In the age of viral trends and online fame, few stories have captured our attention quite like this one…
Emerging from obscurity straight into stardom, Mthandazo Gatya’s journey is a testament to the power of social media and the undeniable talent that lies within the heart of a true artist. It all began with a simple TikTok Duet Challenge, where he sang along to John Legend’s soulful ballad ‘Nervous’. Little did anyone know that this would spark a meteoric rise to global recognition.
A rocky road
Mthandazo, who was born and raised in a small township called Weilers Farm in the south of Johannesburg, has always had an ear for music and a dream of sharing his voice with the world.
“I grew up loving music as a child and was part of the school choir. In 2010, I won second prize in the TV show Jam Alley, and that’s when I realised how much potential I have. So ever since then, I’ve been working hard to pursue my music dreams.”
The biggest challenge was not getting support from his family. “So I had to figure things out on my own quite early on. At some point, I had to leave home to live with relatives because the career direction I had chosen was not accepted and was perceived as being lazy. So I’ve had my fair share of tribulations before entering the industry.”
Times were tough, but he eventually made a breakthrough in 2021 with his hit dance track ‘Senzeni’. Since then he’s released three albums, with Journey To Infinity (2022) being the most notable. After 13 years in the industry, he was nominated for Metro FM Awards in the Best Male and Best House Song categories this year.
“I’ve had so many moments where I thought I’d make it because my songs would get airtime on the radio, but no one was looking out for my work and willing to collaborate with me,” he reveals. “It’s only when I signed with Jozi Entertainment, and we started to change things like our marketing strategy, that things started happening.”
Liked, shared and officially viral
On 16 September last year, Mthandazo made a spur-of-the-moment decision to participate in the TikTok challenge. With his dulcet tones harmonising effortlessly with Legend’s lyrics, his rendition of ‘Nervous’ (with the chorus sung in isiZulu) struck a chord with audiences across the globe. The video amassed millions of views overnight and ignited an online frenzy.
@mthandazogatya #duet with @John Legend #nervous #johnlegend #openversechallenge #fytシ ♬ Nervous – John Legend
“I had just dropped my EP when I decided to check TikTok… John Legend’s #OpenVerseChallenge was trending, so I decided to jump on it as well and recorded my own version,” he says. He captioned it: “Beautiful song… I had to give it an African touch, what do you think?” Hours later, he realised that John had seen the video, and on Sunday the video was trending again because he had shared it on his Twitter. “The next thing I woke up and I was on stage with John Legend!”
Mthandazo shared the stage with the multi-Grammy Award winner later that month, when the star was in South Africa for a private Bidvest function. Legend surprised him with the request to share the stage. They later also recorded a video performance for the Global Citizen Festival, held simultaneously in New York and Accra, Ghana. “I didn’t think this duet would change everything so fast. Takes a minute for one’s life to change,” he tweeted.
I want to spread positivity so the music can revive someone’s spirit or give people hope.
Since blowing up on TikTok, Mthandazo has been booked and busy. “It’s a display of God’s power… Life has changed, I won’t lie to you. For the first time we are getting booking enquiries left and right. We have brands that want to partner with me, and I feel like people are paying attention. Now, when I walk in the streets, I have way too many people coming to me and asking for pictures and other interactions. Doors have opened!” he says with much gratitude.
The new ‘IT’ Guy
The ‘Ewallet’ singer is blessed with a winning combination of smooth vocals, heartfelt lyrics and undeniable charm, and has been called a breath of fresh air in the music industry. He has also remained committed to fusing traditional SA sounds with contemporary melodies.
“For a decorated artist to give me a nod and tell me I’m great is proof that dreams do come true. It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, anything is possible,” Mthandazo says. “I want to spread positivity so the music can revive someone’s spirit or give people hope.”
His hit song ‘Senzeni’, featuring DJ Manzo SA and Comado, has now received well over 2-million views on Instagram and 3.1-million views on YouTube.
“This song is going to change everything,” he says. “It became a global song before I could have an official song. I’ve just been getting a lot of love, so we will release it globally.”
The anticipated remix has been met with excitement, but this is only the beginning, as the likes of DJ Black Coffee, Da Capo, UK-based singer Simba and DJ Merlon all rush to get their hands in the proverbial cookie jar and work with Mthandazo.
“There has been a lot of love coming. For someone who has been writing and making songs about one day going abroad, to find myself in a space where I have everybody’s attention… I have a couple of big collaborations coming up that I am not allowed to disclose yet,” he hints.
Looking ahead, the triple-platinum artist remains focused on being the best dad he can be to his two sons. “Our fathers made mistakes and it’s a chain we need to break,” he says. “I wouldn’t trade the chance to be a father for anything.”
On the creative side of his life, he’s looking forward to honing his craft and creating music that speaks to the hearts of his growing fanbase: “I’ve had great times, I’m ready for the world!” Mthandazo’s path is an inspiring reminder that talent and the right platform – plus the magic wand of good timing – can create ripples of impact that extend far beyond the digital realm. As he continues to craft his musical narrative, one thing is certain: Mthandazo Gatya is a name that will resonate in the hearts of music lovers for years to come.
Words by: Charlton Knight
Photography: Gallo/Getty, Supplied
