#MusicInTheAir Podcast hosts this week :

SHAMISO

Today for Villahangar’s MusicInTheAir Podcast we have yet another debut. The label welcomes Shamiso, an African electronic dance music DJ, born in Durban, KZN, South Africa, and raised mainly in Johannesburg, where she lives.

She started with music very early. In fact, she says: “My musical journey started in my early childhood years. My dad’s love for music exposed me to so many new sounds very early in my life. I listened to the likes of Yanni, Enya, Miles David, Aboriginal Music and many more”.

As a true musical nonconformist, she hopes to revolutionize the way African electronic music is received and embraced around the world: she is an Afro Tech/Afro House Playlist Curator and an African Electronic Dance Music DJ, her love for the craft and culture is deep seated in indigenous Afrocentric sounds as well as locally brewed Afro-Tech, from which she aspires to make the world dance to the beat of her drum and experience music in a unique way.

Her musical style is rhythmic, electric and melodious, and the musical genres that influence her the most are Contemplating Instrumental, Jazz, Afro-Beat and Dance/Electronic.

During her career she played in South Africa. Currently, she is working on some projects with other artists, and her plans for the present and immediate future are to play more concerts and participate in more festivals. “I’m working on my project,” she says, and will be playing at various events, such as the previous MaXhosa Africa Sustainability Fashion Festival and last April’s Personal Picnic, #JamesonDistillerySA, which is on tour, on May 25^th and 27^th.

For Shamiso, the inspiration that comes from everything that happens in the music scene is fundamental: she draws and is inspired by the creators who came before her, as well as those around her. During her creative process she returns to where it all began, aiming to be one with the public, participating in the best events focused on Afro Tech/Afro House and listening to new music every day from important and emerging producers in the sector.

What music do you listen to when you take off your DJ headset?

My love for Afro Tech/Afro House goes beyond DJing, it is my most preferred genre even outside of work. I could listen to it all day!

Do you have favorite artists / DJs / producers?

I have many favorites but the artists I love and relate most to are Shimza and Desiree.

What do you think of the electronic music scene of your country? What do you think are the differences with Europe and the rest of the world?

The Electronic Music scene in South Africa is a prominent and has been for a while. In my personal opinion, the main difference is the kind of Electronic Music that comes from South Africa compared to Europe and the rest of the world is different.

What evolution do you think electronic music is experiencing on the international scene?

I love that Electronic Music now in 2023 is vast and different compared to a few years ago. The Electronic Music umbrella contains so many more sub genres like Afro Tech which could be categorized as African Electronic Music. It’s beautiful to see how people can relate to the music no matter what sub-genre it is.

What can you tell us musically about your Podcast for Villahangar?

My sound is deep seated in indigenous Afrocentric sounds as well as locally brewed Afro-Tech. For this music I stayed very true to my sound to give the Villahangar audience a different taste and side of Electronic Music.