Afro House
Interview with AVAION: Breaking Boundaries with ‘Wacuka’ and the 360° Experience
AVAION: Breaking Boundaries with ‘Wacuka’ and the 360° Experience
In the ever-evolving world of electronic music, few artists have managed to create such a distinctive fusion of sounds as AVAION. His track “Wacuka,” featuring Kenyan artist Sofiya Nzau, has become a global sensation, catching the attention of industry giants like Calvin Harris while bridging cultural influences with electronic beats.
In this exclusive interview, AVAION takes us behind the scenes of his creative process, discussing how the collaboration with Sofiya Nzau came together almost effortlessly, resulting in a sound that defies traditional genre classifications. He also reveals details about his ambitious “You Are Seen” tour featuring an innovative 360-degree setup that promises to deliver a more intimate and energetic experience for fans.
Your track “Wacuka” has become a massive success. What was the collaborative process like working with Sofiya Nzau and the Kenyan influence she brought to the track, and how did you maintain your signature sound while exploring these new rhythmic elements?
It was actually really easy. I was already familiar with her vocals from a previous song of hers. She had released some vocal packs online that many producers were using, and I had used them before because I’m a big fan of her voice and the Kenyan African vibe.
Her management reached out to us, saying she had some material available, and she sent me the vocal take of ‘Wacuka.’ It was perfectly recorded in one take, everything sounded good, and I immediately knew I could work with it. I think the song was finished after just two days—everything flowed naturally.
It’s a nice combination of her vocals and the emotions she puts into them, paired with the drop I created and the synthesizers that establish the overall vibe. It’s somewhere between Afro house and deep house, but also neither of those genres—it’s many styles combined. I think that’s what makes it something new and refreshing that people can connect with. You can feel melancholic listening to it, but you can also dance to it. And I appreciate the meaningful message of female empowerment that Sofiya brings to the track.”
Artists like Calvin Harris reaching out personally about “Wacuka” must have been validating. Who did you look to for inspiration when you were starting out, and how has their influence shaped your sound?
When I started out around 2012, one of my biggest influences was Tchami—he was like the godfather of deep house. He had these different sounds, and everything he did was unique—I just completely fell in love with it.
These days, I really love The Blaze, Ben Böhmer, and Elderbrook. They’re all amazing artists. I think connecting with many different people and taking small inspirations from here and there to create your own thing is the whole point of being an artist.
Your upcoming “You Are Seen” tour features a 360-degree live setup. What inspired this concept?
I wanted to take a step up from the last tour. We have bigger venues now and a different concept with me in the middle of the space. There’s a platform with lights underneath that can flash, creating more of a visual light show. In the previous tour, we only had the venue’s lighting, but this time we have a specific concept behind it. Having me in the middle with people around me makes it more intimate. It’s going to be insane—still a live show with live vocals and the same setup, but with more energy, more intimacy, and a bigger, better, sweatier experience.
You have a new track that just came out on Sony Music, ‘I Can’t Find You’. Can you share with us and the listeners the story behind the track?
It’s a collaboration with Oscar Matt, a Swedish producer. It started when he released a TikTok with a musical idea he created. People in the comments were tagging me, saying ‘AVAION could fit on this.’ After seeing my name tagged about ten times, I decided to check it out and thought, ‘That’s actually really good.’ So I messaged him to send me the stems so we could make it into a complete song. It’s really nice how it all came together—he was just a guy uploading stuff on TikTok, people thought I would be a good fit, and now we have a song coming out.
To check out the full interview head on over to the 10 Days in Dance podcast:
In the beating heart of Mexico City, something special is unfolding after dark. Casa de Afro is not your average dance music series. It is a warm, living connection between the ancient rhythms of Africa and the electric energy of modern club life. Founded by Dr. ADO and Bud Lee, this project brings people together through Afro House in a way that feels genuine, respectful, and full of soul.
The Visionaries Behind the Sound
Dr. ADO grew up in London with Ghanaian roots running deep in his veins. Yet it was his years spent fully immersed in South Africa’s vibrant scene that shaped him as an artist. He stood side by side with legends like Vanco, Culoe De Song, Major League DJz, Thakzin, and Cuebur, learning the true essence of Afro-Tech straight from the source. That real-world experience shines through in every track he touches. His song “Get Away” has already passed 1.6 million streams on Spotify, and his recent Anjunadeep Explorations releases with BokkieUlt, “Hold My Hand” and “Starlight,” have earned him serious respect in the global underground.
Bud Lee adds the perfect balance. Hailing from Philadelphia, this African-American artist carries more than ten years of music experience. He has poured his heart into Afro House lately, bringing a soulful, distinctly American warmth that completes the picture. When these two step into the booth together, the chemistry is effortless because it comes from shared love for the diaspora and the music that connects it all.
