game.
63. The Guy for the Three Stripes - Lelam (28 June 2024)
Another new gem breaking onto the scene, Lelam dropped this three-track masterpiece. With just three tracks on the project, this was a seductive listening experience, having the gifted vocalist grace his voice over luscious house beats that had us wanting to sway our hips from side to side.
62. NFH: The Mixtape - BabyDaiz (6 December 2024)
Although currently based in Joburg, many have informed me about BabyDaiz’s Capetonian roots, so I figured I’d include this stunner of a Trap project on this list as it really had me feeling energetic after the first listen. I guess that’s what Daiz’s music is well-known for, and this tape did exactly that.
61. Mirage - Moskitos (1 November 2024)
Over the short number of years, this talented band of Psychedelic Garage Rock always levels up their game, bringing us spine-chilling, head-banging tunes for Rock lovers to enjoy. The intro alone, titled “Umbra”, already had me prepared for what was to come on the rest of the album, which was captivating to experience.
60. HOOD GOSPEL - WRCKLESS WAVE (16 December 2024)
This Hip-Hop crew from Stellenbosch blew us away with their explosive take on the Hip-Hop genre, merging all their talents into one project that had us bumping every track at the highest volume. I tend not to do comparisons but if Jozi has the Qwellers, the Western Cape needs to focus on this young group who seem to be putting in the work.
59. 10 MINUTES AWAY - Stanley Branson (25 October 2024)
The genre of Heartbreak R&B is one that has always had my heart, having singers with heavenly vocals narrate their sombre stories of love while riding passionate instrumentals. This three-track EP contained all of those elements and more, and Stanley put in an incredible amount of effort to capture that feeling of sad romance.
58. NIMBUS - In2une (20 November 2024)
The sounds coming off this EP were fascinating to explore, with the gifted beatmaker easily inviting us into his world of wonder, featuring tracks that had an upbeat yet smooth vibe to them with Jazzy elements that brought this project to life.
57. A Crab With Sunglasses On - Yum Yuck (17 May 2024)
Alternative-Indie music hasn’t felt this good in so long, and that’s all thanks to Yum Yuck, Cape Town’s forefront runner when it comes to this category. Tracks like “Crossing Paths” and “City of Strangers” are stunning illustrations of the type of exposure the genre has been begging for in a long time. A grandeur body of work!
56. Guilt Free - Hanna (17 May 2024)
This EP by the talented lyricist from the Mother City had me vibing out to every track, with her bringing her vibrant energy on each song, enhancing her talent of crafting the most atmospheric tunes the country has been craving for in a long time. She’s really mastered the sound of combining elements of Hip Hop and R&B perfectly together.
55. TRANSPARENT - Chante (14 June 2024)
What a joy of a project this was to listen to. The Capetonian R&B songbird came out with a bang this year, dropping this project that had her flaunting her vocal abilities over heavy trap-inspired R&B beats that had us instantly falling in love with her sound.
54. Lost Scrolls, Vol. 2 - Postman L (6 December 2024)
This was one of those projects that really put you as the listener in the shoes of the artist. Postman succeeded at immersing me into his world, understanding the troubles he has to endure with his outstanding poetry and wordplay over elementary yet menacing Hip-Hop beats.
53. RIP - We Kill Cowboys (29 March 2024)
I’m not even exaggerating. Listening to this project had my blood boiling. Not in a bad way though, I guess it was just all the loud raging instruments that had me feeling like punching a hole in the wall. I love listening to music that has the ability to drag those feelings out of me, and this project by the Capetonian band did just that.
52. Murder in the Bathroom - Pat Mckeown (31 January 2024)
Again, Pat features on this list for a second time, but his year of music justified that. Compared to “Expressionism”, this project took on a bubblier approach, with lovely melodies over scintillating instrumentals. Obviously, I preferred this one more over the other, but honestly, both were just brilliant enough to listen to.
51. The Elephant - TWO (3 November 2024)
If you’re a lover of Boom Bap beats, I guarantee you will love this project. TWO made this project the perfect opportunity to have a whole load of cameo appearances from some of the most talented wordsmiths all having the time of their lives over the enchanting beats.
50. Bedroom Cowboys - Locals Only RSA (29 November 2024)
If you’re looking for one of them classic road trip projects filled with smooth Indie-Folk vibes, this may be the one for you. Nothing too intense, just sweet melodies from the Cape Town band, simply bringing wholesome music for easy-going people with this delightful EP.
