Shimza | PPLONLY

Shimza

South African DJ & producer · Afro house and the craft of the live set

Shimza, born Ashley Raphala, is a DJ, producer and promoter from Tembisa, South Africa. His work spans Afro house production, international DJ performances and his One Man Show event series. Suggested conversation topics • DJ preparation, track selection and reading a dance floor • Music production and developing a distinctive sound • Building a career in electronic music Bring a question about the craft, the creative process or the experience behind the music.

Private video conversation · Creator approval required

THE STORY BEHIND THE SOUND

From Tembisa to the world. Building opportunities along the way.

Shimza’s story combines musical ambition with a desire to build opportunities around it. The South African DJ and producer has developed a career that spans performance, a record label and events with a community purpose. His journey offers a compelling perspective on what it means to grow as an artist while creating space for others.

The foundations of a career

Born Ashley Raphala in Tembisa, Shimza began developing his DJ skills as a teenager. His career grew through South Africa’s electronic music scene, where his technical approach to mixing became an important part of his identity.

His story begins with a craft: learning how to select, combine and shape music in front of an audience. That foundation gives his later work as a promoter and label founder a practical connection to the dancefloor.

Building KUNYE

In 2020, Shimza launched KUNYE Records with the Calling Out Your Name EP. In an interview marking its launch, he described an ambition to connect South African artists with audiences around the world and build a trusted home for their music.

The project grew beyond releases through livestream sessions that showcased artists and brought listeners together. KUNYE gives his career a broader dimension: developing a platform through which other musicians can be heard.

A perspective worth sharing

Across these projects, Shimza’s career raises an inspiring question: what becomes possible when an artist also builds the places where music can grow? A label can introduce talent. An event can bring a community together. A performance can direct attention toward a cause.

For emerging creatives and entrepreneurs, his journey offers a starting point for conversations about discipline, cultural identity and turning a personal ambition into something that includes other people.

POSSIBLE STARTING POINTS