Shimza Open Air with Nuran & WAAE

Shimza's about to prove that the third time's a charm when it comes to his Gray Area performances. Back in October, during his US tour, he debuted at Quantum Brooklyn with a sold-out event that went off. After such an incredible show, Shimza needed to come back for another killer set. So this past President's Day weekend, he took over Superior Ingredients. It was the perfect event for a holiday.

This time, we're taking the afro tech icon south to Wynwood Miami on April 15th to throw down some delicious beats at the Wynwood Marketplace. The sprawling open-air venue will be transformed with a powerful sound and lighting rig for Shimza’s signature afro tech sound from 6pm until 12am.

A major proponent of the global afro house movement, Shimza has quickly made his mark in music. His sound features enchanting vocals layered over sexy melodic house and tech. A sound that is gaining popularity among the masses, Shimza has stayed ahead of the curve. Each month, almost 162k unique listeners visit his Spotify. His most streamed song, "Uwrongo-Edit," clocks in with 3.4 million plays, while "Makhe" comes in a close second, shy of 3 million streams and spins from Solardo, Major Lazer, Sofi Tukker, and Diplo.

His remix of WhoMadeWho's and Rampa's "Everyday" has held a top spot on the Beatport charts since its release in October. Its slow-burning climb shimmies, shakes and undulates with sparkling percussion and brilliant piano work. It is a meditative seven-and-a-half-minute epic that encapsulates why Shimza's music is so compelling. It's no wonder he ended 2022 as one of Beatport's Top 100 afro house producers.

Time and again, Shimza proves that a love of music powerfully coalesces with philanthropy and community. Shimza's strong desire to help people is motivated by his passion for music. As such, he created One Man Show in 2009 to raise money for impoverished children in his hometown of Tembisa. It's Shimza's opportunity to give back, both monetarily and in the form of creating new jobs, to help the greater good.

In addition, Shimza created KUNYE Records to showcase South African music and bring attention to its rich culture.

Dubbed "Effects Master" and "Vinyl Assassin," both nicknames are ideal for someone like him. Born Ashley Raphala, Shimza is a talented DJ, producer, and promoter with music in his blood. Growing up, his family and the local youth radio station exposed him to music of all kinds. Because of that, he put the musical wheels in motion at a young age, and his hard work is paying off.

Anyone who's had the good fortune of catching a Shimza set can see that his star is continuing its meteoric rise. His style of remaining true to himself and celebrating his heritage is evident in all he does, especially in his music. You can feel the pride emanating from him, and it's a wondrous sight.

Miami-based Afro and melodic house artist Nuran is on deck to warm up the dancefloor for Shimza. He's wowed us for previous support slots with Fideles and Miss Monique, and his scintillating grooves and sparkling melodics are the perfect way to set the tone for a Miami open-air. The rising star's small but gorgeously produced catalog features releases on Natura Viva and Sharam Jey's Bunny Tiger.