As the first winner of Apple TV+’s My Kind of Country competition show, Micaela Kleinsmith, a singer-songwriter from Cape Town, has been named the next recipient of Apple Music’s Up Next Programme.
Also read: Cape Town’s Micaela Kleinsmith wins global music competition show
Having grown up watching singing shows and yearning for her own chance to take the stage, Micaela took a giant leap of faith by auditioning for Apple TV+’s latest country music competition.
Nashville’s My Kind of Country aims to diversify the country music space and give talented artists from across the globe a platform to showcase their talents.
And that it did. Among 12 contestants from India, South Africa, Mexico and America, Micaela came out on top, saying that the competition has been a turning point in her career, which has since taken off.
Take a look:
Micaela performs an original song, ‘Stupid Love’, for her finale performance on My Kind of Country:
Since gaining life-changing exposure from the show, Micaela earned the opportunity to record with renowned music producer Tommy Sims. This resulted in her three-track EP, Butterfly, which was released through Platoon on Apple Music earlier this month.
Her EP is comprised of three original songs entitled ‘Butterfly’, ‘Eternity’ and ‘Raise This Cup’ and is exemplary of the type of heartfelt music that she makes. Portraying the butterfly as a motif for love and self-actualisation, Micaela uses her voice as the main instrument to convey a multitude of emotion.
Writing songs since the age of 14, she garnered musical influences from an array of diverse artists including, Lady Antebellum, Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift, to name a few.
As the newest Up Next artist to be spotlighted in South Africa, Micaela will be featured across Apple Music’s South African Up Next playlist.
The curated, regularly updated playlist features a dynamic class of new and emerging artists, thoughtfully hand-picked by Apple Music editors from around the world.
Speaking to Apple Music, Micaela says, ‘Going from being a little girl in Cape Town, South Africa, who loved singing with her guitar in her room and dreaming about doing what I love for the rest of the world, to being Apple Music’s Up Next artist is an insane and beautifully blessed path my life and career has taken.’
In addition to featuring on the iconic playlist representing a lineup of artists the global editors are passionate about and eager to introduce to larger audiences, the programme selects one artist each month to highlight through press opportunities such as videos and radio interviews.
‘I am honoured and grateful to have been selected by Apple Music. Your support for my music means everything to me!’ Micaela adds.
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Picture: @micaela_music / Instagram