Yandani shares the inspiration behind his latest EP 'About You'
Yandani discusses his latest project, the inspiration behind the title track, and working with other international stars.
At just 20 years old, Yandani is quickly establishing himself as one of South Africa’s exciting young voices in African pop and R&B.
The singer burst onto the music scene in 2025 with his debut single, 'Honeydew'. While he comes from a family deeply rooted in music as the grandson of Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder Joseph Shabalala, Yandani is carving out his own lane with a fresh sound that resonates with a younger generation.
With more than one million TikTok followers, the singer has built a loyal fan base thanks to his distinctive voice and infectious music.
Earlier this month, he released his latest EP, 'About You'. Speaking to Sam Cele, Yandani said releasing the project simply felt like the right time.
The title track was born while he was in Cape Town on what he describes as “a really good day.”
“I just had a lot of fun making the song, for sure,” he said.
Asked what he loves most about 'About You', Yandani said it has to be the hook.
“It was the hook because I just wanted something that was very fun to sing and not too serious. I didn’t want people to have to learn a whole lot of words. I just wanted something people could chant, sing out loud, have fun with and just be free.”
Yandani also spoke about working with international stars, Sasha Skotcha and Steven Barnes, an experience he describes as exciting.
“It was a big deal to me because they’ve worked with some of the most amazing talent, really big A-listers. Getting the opportunity to work with them was honestly shocking and super exciting.”
Although he admitted he was nervous at first, he said the pair immediately made him feel comfortable.
“They were so welcoming and nice.”
Despite working with internationally acclaimed producers, Yandani says he wasn’t starstruck.
“I’ve been singing since I was little. I’ve been dreaming of singing my own music for the longest time. Now that I finally have the opportunity to do it, I’m just living in the moment and enjoying every second of it.”
The singer also encouraged fans to keep an eye on his social media pages for updates on upcoming music and performances.
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