This week, PAM Club welcomes Thakzin, a DJ and producer on the rise, lighting up the South African afro-house scene with his taste for groove and well-crafted melodies.
Born in 1993, Thakzin grew up in Ivory Park, a suburb of Johannesburg. His father, a keyboardist, gave him a taste for music by teaching him to play the piano, a jazz sensibility that is reflected in his work today. Like many young people of his generation, he jumped into house music with both feet, starting to mix in 2007, then producing in 2011, releasing his tracks for free on the internet, influenced by R&B, soul and kwaito. Also inspired by Sangoma rituals that promote healing through percussion, it was by letting his innate talent guide him that opportunities began to emerge. His career really took off when he crossed paths with the enormous Shimza, Themba and Sun El-Musician, with whom he has signed some fine collaborations.
Last year, Thakzin made the whole of South Africa dance with “The Magnificent Dance”, considered one of his signature tracks, in which he skilfully fused three genres dear to his country: afro-house, deep-house and amapiano. Over the past few years, Thakzin has become accustomed to appearing at the top of the charts, supported by top Afro-house DJs such as Black Coffee and Pablo Fierro, while also managing to reach out to European DJs such as Laurent Garnier and Jimpster. The latter has just released an EP of remixes of the track “Don’t Let Me See” by Thakin and Ray T, in a very deep and luminous vibe. Here he kicks off the summer season with a radiant PAM Club made for festivals!
Tracklist:
Afriindi & Idd Aziz – Toka (Blanka Mazimbela Chairman Remix)
Chronical Deep – Children Of Israel
Koraya – You and I (Freddy da Stupid dub Remix)
Kgzoo x Classic Desire SA – Vita
Rancido, Afrotura & Bun Xapa ft. Idd Aziz – Kibe
Drush – Breath
Nitefreak, Bibi Den’s Tshibayi, Claudia Leon – Pesa Esengo (Extended Mix)
Atmos Blaq – Kwa Mama
Thakzin – The Magnificent Dance
Thakzin – Possessed
Dwson – Peta
Follow Thakzin on Instagram.
