The Kiffness: The man who sets the internet to music
Presented by kulturnews, laut.de, FastForward Magazine, egoFM and Rausgegangen München
David Scott, born in South Africa in 1988, is many things: musician, producer, satirist - and a virtuoso of viral internet culture. Under the stage name The Kiffness, he has made a name for himself worldwide by transforming popular moments on the Internet into melodious pieces. His career began unspectacularly as a trumpet player in jazz bands and as a drummer in church choirs. But it was his turn to DJing and his desire to experiment that paved his way. After dropping out of medical school and switching to music and philosophy, he finally came up with "The Kiffness", a name inspired by his brother's e-mail address. The Kiffness became known early on in his home country, but his global breakthrough came at a time when the world was at a standstill. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Scott turned viral clips of cats howling, dogs singing or political speeches into songs that went viral by the millions. Suddenly there was a musician who not only understood the collective whims of the internet, but poured them into a form that touched millions of people. The Kiffness proved that you don't need a label for international success, just talent, wit and a sure instinct for the right moment. The Neue Zürcher Zeitung called him a "prime example of self-made stars", and indeed: platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram are his stages, through which his songs reach almost a billion views. But Scott is much more than just a viral joker. When Donald Trump defamed migrants in a debate in 2024, The Kiffness responded not with outrage, but with music. His Afrobeat remix "Eating the Cats" became a hit - and he donated all the proceeds to an animal shelter in Springfield, Ohio. A quiet but powerful gesture that illustrates his attitude: humor as resistance, music as a bridge. This attitude runs through his work. Time and again, he raises his voice against injustice, be it in his native South Africa or on the world stage. At the same time, he remains light-footed, a master at telling the big and small stories of the internet with respectful irony. After acclaimed tours in the USA and Europe, The Kiffness continues his success story in 2025. A 30-date US tour is scheduled for May, followed by his first Australian tour. The year will conclude with a major European tour - including eight concerts in Germany. For anyone who wants to experience how an internet phenomenon combines sound, heart and humor live, these evenings are a must.
This content has been machine translated.