To the delight of thousands of Capetonians, next month sees Justin Bieber back in the Mother City for his Purpose World Tour. And while we can’t wait to get down to his beats, we think the Cape’s got a lot of talent too. Which is why we’ve compiled a list of the top local acts that would totally hit all the right notes if they could collaborate with Justin.
1 Goldfish
From recording their first album Caught in the Loop in their own bedroom to performing at the internationally renowned nightclub Pacha, Goldfish have moulded themselves into one of the foremost dance duos in the world. Their track ‘Fort Knox’ from their second album Perceptions of Pacha landed in the Top 10 on the US iTunes Dance Charts. Given Justin’s exploration with dance music, Goldfish’s unfailing skill in this genre coupled with Justin’s attention-grabbing voice would culminate in an unmissable hit.
2 BlackByrd
With two of its members born in the Mother City, this trio of gifted ladies has passionately sung their way into the hearts of South Africans. Their debut album Strong scored five number one hit singles and boasts a distinctive country sound. Their second album Home closely followed the success of their first with three number one tracks but brings a new adult-contemporary sound to the table. This fresh style of music, featuring their trademark guitar strings, would harmoniously blend with Justin’s piano keys to form a moving ballad.
3 Locnville
These identical twin brothers combined their musical skills to form an electro hop duo that has taken the South African music biz by storm. They’re keen to work with producer Diplo, the brains behind Justin’s hit ‘Where Are U Now’ and were the opening act for the South African leg of the Biebs’ Believe tour. Having nearly shared the stage with him and having a common interest in electronic dance music (EDM), it would be a shame if they didn’t partner up. Plus, we’re sure that Justin would welcome the guys’ electrifying beats in one of his dance-inspired tunes.
4 Jimmy Nevis
Born and bred in Cape Town, this young crooner aims to reignite the flame of pop music in South Africa, believing that the genre has the strength to create memories he longs to be part of. His songs ‘Heartboxing’, ‘Balloon’ and ‘All About It’ have been wildly popular on the country’s commercial radio stations and across Africa. In 2015, Jimmy was nominated for the MTV Africa Music Award for Best Pop and Alternative so a joint effort with Justin would give both their sounds a novel spin.
5 Goodluck
Having taken charge of the stage at sold-out concerts in Amsterdam, Berlin and London, it’s clear Goodluck has not only charmed South African listeners but international partygoers too. The trio – formed by a singer, producer and saxophonist – prides itself on a uniquely African and newfangled sound melding electronica, pop and fine hints of jazz. It’s these jazz melodies that would bring an intriguing element to Justin’s recent embrace of R&B to produce a soulful number that will awaken his fans’ senses.
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Photography Getty images, Nardus Engelbrecht, Ziyaad Douglas, Darren Stewart/Gallo images