South African DJ and producer Vanco celebrates the imminent release of his new EP iThemba with a PAM Club halfway between progressive house and afro-tech.
Hailing from Douglasdale, near Johannesburg, Vanco has established himself as a key figure in African electronic music, blending afro-tech, deep house, atmospheric trance and club sounds invented by the diaspora. Inspired by the energy of Ibiza’s nightlife, Vanco also knows how to reconcile afro-house with mainstream music, as on the remixes he has delivered for the Black Eyed Peas or Daddy Yankee. It was on the island that never sleeps that he produced “Kitchen”. Back at his hotel in the early hours of the morning after a wild night out with Jamezi and the Martinez Brothers, Vanco gave birth to this track in less than half an hour, as if in an altered state. Hypnotic synths and a heart-pounding bass line make this metallic symphony one of his signature tracks. We’re anticipating similar success for his forthcoming EP iThemba: a Journey of Hope, for which he has already unveiled the single “Hoya”, in collaboration with British-born Nigerian Tunde, and which is featured in this mix. In it, he invokes the warrior goddess Oya, associated with wind, tornadoes and transformation, a metaphor for our need for change and open-mindedness, through the prism of the Yoruba religion.
Tracklist:
Antdot, Paulo Novaes, Nina Oliveira – Viagem ao Centro do Eu
Chrisoul Inactive & TorQue MuziQ – Burning Spear
VANCO feat. Muneyi, Bun Xapa – Khumbaya
VANCO, Jordan Arts – We Only Have Now (Original Mix)
VANCO feat. Tunde International – Hoya
VANCO – Kitchen (Original Mix)
Sebastien Dutch & Kreative Nativez – Akwasu (Original Mix)
Aytiwan, Idd Aziz – Iphathi (&lez Remix)
VANCO, Eva Simons – Higher (Original Mix)
Soulroots & Mnqobi Yazo – Lahloma (Manoo Remix)
Sparrow & Barbossa, Rampa – Champion
