COLORSxSTUDIOS and Levi’s® today announced EMERGENT, a multi-year global music program designed to spotlight and celebrate the originality of emerging artists and we’re included.
The global program will feature six artists from Mexico, South Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Japan. Each artist will be given a dedicated release moment, including a performance on A COLORS SHOW, a short profile film, and in some cases, live events tied to local scenes.
The programme focuses on artists who are still in motion. Rather than presenting fully established names, it aims to capture artists as they develop their sound, identity and audience.
The first release this year comes from Kevin Kaarl, a Mexican singer-songwriter working across folk and alternative music. His performance marks the start of a phased rollout, with additional artists set to be introduced over the coming months.
For South African artists, the opportunity sits within a platform that already has local history. COLORSxSTUDIOS Youtube channel has previously featured artists like Tyla, Sho Madjozi, Sjava, Moonchild Sanelly and Durban based hip-hop artist ByLwansta and others helping place their work in front of global audiences at key moments in their rise.
* See some local Colors Show performances here.
A COLORS SHOW has become a recognised format for discovery, often introducing audiences to artists before they reach wider mainstream visibility. The stripped-back performance style also puts focus on the music itself, rather than production or spectacle.
Beyond the filmed performances, EMERGENT will extend into physical spaces through TONES, a series of live events hosted in cities including Mexico City, New York, London and Paris. These events aim to connect artists to local audiences and scenes, rather than keeping the programme purely digital.
The South African artist selected for EMERGENT has not yet been announced.
For emerging artists, opportunities like this are less about a single release and more about positioning. Being part of a global platform with a clear audience can shift how an artist is discovered, documented and remembered.
