The Deep Root Tribe Return: Art Basel 2024 Edition

Shimza

Magic on the Rooftop: Shimza's Epic Set and a Surprise from Black Coffee

GQ South Africa Talks with Shimza: From Local DJ to Afro House Ambassador

Gray Area Unveils Its First Wave of Resident DJs

Nuran

How Shimza Manages to Satisfy the Crowd's Demands

How Shimza's Kunye Records Came to Life

How Shimza Got His Start as a DJ

South Africa

south african house

south african pop

[Op-Ed] Building a Bolder and More Vibrant House Music Ecosystem, For All

Debut

10 Shimza Tracks You Should Know

5 Must-Hear Tracks from Shimza's Label, Kunye Records

Shimza Proves his Status as a Leading Afro-House DJ with a Defected Mix

Shimza: “You Need to be Positive About Everything that You Do”

How Shimza Invests in His Community

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7 Dance Music Artists Using their Platform for Philanthropy

United States

'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 

. 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, "

," 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.

Fight to Love - Radio Edit

'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.

Everyday (Shimza Remix)

 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.

Intent - Highlite Remix

Miami-based Afro and melodic house artist 

 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.


Gray Area's new venture, "Debut," aims to bridge the international house music community by bringing established and emerging artists to cities they've never performed in. This initiative seeks to expand artists' fan bases and provide fans with fresh, exhilarating musical experiences. Having played a role in introducing major artists and brands like elrow and Awakenings to new audiences in the past, Gray Area believes in the magic of first-time experiences. By promoting artists in new venues and cities, they hope to cultivate a thriving, unified house music ecosystem. Debut is not merely a marketing strategy but embodies Gray Area's commitment to fostering collaboration, unity, and musical discovery.

Debut: Shimza Miami Headline Debut

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