South Africa's rising Pop/R&B star steps into the spotlight with a sun-soaked anthem about love, obsession, and losing yourself in someone's presence
At just 20 years old, Yandani is proving that he is far more than a social media sensation.
With a growing fanbase of more than one million followers on TikTok, the South African Pop/R&B artist has already mastered the art of capturing attention. Now, he is turning that attention toward his music career with the release of Touch, a bright, infectious new single that serves as the first glimpse into his forthcoming debut EP, About You, arriving on 10 July 2026.
Confident, playful, and impossible to ignore, Touch introduces listeners to a new side of Yandani, one that embraces vulnerability while still knowing how to have fun.
At its heart, the song explores the exhilarating feeling of being completely consumed by someone. The kind of connection that leaves you counting the minutes until you see them again. The kind of attraction that has the power to pull your focus away from everything else.
“Touch is about being so in love with someone to the point where you lose control over your own life,” Yandani explains. “Even though the person seems to be playing games with your feelings, their beauty and presence are so powerful that you are willing to drop everything just to be near them.”
While the theme may be familiar to anyone who has ever fallen hard for someone, Touch never takes itself too seriously. Instead, it embraces the excitement, chaos, and thrill that come with young love.
Driven by infectious melodies and playful energy, the track captures the rush of obsession without losing its sense of fun. It is the kind of song that instantly finds its way onto summer playlists, road-trip soundtracks, and repeat queues.
For Yandani, creating music that makes people feel good was always the goal.
“I just want anyone listening to it to have the time of their life and enjoy it so much that they just want to keep replaying it,” he adds.
Behind the scenes, Touch brings together an impressive creative team. The single was co-written with acclaimed British songwriter and producer Sacha Skarbek, whose songwriting credits include James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful”, “Goodbye My Lover”, and Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball”, alongside songwriter Stephen Barnes.
The collaboration proved to be one of the most memorable parts of the project for the young artist.
“It was very fun writing this song with Sacha and Stephen. We didn’t want to make it super serious; we just kept it fun, bouncing ideas off each other. Having that much fun during the writing process was the most meaningful part.”
While Touch offers a taste of what’s to come, the bigger story lies within About You.
Set for release on 10 July 2026, the six-track debut EP is the culmination of two years of writing, recording, and refining across London, Durban, and Cape Town. Blending pop and R&B influences, the project explores the many emotions that come with love and self-discovery, from confidence and excitement to heartbreak and vulnerability.
Each track captures a different chapter of the experience, creating a body of work that feels deeply personal while remaining universally relatable.
More importantly, the project carries a message of resilience.
“With this EP I’m hoping that people see that even if you are sad and going through a lot, you’re still a baddie and you don’t need anyone to bring that down,” Yandani says. “You can cry and be sad, but my music is here to lift your spirit and remind you that you are the baddest.”
With Touch, Yandani is not simply introducing a new single. He is introducing the artist he is becoming, confident in his voice, comfortable in his vulnerability, and ready to make his mark on South Africa’s growing pop landscape.
And if this latest release is anything to go by, the journey is only just beginning.
_ In The Room
Published by Neontle Mogomotsi
