SA: Samthing Soweto breaks Apple Music record with Isphithiphithi

A ‘pre-add’ occurs when an Apple Music subscriber registers their interest in a full album ahead of its release. The South African record was previously held by international US singer Billie Eilish.

“I am surprised and excited, I didn’t know there was another record to be broken, which is a great feat for me,” Samthing Soweto said. “I thank all my fans for being so supportive and loyal.”

Samthing Soweto also recently became the first local artist to have simultaneous number one releases on both the Apple Music Singles and Album Charts in South Africa with a Pre-Add release.

The 13-track Isphithiphithi album is off to a flying start on Apple Music with almost three times the number of streams of the number two album. His music has also been featured across various playlists including: Today’s Hits, Mzansi House, New Music Daily, Mzansi Hits, Amapiano Lifestyle and Mzansi Soul.

“Samthing Soweto has been credited for his phenomenal vocal and song writing abilities, with his sound having been described as ‘pantsula culture meets New Wave World’,” Apple Music said. “He has also been compared to ‘the South African sounds of Marabi, Isqathamiya, Imbube, American doo-wop or the early Trenchtown Wailers’.”

This year, artist development company Platoon signed him to a distribution and services deal. Samthing Soweto has established his roots as one of the founding members of The Soil and is credited for his outstanding vocal appearance at the group.