Just in time for the December groove, Fourways’ own J.Smallz teamed up with Chymamusique and Namhla Mbawuli to drop Only You, a song that celebrates love.
For many emerging artists, collaborating with established names can seem like a distant dream.
For Pheto Mabena, who performs under the stage name J.Smallz, that dream became a reality with the release of Only You, a soulful house track created alongside South African DJ and music producer Collen Mmotla, popularly known as Chymamusique, and vocalist Namhla Mbawuli.
The connection began through Sanele ‘DJ Mizz’ Wili, who introduced J.Smallz to Chymamusique after working together on a house track called Keep Going.
“It led to a mutual love for what we all did as musicians and creators of music,” said J.Smallz. “It allowed me to transition from R&B to house music, which connects people like no other genre.”
Chymamusique’s signature deep house sound influenced the creative direction of the song. “He had just created some amazing instrumentals and sent me a couple, but this one stood out for Namhla .
“I watched how the passion within her rose, and decided, on the spot, that it would be the soulful track that gets us in. The song in itself became an ode to our love for music, thus… Only You.”
The journey from pitching the track to studio recording was a continuation of a long-standing collaboration. “Chymamusique and I actually met in 2018, and have been working together since then on other people’s projects.
Both Chymamusique and I are sound engineers, so, at the beginning of this year, we decided to get Namhla from the Eastern Cape and create the fusion in the studio.
“Truth be told, it was just me and Namhla recording the vocals together, with the freedom of expression at our fingertips.”
Beyond the sound, the song carries a message of love and passion. “I love amapiano, for the fact that it brought back love and spirituality to music. So, I hope, from this, people enjoy and fall in love more. Just love more.”
J Smallz hopes the track will open new doors for him. “Personally, I’ve had an amazing career helping others shine. What I truly hope this song does for me, and my musical family of soldiers, is that we truly conquer Africa with tours.
“That’s where Mizz and Chymamusique become so important to me, because of the way house music and DJs can connect and share and create experiences with songs in moments unexpected sometimes.”
The song is available on popular music streaming platforms.
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/only-you-feat-namhla-mbawuli-chymamusique-mizz-single/1851299073