A brand new collaboration between two different sides of the musical coin promises a new genre of South African sound with this unexpected nuanced ode to love. Famed beats master Candy Nm brings his charm and wit to the kaleidoscope production featuring Afrikaans koeksister pop-rocker Egmond. The enticing earworm, Mjolo Nex (Don’t Wanna Die), sticks around long after the less than 3-minute bopper has stopped.

The single, described as an exciting mix of true African sounds and urban vibes, was playfully teased on both artists social media profiles, until Candy Nm spilled the beans that the artists have been in the studio – together, sort of! Recorded in their respective studios in Mbombela and Richards Bay, the collaboration was something that Egmond says blew him away, calling it the biggest honour to be invited by an artist of Candy Nm’s stature.

Both artists have already had success with mutual indie label, Next Music, and the idea to do something together came up late last year. Says Egmond, “months later I received two songs to write lyrics and music to. One I recorded a demo for. The other is still in a drawer somewhere. But a few days later this banger arrived out of the blue. I got goosebumps when I listened to it.”

Candy Nm gave a brief rundown of what the Zulu lyrics meant. Egmond had carte blanche to write his part in English. “I had no idea how to match his already alluring melody,” blushes Egmond, “but after an afternoon in front of the telly I stopped watching cartoons and ran to the studio. I had an idea and had to try it out.” Two hours later the lyrics and melody had been written, and vocals recorded. “It all happened so fast. But it felt so easy and true. I sent it in and waited. Thirty minutes later my phone exploded with voice notes from Candy!” “This is gonna be big brother!” was Candy Nm’s repeated response.