THANDI DRAAI

A true torchbearer of South Africa's soulful electronic movement, Thandi Draai has spent over a decade shaping Afro House with her distinct voice, sharp production and lyrical depth. As one of the few women in the scene producing, writing and performing her own material, her catalogue speaks volumes about both her artistry and her longevity.

Her journey began in the early 2010s with emotive collaborations like "Dreamer" with Ultra Tone and "Fight for Freedom" with Charles Webster, followed by deep-house staples such as "I'm In Love" and "Lost For Words" and "Butterflies" with Cuebur. Releases like "Bekezela" with Arnaud D, "Tender Love" with Jonny Miller and "Walls" with Vanco built her early reputation for emotionally resonant and technically sharp vocal-led tracks. She continued this momentum with "Self Control" alongside Citizen Deep and "Qina" with Klement Bonelli, showing a steady evolution toward a more Afro-leaning and percussive sound.

Her more recent output has positioned her firmly at the forefront of the Afro House genre. Originals like "Lomhlaba" with Cee ElAssaad, "Sfede," "Iris," "Yonke" with Darque and "Ashambeni" reflect a matured, confident sonic identity rooted in both depth and movement.

On the remix front, she has reimagined tracks like "Ceremony" by Monkey Safari, "Heater" by Samim and contributed to the Africa Gets Physical series with her "Letha" remix alongside DJ Beekay. Collaborative highlights include "The Clique" with Cuebur, Kitty Amor, DJ Clock and Candy Man, further cementing her status as one of the genre's most trusted and versatile voices.

With a catalogue spanning over a decade, Thandi Draai remains a vital voice in Afro-electronic music – powerful, poetic and constantly evolving. With new music on the horizon, her story is far from finished.