49. SAME TIME TOMORROW - Pluto Melodic (25 November 2024)
Ever since we heard Pluto’s hit single, “So Bad”, for the first time, we just knew the guy had the X-factor, and we finally received an EP from the talent, showcasing his magnificent voice over an array of splendid R&B instrumentals alongside acts like Kashcpt and Gemma Fassie.
48. Rear View Mirror - Yamiko (9 August 2024)
We were super excited to hear that a project would be coming from the Capetonian-based performer. We had already fallen in love with her hit single “Blest” and listening to the rest of the project opened our eyes to how gifted a singer she truly is, gracefully hovering her vocals above mesmerizing RnB instrumentals.
47. iii - SILENT IVY (6 November 2024)
SILENT IVY is a true poet. Having recently released his three-track bundle, titled “iii”, the Capetonian wordsmith did an impeccable job at revealing the truest thoughts that have come across his mind. The instrumentals were a joy to listen to, having smooth Jazzy elements wonder over IVY’s performance. Nothing too hectic, just tranquil sounds. Credit must be given to Jarry Pitboi and Kyle Pieterse for their production efforts.
46. Thabo and the Crows - Thabo Krouwkam (3 May 2024)
I don’t know how Thabo and his crows (bandmates) come up with such bizarre music. However, it always works brilliantly. I’ve always known what Thabo was capable of creating, but this four-track EP blew my mind away with his quirky melodies blended with the Xhosa language over stimulating instrumentals that had me up on my feet dancing, especially with the track “Siyazalana”.
45. Oistrophaneia - Blue Vow (13 September 2024)
This was one hell of a dark four-track EP to listen to from the Capetonian singer. The tone of the short project sent shivers down my spine with the menacing instrumentals ringing through my ears, while Chelsea’s angelic melodies continued to wander over the eerie sounds of this project. A great project but you have been warned.
44. Dark - Tyler Page (13 December 2024)
The rising Pop sensation finally dropped her EP, further developing her unique sound within the underrated genre. It’s clear to see how confident she’s become, taking on darker themes with her music over upbeat instrumentals. I’m sure we’re going to get a ton more great bodies of work from the upcoming gem.
43. Find Yourself - Lovegarden (2 August 2024)
This album was a beautiful kind of journey to experience, having the band display a whole array of sounds throughout the ride. At some points, I was slowly listening to solemn sounds before being shifted into a world of roaring sounds that made my heart rate climb. It made sense why they gave this project this title. It really felt like I was on a spiritual journey of my own with all the ups and downs.
42. RICHB4FAME - Richi Rich (30 August 2024)
This project was proof to all artists, that trying out something completely new and out of this world, could prove to be a success. This EP had the Capetonian-based star merge Hip-Hop and Rock elements, bringing us a truly remarkable sound that has been missing in the Cape Town scene.
41. Out of the Dark - Sakawa Boys (28 June 2024)
Surely Punk music in South Africa hasn’t been appreciated enough and it’s a damn shame, especially when one stumbles across a band like the Sakawa Boys. This eight-track project gifted us some mesmerizing tunes that had us falling in love with the genre the instant we first tapped play on the project.
40. ENDLELENI - Creed Oasis (23 April 2024)
I cannot explain further how impressive this album is. Especially when you realise it was all done by a nineteen-year-old. What fascinated me about this album was Creed’s gift for telling his story of his growth while always switching up the energy levels on the different songs, always gifting listeners something new to experience.
39. 3SIXTY - Fleeqy (29 November 2024)
After what felt like an eternity, the multi-talented virtuoso finally made a comeback to the scene, dropping what we consider her best work yet. Blending her lyrical gifts with her heavenly singing abilities was everything we had hoped for and was exactly what we thankfully received with this project.
38. Remember December - Porcelain Moon (4 December 2024)
Closing off their wonderful year of music, the talented couple gifted us with a bundle of four enchanting tracks that had us feeling warm and fuzzy with their stunning sounds, especially with their cover of “Walking On A Dream” by Empire Of The Sun.
37. Gangsta Baby - Ziggy4x (8 November 2024)
I think we can all agree that Ziggy was the hottest prospect to break onto the music scene in 2024, captivating listeners with his intense Afrikaans Taal. This project was filled with spine-chilling Drill anthems that solidified him as the next star to raise the Cape Town flag within the SA Hip Hop realm.
