JazziDisciples were an

amapiano Amapiano ( Zulu for "the pianos") is a style of house music that emerged in South Africa in the mid 2010s. It is a hybrid of deep house, jazz and lounge music characterized by synths and wide percussive basslines. It is distinguished by high-pit ...

DJ and producer duo originating from

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. They were composed of two

record producers A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure.Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...

known by their stage names

Mr JazziQ Tumelo Manyoni known professionally as Mr JazziQ, is a South African Amapiano DJ and record producer. He is best known for being a former member of the amapiano DJ duo, JazziDisciples. Early life and education Mr JazziQ was born and raised in ...

and

Josiah De Disciple Josiah Makoela (born 3 July 1991) is a South African DJ and record producer commonly known as Josiah De Disciple. He is best known for his time with the Amapiano DJ duo, JazziDisciples, alongside Mr JazziQ. The duo split in 2018 to focus on ...

History

JazziDisciples music group members are originally from

Alexandra Alexandra () is the feminine form of the given name Alexander (, ). Etymologically, the name is a compound of the Greek verb (; meaning 'to defend') and (; GEN , ; meaning 'man'). Thus it may be roughly translated as "defender of man" or "prot ...

, North of

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...

. Their interest for music started at a very early age. They are known for their songs such as '' Long Lasting'', ''Sgubu Se Monati'' and their encompassing tag line ''Amapiano is a lifestyle''. The duo have since their debut performed on top music festivals such as

Afropunk Festival Afropunk Festival is an annual arts festival that features music, film, fashion, and art produced by alternative black artists. The Afropunk Festival began in 2005, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. Afropunk Festivals have also been ...

, Corona SunSets Festival and YTKO 32 Hour Fest and have shared a stage with local artists in the industry, such as

Cassper Nyovest Refiloe Maele Phoolo (born 16 December 1990), professionally known as Cassper Nyovest, is a South African rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, record producer and amateur boxer. Born and raised in Mahikeng, North West, he is regarded as one of the ...

and Black Coffee. They have appeared on various shows such as the Lockdown House Party on

Channel O Channel O is a South African-based music channel which first started transmission in 1997. Its main concept is African music in Africa and the diaspora. Channel O can be accessed via DStv, a satellite pay TV service for pan-African households. ...

and festivals in South Africa. They have also had various television and radio appearances and have also had various club and lounge appearances. On the 1st of November 2019, they released their first studio album titled ''Disciples of Piano''. The album featured collaborations from local musicians such as

Okmalumkoolkat Smiso Zwane (born Smiso Brian Mkhasibe; 27 July 1983), commonly known by his stage name Okmalumkoolkat (sometimes stylized as OkMalumKoolKat) is a South African rapper and half of the rap/electronic duo Dirty Paraffin from Umlazi Township in Dur ...

, Vigro Deep, Nomisupasta and DJ Buckz. The duo has also received recognition and nominations for their songs. In 2019, they were nominated for Best Amapiano record at the Dance Music Awards South Africa. To further expand the duo's sound and vision in 2020 they released solo projects. In March 2020 JazziDisciples released Mr JazziQ's EP titled ''0303'', which featured vocalist

Moonchild Sanelly Sanelisiwe Twisha (born 1987), known professionally as Moonchild Sanelly is a South African musician and dancer. She is known for her signature blue-coloured hair and her self-created music genre called "Future ghetto punk". Originally from P ...

. Josiah De Disciple's EP titled ''SOM'' (''Spirits Of Makoela'') was released in May 2020.

Musical style

They create

dance music Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement. In terms of performance, the major categories are live dance music and recorded danc ...

containing elements of afro house,

house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

and world music, combining live instruments such as bass, saxophones, keyboards, percussions,

flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

, and vocals with samplers, effects and synths.

Band members

Former acts

* Tumelo Manyoni – basslines, kicks, vocals * Josiah Makoela – melodies, chords, drums, piano

Awards and nominations

JazziDisciples was nominated as ''Best Amapiano Record'' at the 2019 Dance Music Awards South Africa.

Discography

* ''Black Child XXV'' (2018) * ''Bafana Ba Numba'' (2018) * ''The Load Shedding'' (2018) * ''IOP EP'' (2019) * ''Disciples Of Piano'' (2019) * ''Spirits Of Makoela'' (2020) * ''0303'' (2020)

References

External links

* *{{cite news , title = Interview: South African Amapiano Duo JazziDisciples Mean Business , url = https://www.okayafrica.com/interview-south-african-amapiano-duo-jazzidisciples-mean-business/ , newspaper = Okay Africa , date =16 June 2020 Amapiano musicians South African musicians South African DJs