TXC have opened up about the spontaneous studio moments that helped turn “Nakupenda” into one of their biggest records, revealing that Davido responded almost immediately when they sent him the song.
The South African DJ duo discussed the creation of the record during an appearance on Apple Music 1 with Dotty, explaining that the song began with a beat they believed had the potential to become something special.
After adding Ch’cco, TXC felt the production had a sound that could suit Davido and decided to send it to the Nigerian superstar.
According to Clairise, the response was dramatically different from their previous experience with Davido. While the duo had to wait around a year for Davido to record his part on “Yebo,” he reacted almost instantly to “Naku Penda.”
“I sent it to him and he was like, yes,” Clairise explained, adding that they quickly arranged to meet in Lagos for the recording.
The studio session ultimately took place at Zlatan’s studio, where another unexpected moment became an important part of the song.
Clairise recalled that Zlatan was enjoying the record and began joking around on the microphone. What started as an informal studio moment eventually became one of the track’s defining elements.
“He was just fooling around and that actually made the whole song,” she explained.
Tarryn also described the atmosphere during the session as relaxed and energetic, with everyone in the studio enjoying themselves. According to her, the natural chemistry and good energy among the collaborators helped shape the final record.
For TXC, the confidence in “Nakupenda” was there even before the vocals were added. Clairise revealed that she already believed strongly in the instrumental and felt it had enough impact to stand on its own.
“Even without, before there was vocals, there was just the beat, I already knew,” she told Dotty.
That instinct appears to have paid off. “Nakupenda” has become a major moment in TXC’s growing career and another example of the duo’s ability to connect Amapiano with some of Africa’s biggest musical names.
The record also highlights the unpredictable nature of collaborative music. What began as a beat TXC believed in, combined with Davido’s immediate reaction and an unplanned studio contribution from Zlatan, eventually developed into a record whose most memorable moments emerged naturally.
With TXC now teasing a major new project featuring possible collaborations with Wizkid and Jorja Smith, “Naku Penda” could prove to be the beginning of an even bigger chapter for the South African duo.