36. 29m2 - Nic Van Graan (11 October 2024)
Nic Van Graan has been known to provide listeners with some of the most charming tunes that really know how to hit the spot. The three-track EP told a beautiful story of Nic’s struggle with adapting to a new life in a new city away from Cape Town, being carried by sweet melodies and stunning instrumentals.
35. INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS - Nyota Parker (28 March 2024)
The second we heard the beat for the intro track (MIDST) on this project, we already knew how impressive of a project this would be from the Capetonian/Irish virtuoso. The album featured brilliant wordplay and wonderful singing performances over gorgeous instrumentals.
34. HOLDING/EVOLVING - Hunter Rose & Maloon TheBoom (8 March 2024)
The Capetonian powerhouse of a singer, Hunter Rose, teamed up with the Swiss producer, Maloon TheBoom, to present a gorgeous blend of Soul and R&B music. Tracks like “SELF”, “TIME”, and “GLOW” showed us how great of a pairing the two made and we hope to see them work together again.
33. First Light - Lost//Youth (3 May 2024)
The definition of beauty is easily experienced through listening to this project, with the talented group showcasing some of the most heavenly musical performances we have heard in a long time. Every guitar strum or drum beat had us feeling affectionate about our emotions and that’s only thanks to this wonderful project.
32. Pretty In Pink - Jak Tomas (29 August 2024)
We cannot express enough how marvelous this EP was to listen to. Jak Tomas has this gift of not only crafting amazing music but also being able to invite us into his world with his divine sound. Tracks like “Forgiven”, “Lost & Found”, and “Hide Us” were blissful for us to experience, putting us in what felt like some sort of trance.
31. BASED ON iWAAR - SimulationRxps (2 August 2024)
Witnessing SimulationRxps’s ascension from his “Ezay Zolo” days to his latest release, it’s safe to say the Langa rapper has everything going for him. This EP had the lyricist take on more of a Kwaito angle, bringing listeners an uplifting vibe. Our standout moment was experiencing Simulation joining together with LOOKATUPS and K.Keed for the track “SONKE” which we absolutely adored.
30. Share The Pill - Filthy Hippies (5 July 2024)
The Cape Town Rock scene will never fall short of talent. Filthy Hippies released this awe-inspiring project, showing the nation how exhilarating the genre can truly be, with loud drums continuously banging over raunchy guitar riffs, creating a twisted yet phenomenal atmosphere.
29. NOT SO DISTOPIA - Hugo Pooe (16 August 2024)
The Punk genre has seen a refreshing come-up of many talents in South Africa, and Hugo Pooe is the latest to make this popular sound his own. This album was awesome to listen to, with loud guitar instrumentals raging over exhilarating drums in the background, having Hugo bless his vocals over the stimulating instrumentals. We urge you to keep an eye out for this rising Capetonain talent.
28. THE HEIST - Mark Akol, Sipho The Gift (5 April 2024)
Gifted producer, Mark Akol, collaborated with Sipho The Gift to release some of the most explosive Hip-Hop tunes to come out of the Mother City. The beats were mind-blowing, using weird background sounds over chunky 808s while they spat their riveting bars over the dynamic beats.
27. Night Owls - Run Into Waves (27 September 2024)
This EP had a huge punch to it, instantly throwing a wave of heavy messaging over loud yet sensational instrumentals. This tape had its moments of darkness, deeply speaking on the troubles many go through and the instrumentals were a joy to listen to.
26. wide awake, i’m dreaming - BOLEYN (11 December 2024)
The Capetonian/Australian songbird released this debut EP, instantly impressing many with his wholesome performance on every track of this tape. I loved how the singer was able to blend elements of Soul with the uplifting sounds of the Pop genre, crafting a truly enjoyable project.
25. Sink or Swim - ADV (20 June 2024)
2024 really was the year for multiple debut projects in Cape Town and ADV was another on the list, gifting Indie-Punk/Rock fans a body of art filled with amazing instrumentals and wonderful vocal performances. The track “FUR” was definitely my favourite, and I’d highly recommend you peep this seven-track album for yourself.
24. Ndilapha - Nomfundo Xaluva (6 September 2024)
The legendary songbird gifted us with her third studio album, blowing listeners away with her incredible voice that swayed above smooth yet wonderful Jazz instrumentals that had me feeling like my head was above the clouds. It’s projects of this high standard that continue to prove her worth within the music world.
