South African vocal duo SAI HLE performed with a full orchestra at Red Bull Symphonic in Johannesburg on 13 and 14 June, marking the largest platform of their career and a first for the global series: two headline artists sharing the stage.
Red Bull Symphonic 2026
The Afro-house themed production, “Afro-house, Our Home,” took place at Montecasino before two sold-out audiences. Sisters Siphosethu and Amahle Koom sang on Sun-El Musician‘s track “Koyika,” as the house producer’s music was reinterpreted by conductor Chad Hendricks and the Red Bull Symphonic Orchestra alongside producer Dlala Thukzin. The second night was broadcast live on SABC 1, the first time a national broadcaster has carried the event.
SAI HLE’s Path to the Stage
Born in Gqeberha and raised between the Eastern Cape and Gauteng, the sisters began singing in church choirs. Their professional career launched in 2021, leading to collaborations with artists including Karyendasoul, BokkieUlt and Marcus Harvey, and a six-month performance residency in Spain. In 2024, they signed a global recording agreement with Platoon.
“Standing on that stage, with an orchestra behind us and the whole country watching, felt like every choir rehearsal and every late night finally meant something,” the duo said. “We have always believed that from little, much can come. This was that belief made real. To everyone who found us through ‘Koyika’: welcome. There is so much more coming.”
Manager Phenyo Kgaffe added: “SAI HLE have done the unglamorous work for years, the features, the choirs, the rooms that do not make headlines. Red Bull Symphonic is the stage that matches the talent. What people saw on that broadcast is not a beginning. It is a duo arriving exactly on time.”
Upcoming Releases
Viewer reactions on the livestream indicated that many were discovering the duo for the first time. SAI HLE are expected to release a new single in August, followed by additional tracks and a debut EP as part of activities planned across Africa and Europe between 2026 and 2027. Their current single, “UBUMNND,” is available on digital streaming platforms.
