Kyle Simbwa Named Apple Music’s Latest Up Next Artist in East Africa

Ugandan vocalist, producer and multi-instrumentalist Kyle Simbwa has been selected as the latest artist to join Apple Music’s Up Next artist development programme in East Africa, marking another significant step in his growing career.

Originally from Kasangati, Uganda, Simbwa has steadily developed a sound shaped by a wide range of influences, from ’90s R&B and soul to ’80s synth-pop, Afrobeats and Hip-Hop. The result is a distinctive Afrobeat and Alté-inspired sound that reflects both his Ugandan roots and a broader global musical palette.

Speaking about the recognition, Simbwa described the selection as an opportunity to represent a new generation of African artists creating music on their own terms. “I want people to hear my music, feel where I’m from, and see how far it can travel,” Simbwa told Apple Music.

What makes Simbwa’s rise particularly interesting is how deeply involved he is in the entire creative process. Beyond performing, he works across songwriting, production, recording, mixing and engineering, giving him greater control over the development of his sound and creative identity.

Following the release of his debut project Person in 2025, he continued expanding his catalogue with songs including “Mwana Gwe,” “Love Me or Don’t,” and “East African Girl.” His live performance journey has also grown through headline appearances at Xpressions and performances at Afro Urban, alongside artists including Mike Kayihura and Kohen Jaycee.

In 2026, Simbwa is entering a new phase with East African Summer, a seven-track EP centred on themes of love, nightlife, freedom, movement and the experiences shaping a new generation of East African youth.  The project brings together influences from Afrobeats, R&B, Hip-Hop and alternative African music, while remaining grounded in Simbwa’s Ugandan identity.

It is a project that speaks to the increasingly confident creative language coming out of East Africa, music that feels local in identity, but global in ambition.

What Apple Music Up Next Means for Kyle Simbwa

As Apple Music’s latest Up Next artist in East Africa, Simbwa will receive increased visibility through Apple Music’s Up Next platform, which spotlights emerging artists selected by Apple Music editors from around the world.

The global programme has previously featured artists who went on to become major international names, including Billie Eilish, Burna Boy, Rema, Tems, Megan Thee Stallion, Bad Bunny, H.E.R. and Daniel Caesar.

For Simbwa, the recognition adds momentum to what has already been a deliberate journey of building his catalogue, refining his sound and representing Uganda within the wider East African music conversation. And as East African music continues to gain more attention internationally, his selection is another reminder that Uganda’s new generation of artists is increasingly positioning itself for audiences far beyond the region.