23. I See the World - Wynand Fourie (9 August 2024)
I had only recently discovered this four-track EP and I can already confirm how big of a fan I am of Wynand’s sound. The blend of Funk and Rock had my head swaying from side to side with each track bringing about a jovial emotion out of me with the sweet yet energetic sounds he was able to bring about.
22. Meraki - Liamar (21 October 2024)
It was clear to hear how emotional of a project “Meraki” was to Liamar, deeply speaking to the listener on his everyday struggles in such a captivating way. The poetry and instrumentals from this project were sublime to listen to with the virtuoso tapping more into the Jazzy Hip Hop sound and he passed with flying colours.
21. No Shame - Psilk (6 December 2024)
Psilk is one of the few geniuses within the Western Cape who has mastered a sound of such uniqueness. This project was lovely to listen to, having weird dystopian instrumentals blend with his dreamy vocal abilities. I honestly can’t wait to see how this virtuoso from Oudtshoorn develops more with this distinct sound.
20. Face to Face - Face Jackson (1 November 2024)
If you’re looking for an album that’ll have you jumping off your seat and breaking out into a little dance, this is the album for you. Face Jackson did an incredible job at manufacturing a project filled with vibrant Indie sounds with the sweet sounds of the guitar riffing in the background while the group’s performance impressed with their powerful lyrical abilities.
19. Jewels - Dwson (31 May 2024)
Dwson’s domination in the Deep House scene isn’t slowing down anytime soon, especially with album releases of this high standard. This project was filled with impressive dance numbers that had us pumping up the volume to its max. Don’t be too surprised when you hear some of these jams playing in the clubs.
18. Psalms of Yellow House - Yellow House (28 June 2024)
I loved everything about this album. This was a project that had me feeling sentimental after just one listen, which was a good thing. The intriguing instrumentals and the dull tones of Yellow House’s performance was everything I needed, and all those factors contributed into such a heavenly sounding album.
17. Time Machine - Digital Sangoma (3 May 2024)
Digital Sangoma is no stranger to dropping some of the most outstanding bodies of music in SA. Being his fourth album release, the gifted musician wasted no time showcasing why he’s so admired, blending sweet African sounds while telling his story of love and hardships. A true work of art.
16. Sec_ndary - In2une (9 August 2024)
I keep finding myself returning to this stunner of a project. Whatever samples or instrumentals In2une touches turns to gold and the beats for this tape were phenomenal to lose myself in. It’s an album that one can easily experience with refreshing Jazzy elements over insane beats crafted by the young mastermind.
15. A Dance More Sweetly Played - Kyle Shepherd Trio (18 November 2024)
The gifted Capetonian pianist and composer closed off his 2024 with a fantastic twelve-track album, gifting fans a body of sweet melodies and amazing performances from the trio. I feel like this kind of sound is still an underappreciated form of genre and just listening to this album reminded me why the genre needs to be showcased more in the mainstream.
14. Ma’Orie 3 - Orish (22 November 2024)
I’ve always been a fan of Orish’s work. However, this one specific EP from the Capetonian rapper astounded me. The beat selection was insane, having heavy Trap beats while the young MC dominated every track with his highly appreciated Xhosa rap style. If I had to describe this project with one word, the word would simply be fun.
13. God Bless iKapa. God Bless Mzantsi. - Thembi Dunjana (28 June 2024)
This talented composer invited us into her world of gorgeous music, infecting listeners with an array of refreshing Jazz sounds while she dominated the keys of the piano. I adored this project as it further explored what the Cape Town Jazz scene can offer for the world to finally appreciate.
12. The Great Fire of Beatenberg - Beatenberg (5 April 2024)
There’s just something about Beatenberg that constantly makes us feel jolly when listening to their bubbly music. This album by the award-winning band was filled with uplifting Indie jams that had us reminiscing the good old days when they first burst onto the scene with “Chelsea Blakemore” back in 2014, and it’s easy to remember why the whole nation appreciated their talents.
11. Hindsight 2020 - Francis Soal (1 November 2024)
Listening to this album by the eccentric Francis Soal was a whole rollercoaster experience. The instrumentals ranged from raging noises to subtle yet sweet melodic performances form the intriguing musician. There have been a ton of projects that had me captivated however there was something different about this one. I don’t know what it was, but I loved every second of it.
