Cornel Jooste: Life of Music and Dreams

Cornel Jooste from Wellington is a young artist whose love for music and uplifting his community go hand in hand. He lives his passion through his own music but also uses it to inspire others. 

One of Jooste’s famous singles, “Kapoint se Legend”, made him popular with fans. However, his musical journey began in 2013, when he was still a Grade 8 learner at Bergrivier High School. That year, he met Jovandre Campher, better known as Jevigo, and that’s where his career began. 

“In 2014, I saw a big transformation in my music career. From there, things just got better and better,” he says.

By 2017, Jooste had given his first major solo performance at Bergrivier High School and shortly afterwards performed at the Karoo Festival in Laingsburg; this was a major highlight in his career. Yet he says that music has always been about love and passion for him. “I’m not a registered musician and I haven’t always gotten paid for my performances, but that hasn’t stopped me. I made music because I love it.” 

In 2020, Jooste further expanded his creative horizons by starting to make musical instruments, a skill he is still working on. In addition to his music and instruments, he also practices photography in his free time. He mentions Earl and Agemi as major inspirations in his early days. “When I first heard their music, it immediately inspired me to go my own way,” he says. These influences, along with his own life choices, have shaped him into the artist and person he is today.

For Jooste, choices are everything. “I’m proud of the decisions I’ve made. I believe I wouldn’t be standing here today if I hadn’t made the right choices in my younger years,” he says.

Today, his career continues to go from strength to strength. Under the name Shorty Music, he shares his work on Facebook, and in his own studio he offers young artists the opportunity to start building their musical dreams.

Jooste says his dream is to make instruments for Chris Brown one day and to see himself on television one day. He wants to encourage others to never give up on their dreams, because you can make it in life with hard work.