The Kiffness, Matisyahu, and two Filipino children in the mix

After seeing a video of two children in the Philippines singing the Matisyahu song One Day, South African musician The Kiffness, whose real name is David Scott, wanted to remix it with the young duo. 

The video they created is a fresh, resonant take on hope in uncertain times. It has amassed 6.7 million views on YouTube so far. 

The recording started the same way many of The Kiffness’s songs do, with his followers sending him the video. He was immediately taken with child singers Andel and Nalyn. 

“There’s an innocence and a sincerity in children’s voices that you just can’t manufacture in a studio,” he told the SA Jewish Report. “Given the heavy conflicts we’re experiencing around the globe right now, seeing that raw joy from kids in the Philippines felt incredibly poignant. It just seemed like the right song for 2026. It’s a reminder that despite all the noise, the universal desire for peace is still there.” 

Scott had never heard of the song or Matisyahu, an American singer, rapper, and songwriter known for blending reggae, hip-hop, and rock with themes of spirituality and Jewish identity. But when he saw the video, he had a hunch that it was a cover and went on an extensive Google search. 

Reading about the pressure Matisyahu has been under and the cancellations of several shows because of his Pro-Israel stance, Scott felt like this was a coincidence he couldn’t ignore, given the online backlash he himself has received and the near-cancellation of his Kirstenbosch show. 

“I felt an immediate kinship with him. It made the collaboration feel even more timely. It wasn’t just about a song, but about two artists standing their ground and choosing to put out something positive in a very tense global environment,” he said. 

“There’s a lot of noise and tension in the world right now, and I felt a responsibility to keep the tone uplifting. Instead of focusing on the ‘brokenness’, I wanted the direction of this version to be a celebration of what things could look like ‘one day’, when peace is not only possible, but achievable. It’s a musical prayer for peace,” he said. 

During his research, he found out that one of the original writers of the song was a young Bruno Mars, who also has Filipino heritage, explaining its popularity in the Philippines. 

Scott reached out to the children in the video to get their permission to make this remix and video and to include them, which he felt was central to the story. 

“We tracked down their parents to make sure they weren’t only happy with the track, but that the kids were fairly compensated for their talent. For me, the most rewarding part of this job is when a random Reel turns into a real-world collaboration that actually respects and rewards the original creators,” he said. 

Scott started by isolating the children’s vocals and finding the natural groove they were singing in. From there, he built the beat around them, adding the bassline, some keys, and then layering in the verses and bridge with his own vocals. 

When he reached out to Matisyahu for permission, not only did he get it, but the rapper wanted to work on the song with him. 

“Working with Matisyahu was a total ‘pinch-me’ moment,” he said. “He’s a legend, but he was incredibly humble and open to the creative process. I’ve been doing these viral ‘Kiff’ remixes for more than five years now, and while I’ve done plenty of covers, this is actually the first time the original artist has collaborated with me on a project.” 

Matisyahu recorded his vocals on a beach in Los Angeles and sent them over. Scott mixed them in, and the track was finally complete. 

Once the song was out, Scott was overwhelmed by the response. Millions of people around the globe have watched it and shared it across so many different communities regardless of race, religion, or background, which is exactly what they hoped for. 

“When you see people from totally different backgrounds commenting and finding common ground through a song, you know you’ve done something right,” said Scott. 

He sees the track as a three-minute reminder that peace isn’t just a nice idea but something that’s possible. 

“It’s something worth singing about and working towards. I want people to feel a sense of optimism and, honestly, I just want them to feel a bit of joy when they hear those kids’ voices hit the chorus,” he said.