Chilsta, Durban-Born DJ & Producer, spoke with EDM House Network about pushing Afro House to the global stage.

Chilsta, a Producer and DJ, channels layered intention into his craft, bringing a confident determination to his place within the Electronic Music landscape. Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, his early immersion in House music sparked not only a deep personal connection to the genre but also a commitment to shaping his own artistic path within it. Drawing on the rich heritage of his African roots, Chilsta has worked to refine a sonic identity that feels both authentic and forward-facing, weaving his rich tapestry of influences to create a sound distinctly his own.

We caught up with Chilsta to unpack the moments that shaped him, the inspirations that continue to drive him, and his vision for his journey moving forward. 

Hi Chilsta! How are you? Thanks for joining us.  

Hi there. I’m doing very well. Thanks for having me! 

Let’s start at the beginning – what first sparked your interest in Electronic Music, and how did your journey as an artist begin to take shape? 

As a kid, my father was a massive House head, and at the time, South Africa was going through its very own House renaissance period. My father would play a lot of House music on road trips, including a lot of mix compilations from record labels like Soul Candi. So, House music was pretty much the norm of my childhood. 

Was there a specific track, moment, or live set that you look back on as the turning point — the thing that made you realise this was the path you wanted to follow? 

At 12 years old (in 2010), my best friend and I would listen to Deadmau5 and Kaskade. It was the track, ‘I Remember,’ which got me hooked onto Electronic Music and its culture. That was when I knew I wanted to be a DJ. I became obsessed with the sound synthesis from Electronic Music, and I’d always be looking at other music Producers at the time. I would introduce my other classmates to this music. At the time, a lot of it was the early Dubstep producers, think of guys like Modestep, Master P, Benga and Skrillex.

How would you define your sound? 

High energy, melodic and unapologetically African with raw textures from Techno. 

What was the process behind developing your sonic identity — was it something intentional, drawing from specific influences, or did it evolve more organically over time?

I was in a DJ duo with my best friend as a teenager, where we would play Progressive House, Bigroom and sometimes Trance. I was an obsessive listener of Trance and the A State of Trance radio show from Armin Van Buuren. Then I started exploring other genres, like Techno, where I was inspired by the groove of DJs like Nicole Moudaber, watching her 2012 Tomorrowland set, which made me explore other parts of underground Electronic Music.  

I then moved to Shanghai as a student, where I was studying International Economics and Trade. I compared the club scene and infrastructure from back home to the city and realized that it was possible to live my Electronic Music dream. Then, I doubled down and produced music that was inspiring me in the scene, from Techno and House, but I wanted to merge it with my own roots from back home. I guess I was missing home and wanted to connect with my own South African heritage. South Africa has always had its own distinct sounds of Electronic Dance Music. 

Are there any artists — whether from Electronic Music or beyond — who’ve had a lasting influence on your sound or creative mindset? 

Armin Van Buuren, Black Coffee, Kaskade, Deadmau5, Carl Cox and Sasha. 

Do you remember the first time you performed your music in front of a crowd? What impact did that moment have on you? 

It felt amazing to watch the crowd react to my music. Music was something I did for fun, but I was obsessed with it, and it took me a long time to have professional, clean-sounding records. So, it really shaped my perception of what’s possible if you work hard and show your love to the music. 

Tell us about your local scene growing up — how did that environment influence your style and development as a Producer or DJ? 

Growing up as a DJ, I think that my city, Durban, South Africa, had a healthy Electronic Music scene, but the scale of nightlife was not as large as other cities like maybe Johannesburg and Cape Town. That was not a disadvantage though. I think the city produced many world-class acts, because we had to put in the hours in the studio more than we were DJing. So, it kept me very focused on music production to try and reach more opportunities. 

How has your relationship with music changed over the years — not just in how you make it, but in how you listen to and connect with it personally? 

I still try to take a beginner’s approach to music. That is, to understand that there are no rules to music, just the feeling of it. Therefore, I trust my taste because I love different types of music, and I understand the history behind it because I am first a music fan and lover, then a DJ/Producer. 

Looking ahead, what are you hoping to explore or achieve over the next five years in your musical journey?  

I’d like to be playing large-scale nightclubs, venues and festivals around the world, where I push the Afro House sound for bigger stages in my own way, drawing in influences from other scenes, with a strong focus on unique and energetic, pulsating, sound design elements. 

As Chilsta continues to carve out his space within the evolving Electronic Music landscape, his passion for both his craft and the global scene remains evident. By honouring his roots while embracing new influences that drive his sound forward, he is building a sonic world that captures his vision and hints at the promising path ahead. So, an Artist in motion, be sure to take note of Chilsta and follow him across social media for the latest updates and news.

Chilsta Online

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