There’s something shifting in music right now. People are starting to lean back towards songs that feel honest. Less overproduced noise, more real emotion. Into that space steps Dylan Tori with ‘Light Up Your Soul‘, a track that doesn’t try to be bigger than it needs to be. It just feels real.

Released on 24 April and produced by Mark Beling, the song carries a warm, familiar energy. You can hear the influence of Motown, blended with Americana and a touch of country blues rock. It feels classic in places, but never outdated. It sits comfortably between old and new without forcing the balance.

At its core, ‘Light Up Your Soul’ is about showing up for someone when it matters. Not in a dramatic way, but in the quiet moments that often mean the most. The message is simple. Be there. Stay present. Offer something steady when everything else feels uncertain. It is the kind of theme that lands because it is real.

Vocally, Dylan keeps things grounded. He does not overreach or try to impress for the sake of it. The emotion comes through naturally, and that makes it believable. You get the sense that he understands the story he is telling, and that gives the performance weight.

The production follows that same thinking. It is polished enough to sound complete, but not so polished that it loses its character. There is space in the track, and that space allows the emotion to breathe. It feels like a collaboration where both artist and producer understood what the song needed, and more importantly, what it did not need.Looking beyond the track, it does raise a bigger question. Where does music like this fit in the current South African landscape? Are audiences making room for songs that value honesty over hype? Or are we still leaning towards what feels safe and commercially predictable?

With years behind him, Dylan Tori sounds like someone who has stopped chasing trends and started trusting his own direction. The question now is whether listeners are willing to meet him there, and whether there is still space in the market for music that chooses substance over noise.

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