Thakzin – Gods Window Pt.1

Like many pioneers before him, Thakzin spins native South African sounds into all-new forms. Rather than a genre-first approach, he’s guided by his 3-step philosophy, which heightens the cultural bonds between African music past and present, from foundational drum rhythms to more contemporary sounds like amapiano and gqom. His stunning debut album is packed with meaningful collaborative exchanges. Tradition and invention intertwine in such tactile, hi-fidelity sounds that you can feel their healing powers. ‘When We Play’ is a jazzy shuffle with traditional strings and percussion, ‘Botho Begins With Her’ is a rousing tribal dub and ‘The Calling’ is bedroom R&B with native vocals, smeared synths and pillowy drums. The term ‘Afro’ has long been co-opted and diluted by global trends, but with ‘Gods Window Pt. 1’, Thakzin reclaims and redefines it on his own terms.