LISTEN | Shekhinah honours Lebo Mathosa with ‘I Love Music’ reinterpretation

Five years after establishing EQUAL, Spotify is recognizing its achievement in South Africa through a new single featuring an updated rendition of Lebo Mathosa’s legendary song "I Love Music." The reimagined track is by multi-award-winning artist Shekhinah, who recently released her debut EP, "Love on Repeat, Vol. 1," described as a lighter, fun project with house and soulful influences.

Shekhinah's project complements her 2025 album "Less Trouble" and her ongoing independent work following platinum successes like her 2017 album "Rose Gold."

"I Love Music," originally released in 2006, has transcended its status as a dancefloor classic, remaining relevant with over 1.8 million global streams on Spotify, 88% of which originate from South Africa. The song continues to gain traction, with a remarkable 95% compound annual growth rate over seven years, appearing on over 70,000 user-generated playlists worldwide.

The track's cross-generational appeal is notable: listeners aged 35-44 are the largest segment, followed by 18-24 and 30-34 years old. Male listeners account for 63% of streams, yet the song maintains its connection with Gen Z, older millennials, and Gen X. Gauteng, particularly Johannesburg, dominates South African listening trends, with over 700,000 streams, representing nearly half of all streams in the country.

Combined, cities like Johannesburg, Pretoria, Centurion, and Midrand account for more than 75% of streaming in South Africa, followed by Durban, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth.

Shekhinah's reinterpretation of "I Love Music" is part of Spotify Singles, celebrating the fifth anniversary of EQUAL, Spotify's global initiative supporting women in music across the Nordics, the United States, Germany, Portugal, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The project bridges two generations of music, paying homage to the original while adding fresh cultural relevance.

Spotify's Jodie Tabisher, the artist label and partnership manager for Southern Africa and lead for the Spotify EQUAL Africa programme, emphasized the song's enduring legacy and its potential to become the new-generation soundtrack as streaming continues to grow, and the song maintains strong local resonance and appeal among younger listeners.