SA: Shekhinah reimagines Lebo Mathosa’s ‘I Love Music’ for Spotify EQUAL anniversary

The release forms part of Spotify Singles, a series of recordings that gives artists an opportunity to reinterpret existing songs or present new material. The latest version connects Shekhinah’s contemporary sound with Mathosa’s enduring catalogue.

Originally released in 2006, ‘I Love Music’ has accumulated more than 1.8 million streams globally on Spotify, with 88% generated in South Africa. The track has also appeared on more than 70 000 user-generated playlists worldwide.

The song’s streaming performance in South Africa has increased consistently since 2018, recording an estimated compound annual growth rate of 95% over the subsequent seven years. It is also on course for another strong year in 2026.

The track’s audience spans several generations. Listeners aged 35 to 44 represent the largest age group, followed by those aged 18 to 24 and 30 to 34. Men account for 63% of its streams, while the song continues to attract Gen Z, millennials and Gen X listeners.

Gauteng accounts for a significant share of its South African audience. Johannesburg has generated more than 700 000 streams, representing almost half of the song’s streams in the country. Johannesburg, Pretoria, Centurion and Midrand collectively account for more than 75% of its South African streams. Durban, Cape Town and Gqeberha are also among the leading cities for the track.

Spotify launched EQUAL in 2021 to promote women artists and address gender disparities in the music industry. The initiative operates across several markets, including Sub-Saharan Africa.

Jodie Tabisher said Mathosa’s song demonstrated the ability of South African music to reach new audiences over time.

“Great South African music evolves, gets rediscovered and finds new listeners,” Tabisher said. “Shekhinah's reinterpretation is a celebration of that legacy while giving audiences another reason to connect with a song that has remained part of our musical DNA.”

The release also comes as older South African catalogue music continues to find audiences through streaming platforms, where playlisting and algorithmic recommendations can introduce recordings from previous generations to younger listeners.

Shekhinah’s version of ‘I Love Music’ is available on Spotify.