Taking the Sound Across the World
Mexico City is still the heart of Casa de Afro, but the duo is making sure the vibe reaches far beyond. Their recent event at Maison Close in London’s Mayfair showed just how naturally the sound travels. In one of the planet’s toughest music cities, they created an intimate, magnetic night that felt right at home for fans on both continents.
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Two Nights You Need to Catch This Spring
The founders have never forgotten the local crowd that helped them grow. This spring they are giving back with two very special appearances in Mexico City.
On April 17, head to Symphonie for a true late-night journey. The session runs from 10 PM straight through until 5 AM. Expect deep, hypnotic Afro House grooves that wrap around you in one of the city’s most atmospheric clubs. Get your tickets through here.
Then on May 9, Casa de Afro joins forces with the global brand ¿PorquéNo? for their official Mexico City launch at the beautiful Faunna Rooftop. This is a proud milestone for the series, recognizing them as true pioneers of the sound in the region. Get your tickets through here.
Why It All Matters
Dr. ADO says it best: “We’ve worked hard to cultivate a community here that genuinely loves this music. To be able to bring that community along as we support global launches like ¿PorquéNo?, and to see the sound resonate in places like London, is a real honor for us. We’re just focused on keeping the quality high and staying true to the African roots, both by blood and by experience, that make this music what it is.”
That honest approach is what makes every Casa de Afro night feel like more than just a party. It feels like belonging.
Stay updated and follow their socials:
Instagram: @WilliamAdoasi, @ViewsWithBud, & @casadeafro_ofc
YouTube: @dr.adomusic & @budleemusic1
Spotify: Dr. ADO
After opening his label’s doors to fresh releases from UK producers James Hurr and Loz Seka, FLAMENCA Records boss STBAN returns to the imprint with his brand new single ‘Habibi’, out April 10th worldwide.
A scorching slice of percussive Afro-Latin House, ‘Habibi’ sees STBAN collaborate with two stars of the Spanish music scene – DJ and percussionist Javi Torres, and singer and DJ Alba Dreid. The result is a dance floor weapon that combines the heat and flavour of Arabesque vocals and instrumentation with thundering basslines and relentless rhythms.
Javi Torres is known across southern Europe and Latin America for his explosive Afrohouse and Latin Tech sets, performances enhanced by live percussion inside the mix. The Seville-based artist counts support from some of electronica’s biggest names, including Martin Garrix, Alok, Jamie Jones, Hugel, Aaron Sevilla, Roger Sanchez, Mëstiza, MichaelBM, Tom & Collins, Novak, Nicky Romero, Paco Osuna, Salvarote Ganacci and Sammy Porter. Known throughout Spain after winning the RTVE programme ‘La Bien Cantá’, Alba Dreid’s focus is set firmly on bringing Spanish folklore to a global audience, making her a perfect fit for STBAN’s ongoing mission to fuse traditional flamenco with electronic music through FLAMENCA Records’ growing discography.
Javi Torres, Alba Dreid, STBAN ‘Habibi’ is released April 10th on FLAMENCA Records via Toolroom Records.
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SHAB turned heads with the release of the fantastic ‘It’s On You’ in February 2026 with Preston Harris. She’s now adding more excitement to the track with the unveiling of its official music video.
This visual venture came with familiar names behind it as SHAB collaborated with a lot of crew members who have been behind her past videos. The video takes on the well-established style that’s been displayed in many of SHAB’s other music videos with incredible scenery and beautifully strung together sequences. SHAB and Preston Harris star in the video with them leaning into the flirty nature of the vocals in how they interact. They fully embody the lyrics as they embrace the feelings of attraction, accountability, and tension conveyed in the track. Through stunning scenery, well-choreographed dancing, and palpable tension between the stars, the music video really builds upon the emotions set out ‘It’s On You.’
Since the release of SHAB and Preston Harris’ epic collaboration they’ve already pulled in just shy of 250,000 streams on Spotify. This success comes as no surprise with both artists being in top form. Over the past year SHAB has made several entries into the U.S. Pop Radio Top 40 and the Billboard Dance charts which is an astonishing achievement. Meanwhile 2025 saw Preston Harris reach a career high with the release of ‘Loosen Up’ alongside HUGEL which became a global Dance Radio No. 1. ‘It’s On You’ stands as another strong addition to both artists ventures into dance music as they continue to explore the reaches of their talent. Its stripped back sound allows SHAB to show off her remarkable vocals along with continuing the emotional directness found amidst the rest of her music.
SHAB has managed to take the concept of ‘It’s On You’ and expand upon it through this sun-soaked music video. She has carved out a distinctive style both audibly and visually which is one of the hallmarks of a great artist and is a great sign of things to come.
You can follow SHAB on her socials below:
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