Following a successful country music festival held in Cape Town, South African musician Appel and Australian musician James Johnston have released "Country Is for Me." The song was first previewed on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at a packed DHL Stadium in the heart of Cape Town.
Those in attendance at the Cape Town country festival witnessed the debut of the duet, which had not been performed before the now-released single. Fans were left in awe as they experienced a fresh blend of Afrikaans and English, which complemented each other beautifully.
This collaboration marks a new era in music, merging genres and languages to bring together cultural heritage and expand each artist's global reach.
Speaking on what this record-breaking release means to him, Appel shared that he is filled with gratitude. “Working with James on this song has been a highlight of my career," he said.
James Johnston, widely recognized in Australia for his appearances on Idols Australia and The X-Factor Australia, shared that this single demonstrates the power of country music. "It's a powerful statement about the love of country music that knows no boundaries,” he added.
To give fans more insight into their creative world, Appel and James created a music video to accompany the song, bringing a visual experience to fans worldwide. The music video, filmed at Nahla Safaris in Schweizer-Reneke by Conrad Theron of Atlas Media, captures the beauty of the bushveld, further enhancing the allure of country music.
Warner Music Group South Africa released the following statistics following "Country Is for Me":
- 20,000 pre-saves before release- 200,000 Spotify streams in the opening weekend, peaking at #20 on the Spotify South Africa Singles Chart- 25,000 saves to collections in the first 48 hours, with over 70% of streams from engaged listeners- On YouTube, the music video garnered 141,000 views on day one, with South African audiences contributing 80% of views and surpassing 350,000 views in three days- A viral sensation with 1,700 fan-made videos, reaching a combined total of over 6 million views
The single has had a swift and far-reaching chart impact:
- Spotify: #44 in South Africa (Peak #20)- iTunes: #1 in South Africa, #14 in New Zealand, #29 in Ireland- Apple Music: #10 in South Africa, #1 on the Country chart in South Africa- Deezer: #1 in South Africa
Streaming platforms have shown strong support, featuring the track in major playlists globally:
- Spotify: New Music Friday in Australia & New Zealand, Fresh Country, All New Country (Global), and Country Musiek in South Africa- Apple Music: Featured on New Music Daily and Keep It Country across multiple territories, as well as New in Country and Afrikaanse Treffers across over 100 regions- Amazon Music: Included in Brand New Music (Australia)
As country music continues its resurgence within South Africa, Appel and James Johnston have found the perfect way to blend Afrikaans and English, packaging it for an international audience.