Over the past decade, Ballantine’s True Music has had its finger on the pulse of the music industry. The company has been at the forefront of showcasing local music culture on a global stage, championing headliners, emerging artists, and regional scenes around the globe.
After 10 years of Ballentine’s True Music, the institution has partnered with one of its regular collaborators; Boiler Room, with the duo embarking on a 10-stop global tour of some of the world’s most diverse music communities. Since working together, Ballentine’s and Boiler Room have supported and represented over 800 pioneering headliners and emerging artists, as well as local scenes from over 30 countries across six continents.
The partnership has helped represent local music culture globally, cutting through the mainstream to uncover the most innovative music scenes, from South African Amapiano to Colombian Reggaeton. The former is what has been represented to the highest degree most recently, with Ballentine’s and Boiler Room heading to Johannesburg, South Africa, to host a multi-stage, multi-genre event that showcased some of the world’s most innovative artists, including Louie Vega and Kenny Dope’s iconic garage duo; Masters At Work, DBN Gogo, Tyler ICU, Toccororo, as well as several True Music alumni, including Coco Em and Scorpion Kings.
Highlights from the event came from a melange talent, with the likes of Jay Music — who stormed onto the South African music scene in 2022 with his hit song “Trip Sessions” — providing a slew of infectious beats and soulful melodies, all of which captivating the audience to inspire two-steps throughout the venue.
Meanwhile, WondaGurl — also known as Ebony Naomi Oshunrinde — took to the stage, presenting her Canadian roots with a selection of vibrant instrumentals built off her previous production credits from working with the likes of Travis Scott, Rihanna, Jay-Z, and more. South African rapper and songwriter, Maglera Doe Boy arrived to perform, too, who shot into millions of playlists across the globe following the release of “Never Ride.” The single went viral on TikTok, which was soon picked up by labels, execs, and tastemakers alike.
Take a closer look at what went down at the Ballentine’s True Music x Boiler Room event above and below, with additional performances from the likes of Maglera Doe Boy and EVEHIVE, along with exclusive imagery from At The Sessions.
