South African DJ, producer and Stay True Sounds founder Kid Fonque puts discovery at the centre of his latest Isgubhu DJ Mix, available exclusively on Apple Music from Friday, 2 October 2026.
Moving between house, Afro house and 3-Step, the mix captures the sounds and producers currently exciting one of South Africa’s most established selectors, bringing emerging talent into conversation with familiar names.
A Snapshot of the Underground
For Kid Fonque, the selection offers a view of South Africa’s electronic music scene as it continues to evolve.
“There’s lots of different flavours from South Africa’s underground scene,” he tells Apple Music. “It touches on House, Afro and 3-Step. It’s a mix about discovery, where the scene is right now and where it’s heading next. The future of electronic music in South Africa is incredibly bright.”
That approach reflects the work he has championed through Stay True Sounds, the label he founded in 2016 to provide a platform for local talent.
Scottish-born and South African-raised, Kid Fonque began his career in Johannesburg and has spent more than two decades contributing to the country’s electronic music culture as a DJ, producer, broadcaster and label head.
From Emerging Talent to Established Voices
The mix brings together artists including Spotz, Chronical Deep, PAGEZ, Dr Feel and Beekay Monalayzzar, reflecting Kid Fonque’s interest in both new discoveries and producers developing distinctive musical identities.
“The music I chose for this mix is very much in line with what I’m excited about sonically in South Africa right now,” he says.
“It moves from the raw, untapped talent of artists like Spotz, through to the colourful and forward-thinking sounds of Chronical Deep, as well as PAGEZ, Dr Feel and Beekay Monalayzzar. Ultimately, the mix is about discovery and sharing the music and producers that are moving me right now.”
Warmth, Soul and Darker Turns
Kid Fonque describes the mood as “bright and colourful, with some darker moments along the way”. Warmth and soul run alongside deeper electronic passages, allowing the selection to explore different moods within the broader house music spectrum.
At its heart is the pleasure of introducing listeners to something unexpected.
“That has always been a huge part of DJing – finding something that excites me and then being able to introduce that record or artist to somebody else,” he explains.
A Scene That Keeps Reinventing Itself
Kid Fonque credits South Africa’s continued musical evolution to producers willing to experiment and interpret their influences in their own way.
“What excites me most is that producers here aren’t afraid to experiment. They take influences from house, Afro, jazz, soul and electronic music, but then interpret them in a way that feels completely South African,” he says.
“There’s also so much young, untapped talent coming through, so I genuinely feel like we’re still only scratching the surface of where African electronic music can go.”
His mix forms part of Isgubhu’s wider focus on the DJs, producers and underground innovators shaping African dance music, spanning Afro house, 3-Step, gqom and electronic sounds.
FKA MASH Takes This Month’s Cover
Alongside Kid Fonque’s exclusive mix, FKA MASH appears on this month’s Isgubhu cover following the release of his debut album, EXITECHNO.
Released through his label September Bloom, the project connects disco, techno and deep house against a Soweto backdrop, drawing additional inspiration from classical music and jazz.
Listeners can explore Kid Fonque’s DJ mix, the Isgubhu playlist and a wider collection of exclusive mixes and alumni playlists through Isgubhu on Apple Music.
