Internet Athi Named Apple Music Up Next Artist for South Africa
Cape Town-based singer-songwriter Internet Athi has been selected for Apple Music’s Up Next artist development program.
The program highlights emerging artists and provides support through editorial playlists and promotional opportunities.
“Music has always been my way of holding people close, even from a distance,” Internet Athi stated. “To be recognised as Apple Music’s Up Next South Africa artist feels bigger than me. It feels like a reminder that honest stories, sung from home, can still travel far.”
Internet Athi’s music incorporates elements of jazz, neo-soul, folk, and R&B, and focuses on themes of love, grief, connection, and personal reflection.
His songs ‘Wena’, ‘Nguwe’ and ‘Undithembisile’ have collectively reached over one million plays on Apple Music.
His debut album, Polymorphism, was released on April 27th and explores different forms of love – romantic, familial, and communal – referencing concepts such as Agape, Eros, Storge and Philia.
The album was recorded and mixed at Concept Records and mastered by Sonic Nursery, utilizing both live instrumentation and contemporary production techniques.
Following the album’s release, Internet Athi was included in the 2026 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz program and completed a national tour after a series of sold-out performances between late 2025 and early 2026.
Internet Athi, also known as Athenkosi Cetyana, is a published writer whose work has appeared at the Franschhoek Literary Festival and in Cover2Cover publications.
“To my supporters, thank you for every single play. Thank you for sitting with my music and for sharing it with your loved ones. Thank you for carrying these songs with such care and warmth. Ndiyanithanda kakhulu. This moment belongs to all of us,” he said.
As part of the Up Next program, Internet Athi will be featured on Apple Music’s Up Next playlist.
Past participants in the global Up Next initiative include Billie Eilish, Burna Boy, Tems, Rema, Bad Bunny and H.E.R..
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