J’Something celebrates Artistry’s win as Sandton hotspot takes top rooftop honour.
Image: Instagram
J'Something (João da Fonseca) is all about connection, whether it's through music, family or food.
The legendary Mi Casa frontman, who has built a career defined by versatility and authenticity, has successfully evolved into not only a celebrated performer, but also a respected entrepreneur, television personality and passionate food enthusiast, earning admiration for his ability to resonate with audiences both on and off the stage.
It was this same energy that he brought to Artistry, where guests were treated to an experience reflecting his signature warmth, creativity and effortless ability to bring people together through culture, conversation and shared moments.
The multi-experience lifestyle and entertainment venue in Sandton was co-founded by J'Something in partnership with BlackBrick.
After opening its doors in September 2022, Artistry has evolved into a dynamic space that fuses exceptional food with live music, theatre and nightlife.
The rooftop restaurant, theatre and listening bar have also been lauded for their cultural impact through various initiatives, and now the venue has even more praise to its name.
J'Something has transformed his creative vision into Artistry, an award winning lifestyle destination in Sandton.
Image: Supplied
Earlier this month, Artistry was named Best Rooftop Restaurant at the 2026 LUXE People's Choice Awards.
For J’Something, who has also been busy releasing new music as part of his solo career, the accolade is especially meaningful because it was voted for by the public.
“It means a lot because it comes from the people and when you build something from the heart, there’s something deeply affirming about people choosing it,” he explained during an interview with “Independent Media Lifestyle.”
He also reflected on how important the restaurant venture has become to him - a project to which he has devoted himself fully.
“Artistry has been one of the hardest and most beautiful journeys of my life,” he admitted. “There’s the dream … then there’s the reality … and then there’s everything in between.”
“Hospitality teaches you humility very quickly, so for people to see us, support us and vote for us means more than an award, honestly. It means the energy is landing.”
The musician also stressed the importance of “building a home for creativity, connection and culture in the middle of Sandton.”
He described Artistry as a “place where people can eat, feel, discover and belong,” adding: “This award feels like encouragement to keep going and keep dreaming.”
For him, hospitality is storytelling.
“At Artistry, we never wanted food to feel like something happening upstairs while music happened downstairs. We wanted everything to feel connected - the lighting, the playlist, the pace of service, the cocktails, the conversations, the performance - all of it contributing to one feeling. That’s when I realised a menu isn’t just food. It’s rhythm. It's a memory. It's an emotion.”
Meanwhile, J'Something remains proud of Artistry’s growing cultural impact, particularly through the Leading Vibe Initiative hosted in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning artist Tems.
Held at the venue on Human Rights Day, the programme aims to uplift and amplify women shaping the future of music by bringing together a dynamic community of both emerging and established creatives, including Uncle Waffles, Zoë Modiga, Kamo Mphela and Moonchild Sanelly, among many others.
When asked what new insights he gained about what it truly takes to create and hold space for women in music and creativity, J’Something responded: “I think one of the biggest lessons was realising that creating space is not the same as simply inviting people into a room."
“Real space requires intention, safety, listening and trust.”
Uncle Waffles at Artistry's Leadiing Vibe Iniative.
Image: Supplied
He added, “What inspired me most was seeing how different all these women are creatively, yet how powerful they become when they are fully themselves. It reminded me that the role of platforms like Artistry is not to shape artists into something commercially acceptable, but rather to protect the conditions that allow authenticity to thrive.”
And with initiatives like the Leading Vibe Initiative, he sees Artistry as a cultural argument he is continuously expressing in different forms.
“Artistry was never meant to just be a venue; it’s a belief system in many ways.”
He elaborated: “A belief that creativity deserves beautiful spaces. A belief that culture should not be separated into categories. A belief that food, music, design, conversation and community all belong together.
“So yes, Artistry is a restaurant and a venue, but it’s also us continuously expressing an idea about what modern African culture can feel like when it’s intentional, collaborative and emotionally honest.”