10. Luna - Mars Baby (23 February 2024)
It still shocks us to know that a talent of Mars Baby’s level really originated from the Mother City. This project was a stunning performance from the talented singer, having the likes of Lordkez, Filah Lah Lah, and even Shekhinah assist him in crafting this wonderful album.
9. Constitution - Asher Gamedze & The Black Lungs (30 August 2024)
I don’t even know how to begin describing this phenomenal album from the bright mind of Asher and The Black Lungs. All I could confirm was that the whole experience was one I had not heard of before, with an eerie Jazzy atmosphere that constantly had me wondering what kind of sound I’d be hearing next. It felt like I was watching a thriller film, and it’s why I adored this lovely project.
8. Death of a Big Black Dog - Blue Vow (29 November 2024)
Everything about this album left me with goosebumps. The whole creepy environment Blue Vow crafted with this project was perfect as I constantly listened to her soft vocals glide across the most haunting yet beautiful instrumentals. I warn you now, this album is not for the faint-hearted.
7. Safari’s Sunset - D3NZL & T!MBO (19 April 2024)
The environment the two crafted for this unforgettable EP was simply splendid. The duo merged their talents to gift us with a project filled with soulful sounds that brought emotions of love and warmth. Every instrumental was heavenly to listen to with T!MBO impressing with his charming singing abilities. This is the one to listen to during the summer season approaching.
6. ROLE MODEL (DELUXE VERSION) - Internet Girl (30 August 2024)
We’ve seen all kinds of genres try and make it big in Cape Town, however Garage-Rock was one we didn’t see succeeding. Internet Girl made us reverse those feelings, with this EP proving that if done right, it could come out perfectly, and this project from the young trio gave us a ton of hope for the future. That “PULL UP” track is still an absolute banger!
5. River Wide - Dylan Fine (6 December 2024)
The talented Capetonian guitarist/composer blessed the country with a sophisticated body of soulful Jazz music, showcasing his gifts with the instrument over seven different tracks. Dylan has this attractive way of serenading listeners with his sultry gifts and this project proved just that.
4. ANEMOIA - Master Kiii & Andre Loot (14 June 2024)
The talented wordsmith teamed up with the proficient producer, Andre Loot, to gift us intriguing boom-bap beats with the poet continuously spitting his message over the delightful beats. Kiii used this EP as a medium for expressing his personal thoughts on everyday state of affairs like spirituality, religion, social constructs, and his experience navigating through the modern world while battling his demons like his individual conflicts such as anxiety and confusion. A real ass listnening experience.
3. RATHER LIE - giuliette price (5 January 2024)
This talented songbird created one of the best music experiences I had listened to in such a long time, displaying her bewildering vocal abilities over the most soothing Jazzy instrumentals. There’s just something about this four-track EP that makes me feel merry every time I listen to it. It could be the upbeat instruments or just her heavenly voice. Whatever it is, the project left me feeling like I was on top of the moon, and it’s why I adore it so much.
2. If It Were Colour - Eziah (17 May 2024)
We were honestly mind blown after experiencing this wonderful project. Eziah was able to craft a truly unique album, with each track using mesmerizing different elements that made us feel like we were walking through a lush green forest. What we loved the most was Eziah’s decision not to insert the feature names on the tracks, so hearing acts like K.Keed, SimulationRxps, or Flow Jones Jr on a joint had us feeling jovial. If you’re a sucker for intriguing instrumentals then we highly recommend you peep this project.
1. In The Wake - Kujenga (20 March 2024)
For a sophomore album from a young jazz group, this was an outstanding way to leave a first impression. The talented group from Cape Town used this project to showcase how they’re able to come together to compose music of divine quality and we loved every bit of this project from start to finish. It’s probably why they were nominated for a SAMA and we know they got much more in store for the nation.
All in all, 2024 was a fantastic year for music in the Western Cape. As a music lover, I was more than satisfied to experience such a variety of music with such a high regard for quality and storytelling.
There were countless other projects I listened to that didn’t make it on the list. Trust me, I adored them too and I urge the public in the Western Cape to continue to support our underlying prospects who are waiting to make a name for themselves within the SA music scene.
However, I also urge you to check out the projects that I listed as I believe they were worthy enough for the nation to enjoy and I look forward to what 2025 has to offer.
