Cape Town-based punk hyperpop trio Internet Girl has been announced as the latest recipient of Apple Music’s Up Next program for June. This local iteration of Apple Music’s global emerging artist platform, launched in early 2021, aims to spotlight and support promising new talent. “It’s insane; we’re super stoked to be on Up Next!” the band shared with Apple Music. “It’s been a crazy year so far, seeing some dreams come to fruition—now this is pretty cool. But we’re greedy; we want more! This is just the beginning for Internet Girl.”

Since their formation in 2019, Internet Girl—comprised of Ntsika Bungane, Matthew Burgess, and James Smith—has carved out a unique niche. As a mixed-race boy band, they blend gritty live shows with grungy attitude and distinctive production. They have built a strong global fan base through a series of single and EP releases, with lead vocalist Ntsika delivering a self-assertive attitude, bolstered by the innovative production of Matthew and James.

Their new EP, ROLE MODEL (2024), now available to stream on Apple Music, serves as a reintroduction of the trio. Embracing elements of punk and rap, the EP features crass and confrontational songwriting. Ntsika’s storytelling depicts an anti-hero navigating the seedy underbelly of Cape Town’s city life, highlighted in explosive singles like “ROLE MODEL” and “COKEHEAD”.

As the newest Up Next artist spotlighted in South Africa, Internet Girl will be featured across Apple Music’s South African Up Next playlist. This curated playlist showcases a dynamic class of new and emerging artists, thoughtfully selected by Apple Music editors from around the world. The genre-agnostic lineup features artists that Apple Music editors are passionate about and eager to expose to a larger audience.

The global Up Next roster includes Grammy-nominated and critically acclaimed talents like 6lack, Daniel Caesar, H.E.R., Greta Van Fleet, Khalid, Amy Shark, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Claudio, Sigrid, Mr Eazi, Stefflon Don, Bad Bunny, Juice WRLD, Bazzi, Jax Jones, NCT 127, Summer Walker, Tierra Whack, Dean Lewis, Pink Sweat$, Koffee, Megan Thee Stallion, Burna Boy, Clairo, Lunay, Jessie Reyez, Orville Peck, Victoria Monét, Ingrid Andress, Conan Gray, Don Toliver, Rema, BENEE, Holly Humberstone, Natanael Cano, Givēon, beabadoobee, Arlo Parks, Tate McRae, Fousheé, and Tems.