Djy Biza returns with 'Feelings': a two-year hiatus and a revitalised vision for music

After two years of silence, the king of the Mozambican sound, Djy Biza, steps back into the spotlight with his new single “Feelings”, featuring Shakes and Les with vocals from Leandra Vert.

The song marks the beginning of a new chapter for the producer and is the first release in what he described as a period of clarity, maturity and direction. 

For Biza, “Feelings” is more than a comeback track. It is a moment of personal honesty. He described the song as a window into an internal conflict that shaped his absence and his return.

“‘Feelings’ is deeply personal,” he said.

“A lot of people might hear it and think it is about a romantic situation that has reached its breaking point. But for me, it is a metaphor for the challenges that I have faced in the music industry. Music has always been my first love, but the industry can feel like a difficult relationship."

"You want to give, you want to grow, but the environment can drain you. This song reflects those highs and lows. It is about the complicated relationship that I have had with my own career.”

Set over a jazz-laced amapiano arrangement, the track moves through hurt, recognition and release. The voice in the song is not pleading. Instead, it is letting go with intention. Biza explained that the emotional arc mirrors his own process of reclaiming himself.

“‘Feelings’ is not about wanting someone to stay,” he said.

“It is about accepting what has happened and choosing peace. When I was writing this song, I was choosing myself. I was saying, ‘this chapter is done and I am walking away with strength’.”

The lyrics underline the theme of refusal and self-preservation.

Lines such as “Yekel’ ukudlala ngemizwa yam” and “Yekel’ ukudlala ngothando lwam” capture the exhaustion that comes from not being valued. The recurring declaration “Ngeke ngimoshe ngalesisikhathi” reinforces a commitment to protecting one’s time and purpose.

“That line means everything,” he said. “I kept repeating it because I needed to hear it myself. It was me saying, ‘I am not losing myself again’.”

On blending jazz with amapiano

A central element of “Feelings” is the gentle interplay between amapiano rhythms and jazz melodies. For Biza, the connection is instinctive and rooted in his earliest memories.

“That fusion comes naturally to me,” he said.

“My father played jazz every day while I was growing up. He did not sit me down and teach me anything. He just played records, and without realising it, he shaped my ear. When I approach production now, that influence is already inside me. Jazz is part of my musical DNA.”

He added that the process behind “Feelings” was driven by emotion rather than structure.

“I wanted the music to feel like a conversation with myself. That is why the chords are warm and the pace is steady. It needed to sound like a reflection. I told Shakes and Les that we were not chasing a trend. We were capturing a moment.”

A career shaped by innovation

This release marks another turning point in Biza’s path from local prodigy to continental contributor. His breakthrough single, “Hade”, became a multi-platinum success, positioning him as one of the most distinctive producers in Amapiano.

Tracks such as “Yebo Lapho” strengthened that rise, while the global crossover hit “Yebo”, featuring Davido, placed him in front of a new international audience.

His work extends beyond his solo releases. He has produced for leading names in the genre, including Virgo Deep, Uncle Waffles, 031 Choppa, Zee Nxumalo, Shakes and Les, Royal Musiq, TxC and Anatii. Through these collaborations, he has shaped a sound that is instantly recognisable.

Born Kgosietsile Kalakgosi, Biza grew up in Soshanguve and Mabopane in Pretoria. He is a self-taught producer whose skills took shape long before he was old enough to enter clubs or studios.

He started producing at the age of 12, guided by a mix of curiosity and access to his father’s jazz and house collection.

He went on to co-develop the broken beat approach, an off-grid rhythmic technique that became central to the experimental branch of amapiano. This style helped position him as a producer willing to take risks and look beyond established structures.

He later founded The Piano Meditators, a collective built around the idea that amapiano can be spiritual and introspective. Among his peers, the name Tatane Biza, meaning “The Godfather”, became a recognition of the leadership role he plays within the culture.

His rise continued through 2024, when he earned four Metro FM Music Award nominations and appeared in publications such as "Rolling Stone" magazine.

After a string of successful headline shows across the United Kingdom, he opened for American rapper Gunna during his 2024 tour, expanding his reach to a global stage.

On artistic evolution and global exposure

Reflecting on his path from “Hade” to international collaborations, he described the past few years as transformative.

“It has been a journey full of lessons,” he said.

“Working on ‘Yebo’ with Davido and TxC showed me how big the world is. You start to understand what different audiences connect to. You start thinking beyond your own environment. That experience changed the way I make music. I am thinking globally now, not only locally.”

He added that this new single marks the beginning of that evolution.

“This new chapter is about creating with a wider perspective. I want to maintain my identity, but I also want to grow beyond it. That balance is important.”

Looking ahead

After two years of silence, Biza said that he is entering a period of momentum.

“Consistency is the focus,” he said.

“Two years is a long time to be away. I am energised and I am not slowing down. People should expect a full project from me in early December. This is the start of something new.”