{
  "id": 14669793,
  "title": "Kaleo frontman on the power of music ahead of SA debut",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/kaleo-frontman-on-the-power-of-music-ahead-of-sa-debut",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T10:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/kaleo-to-tour-south-africa-next-year/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Music possesses the power to evoke emotions, from stirring tears to uplifting spirits, or even distracting listeners from daily troubles. As an art form that shapes culture and drives progress, music can also be a catalyst for social change or resistance. JJ Júlíusson, frontman of Grammy-nominated Icelandic band Kaleo, believes that the deep emotional connection to music is what sets it apart. Now, the band will make its debut in South Africa for the first time in February of next year, performing in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Kaleo's lead singer has expressed that while the music industry has evolved dramatically over the past couple of decades, the ability of a song to touch someone's heart remains its most significant gift. \"I’m a romantic and a purist, so I don’t think that I think of music as mathematics,\" he said. \"Nobody has the explanation. Where do the songs come from? It’s like a higher power of some sort.\" Júlíusson noted that music can affect people in ways that other art forms generally cannot, as though humans have an innate response to it. Despite an overwhelming amount of content in the world, his goal as a songwriter remains simple: to help people feel something, and perhaps give them a respite from their daily struggles. The band’s live performances often incorporate various styles, from hard-hitting rock to acoustic arrangements and ballads. Júlíusson wants audiences to experience the contrasts rather than simply listening to one song after another. He enjoys the variety he experiences attending concerts as a fan. Live music, according to Júlíusson, retains an authenticity that many aspects of modern entertainment struggle to maintain. He believes that the pandemic reinforced the importance of people gathering to share an experience, and performing in a foreign country added its own magic. \"Sometimes you have ten thousand people waiting, and they're singing their songs. You know, and you've never been to this place before. This is, to me, that’s magical.\" Júlíusson is less enthusiastic about the constant barrage of music in everyday life, arguing that the saturation of musical content on social media and via artificial intelligence complicates the industry. He believes that the overexposure to music can leave people exhausted by something that should bring joy. He suggested that contemporary culture is at a low point, with technological change moving at a pace that is difficult to keep up with. Kaleo’s South African debut is part of their Way Down We Go Tour, marking ten years since their breakthrough album A/B, which propelled the Icelandic musicians to international success. The band performs at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town on 4 February 2027 and Marks Park in Johannesburg on 6 February, with Kongos and Ross Learmonth supporting them in Johannesburg. Tickets can be purchased through Webtickets.",
  "summary": "Kaleo front man JJ Júlíusson talks about music, emotion and the magic of live concerts ahead of the band's SA debut in February 2027.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Kaleo frontman on the power of music ahead of SA debut",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/kaleo-frontman-on-the-power-of-music-ahead-of-sa-debut-14676975",
        "published": "2026-10-15T10:01:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}