Native Young

When asked how he would describe Native Young –  creator of the project Yannick says, “It’s a constantly evolving tapestry of culture, emotion and melody”. Formed in the garage of a Gugulethu marimba maker in 2014 – this brotherhood is blurring lines and breaking cultural barriers through their own distinct  brand of ‘Kasi pop’.

With members stretching from Khayelitsha to Spain – Native Young is an independent collective hosting a menagerie of rotating talent and eclectic taste. Their music itself is focused on returning to the grass roots of pop, raw African rhythm and simple storytelling. It’s this simplicity that has provided the group with a vehicle for deeper cultural exploration both musically and spiritually. Often fusing English, Xhosa, Sotho and Zulu lyrics in sweeping anthemic choral arrangements – Native Young certainly is an ode to African heroes like Umoja, Super Rail Band and Marumo – along with a melodic nod to western contemporaries like the Beatles.