South African producer and DJ Thakzin has opened 2025 with an electrifying statement piece — Bozza Mthathe, a bold new two-track EP that not only reinforces his reputation as a fearless innovator but also shines a spotlight on the emerging 3Step sound. Known as the movement’s originator, Thakzin has crafted a genre-defying sonic blueprint that fuses Amapiano’s percussive swing, Afro House’s soulful depth, and Deep House’s hypnotic groove into something entirely his own.
Since his early days in the South African electronic music circuit, Thakzin has been committed to breaking boundaries. The 3Step sound is more than a stylistic experiment — it’s a rhythmic philosophy, designed to engage both the physical and the spiritual. His approach marries African ancestral textures with forward-thinking production techniques, resulting in music that resonates as much on a festival stage as it does in an intimate club setting.
Counting his South African peers Black Coffee, Shimza or Themba as some of his most prominent ambassadors, Thakzin is considered by many as one of the most unique & versatile Electronic South African producers. The universality of his forward-thinking & genre bending musical approach always fused the roots of a wider African culture, Urban and Electronic influences from around the world. His ground breaking single “The Magnificent Dance” (released on Sondela) became one of the most viral tracks of the South African summer of 2022 & caused a stir globally, laying down the foundation of 3Step, a disruptive hybrid of Amapiano, Afro & Deep House installing him as its originator & uncontested leader.
Born of a South African & Mozambican family of musicians, Thakzin is a contemplative life observer who discovered djing in his early teenage years & dived into the culture to become the versatile & uplifting DJ he is today. In 2010, he started to learn music production, drawing a long path of experimentation, and developing the musicality & versatility of his sound signature. Inspired by the Sangoma’s Zulu Traditional Healers (based on drum rituals to heal physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually), Thakzin has a profound belief in the healing power of music and the virtues of spiritual elevation & positive energy through the universality of dancing.
The EP’s title track, Bozza Mthathe, is a groove-rich, rhythm-driven anthem layered with deep, gritty sonic elements that evoke ancestral memories. Created spontaneously in Cape Town after a live performance, the track captures the heightened energy of a euphoric dancefloor moment.
Already road-tested in Thakzin’s sets for over four months, Bozza Mthathe has earned early support from heavyweight selectors including Black Coffee, Oscar Mbo, Mörda, and Dlala Thukzin. It’s a track that commands movement — a head-nodder, a foot-stomper, and a soul-shaker all in one.
The track’s reach has extended well beyond South Africa’s borders. International tastemakers such as Benji B, Laurent Garnier, and Kid Fonque have all championed Bozza Mthathe, further cementing Thakzin’s status as a global force in electronic music.
This is not Thakzin’s first brush with international acclaim. His 2022 breakout hit The Magnificent Dance positioned him as a producer with a distinctive voice in the crowded electronic landscape. Since then, he’s amassed a portfolio of impactful releases — from the emotive Don’t Let Me See and the haunting Possessed, to remixes that have redefined tracks like Oscar Mbo’s Yes God and DJ Kent’s Horns In The Sun. His co-production on Zakes Bantwini’s ‘Mama Thula’ became an unofficial soundtrack to South Africa’s Rugby World Cup 2024 celebrations.
Additionally, some of his remixes became game changers, installing him at the forefront of the most spectacular rising artists : Yes God of Oscar MBO (reworked with Mörda & Mhaw Keys) and Dj Kent’s classic Horns In the Sun (featuring catchy new vocals of Brenden Praise) helped him to take the world by storm & gaining momentum in UK, the US & Central Europe. Thakzin is also co-producer of Zakes Bantwini’s Mama Thula (alongside Suffocate SA, Drega & Samurai), which became the anthem of the World Champion South African Rugby team & won the Metro FM award of Best Dance song of 2024.
