Long Story Short named Apple Music’s Up Next artist for South Africa

The announcement follows the release of the band’s sophomore EP, notes for later, which arrived after the recent single ‘daisy’.

The EP explores themes including uncertainty, nostalgia, heartbreak and self-discovery, with the band combining indie-pop with elements of other genres.

The project takes its title from the idea of recording thoughts, conversations and memories for later reflection. Its focus track, ‘hurricane’, pairs energetic, genre-blurring production with introspective lyrics, while ‘daisy’ and ‘shoes’ highlight the group’s approach to songwriting and experimentation.

“What an honour! It’s genuinely surreal to be Apple Music’s Up Next featured act for September!” long story short told Apple Music. “We are so, so grateful for the opportunity and for everyone who has supported us and this EP.”

“We’ve put so much of ourselves into these songs, and seeing them find their way into people’s lives is something we’ll never take for granted,” the band added. “We hope the EP continues connecting with people. We hope to see it soundtracking late nights, long drives, good times, bad times, and all the little moments in between.”

Through notes for later, long story short continues to develop its presence within South Africa’s alternative music scene, with the band drawing on different sounds while retaining an emphasis on personal songwriting.

As part of the Up Next programme, the group will be featured on Apple Music’s Up Next playlist, a global, genre-agnostic selection curated by Apple Music editors to highlight emerging artists.

Long story short joins previous South African artists selected for the programme, which forms part of Apple Music’s wider effort to support developing artists through editorial exposure and audience discovery.