Sound engineer Oyama Songo has officially stepped into the spotlight with his debut single “Nkosi”, a 3-Step inspired track that signals a new chapter in his career.
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Grammy award-winning sound engineer turned DJ Oyama Songo is stepping into a new chapter of his career with the release of his debut single, “Nkosi”.
After years of shaping the sound of some of South Africa’s leading artists from behind the scenes, he is now ready to claim space at the forefront.
Asked what inspired the transition from working behind the scenes to stepping forward as a DJ and recording artist, he noted: “The behind-the-scenes career in South Africa is great, but there is so much you can do and influence when you start to put yourself forward and build a brand in the public space.”
“The love I have for music wants to grow, and the next step in my growth is that of coming into the limelight. ‘Nkosi’ is the perfect introduction to my production style and the sound that I am pursuing in this next chapter of my journey.”
Born in Engcobo in the Eastern Cape, Songo’s relationship with music began long before the awards. He studied sound engineering at City Varsity in Cape Town, where he refined his technical skills and developed a deeper understanding of music as both art and science.
After completing his studies, he relocated to Johannesburg to pursue a full-time career in music and audio production.
His professional journey took shape at the historic Downtown Music Hub. He started as an intern and worked his way up to Senior Engineer, building a reputation for precision and consistency.
His breakthrough moment came at the 61st Grammy Awards in 2019, where he received a Grammy for his engineering contribution to Soweto Gospel Choir's “Freedom” album.
In 2021, he earned a South African Music Award (Samas) for his work on Zoë Modiga’s album “Inganekwane", which won Best Engineered Album of the Year.
Over the years, he has worked with artists including Sibongile Khumalo, Stimela, Zonke Dikana, Kwesta, Portia Monique, Nicholas Payton and McCoy Mrubata.
That experience, he said, shaped his confidence to step out as a solo artist.
“Nkosi” is described as a 3-Step inspired track that carries a message of hope. The song marks both a personal and professional turning point.
“As I embark on this journey to explore the next phase of my career, it was very important to ask for strength and guidance from a higher power, and that is what inspired the creation of ‘Nkosi' and its release as a debut single,” he explained.
“But this is more than a personal song. The message behind it is very relatable and will inspire people from different walks of life to take the first steps into a fresh start and work towards positive changes, prosperity and new opportunities.”
Songo believes his engineering background gives him an edge as a producer and DJ.
“My experience as a sound engineer helps me a lot because my understanding of music is not just from a musical person, but has a lot of technical aspects to it, and that diversifies my music and shapes it into a limitless journey,” he said.
With his debut now out, Songo is already looking ahead. “There is a lot we have in store for the listeners, and I cannot wait to take them on this journey with me,” he said.
“The music video for ‘Nkosi’ will be dropping soon. I am also putting final touches to my debut album ‘Inkani’, which is going to be a great music offering that features August Child, who is the leading vocalist on ‘Nkosi’, Soweto Gospel Choir, Black Moses from the legendary Ladysmith Black Mambazo and a few surprises.”