DJ Okapi

The Feeling - A project where artists are encouraged to explore their collections and share the sounds that resonate, linger, and most importantly, give them, The Feeling.

The series comprises of 16 one-hour episodes rolling out over 8 months (2 episodes per month), showcasing some of my favorite artists, DJs, and colleagues from the Cape Town and South African music scenes.

To watch these episodes on YouTube, follow the link in bio.

Studio 6 presents: The Feeling

Afrosynth Records is a Johannesburg-based record label and store. Digging up rare grooves in the city of gold, DJ Okapi brings a forgotten era of South African pop music back to life. Listen to his mix featuring a few tracks by South African disco star Kamazu at 10 am + pm CET. 

#KioskRadio #Outsiders21 #StayConnected

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🌐 "Outsiders" is our daily show hosted by global independent record labels 
📡 Connect with the Outsiders, every day, at 10 am or 10 pm CET
🔗 kioskradio.com

Outsiders: Afrosynth Records w/ DJ Okapi ft. Kamazu @ Kiosk Radio 30.03.2021

Afrosynth is back with DJ Okapi today focusing on the legendary eighties bubblegum singer and label affiliate Ntombi Ndaba.

🄾🅄🅃🅂🄸🄳🄴🅁🅂

🌐 "Outsiders" is our daily show hosted by global independent record labels
📡 Connect with the Outsiders, every day, at 10 am or 10 pm CET
🔗 https://kioskradio.com

Outsiders: Afrosynth w/ DJ Okapi feat. Ntombi Ndaba @ Kiosk Radio 30.07.2021

Instead of following trends, DJ Okapi has made it his mission to preserve and share a forgotten era of South African pop music, specifically the infectious sounds of synth-fuelled ‘80s ‘bubblegum’ disco and the house-driven kwaito grooves of the ‘90s. DJing since the early 2000s, Okapi started Afrosynth as a blog documenting his record collection. From 2016 to 2000 he ran a record store in downtown Johannesburg. Afrosynth now functions primarily as a reissue label, putting out classic South African sounds, as well as new jazz, via Rush Hour in Amsterdam. In the process he has helped bring artists like Ntombi Ndaba and Kamazu back to the international stage. Recently returned to Cape Town, the city of his birth, after more than a decade in Johannesburg, Okapi has shared his unique and soulful sound throughout Europe as well as Asia and Brazil. He has also compiled popular vinyl collections of South African music for Rush Hour, Soundway and Cultures of Soul.

DJ Okapi (Afrosynth Records)

🍿Full hour episode now streaming on YouTube:

EP01: Fernando Damon

Fernando Damon is a Cape Town-based drummer, label head, and musical innovator. A key member of Dead Symbols and the Brixton No Jazz Society, his sound blends jazz, broken beat, funk, and disco into a heady, genre-defying mix. With an extensive discography of EPs, LPs, and remixes, and a history of sharing stages locally and internationally, Fernando crafts immersive musical atmospheres that resonate with musicians and listeners alike.

https://fernandodamon.com

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The Feeling - A project where artists are encouraged to explore their collections and share the sounds that resonate, linger, and most importantly, give them, The Feeling.

The series comprises of 16 one-hour episodes rolling out over 8 months (2 episodes per month), showcasing some of my favorite artists, DJs, and colleagues from the Cape Town and South African music scenes.

Find The Feeling series:

Instagram: https://bit.ly/4iD7C7P
TikTok: https://bit.ly/4j6PWRC
 
Shoemaker: 
Instagram: https://bit.ly/42PRB6A
TikTok: https://bit.ly/41TN98N

The Feeling: Ep 01 - Fernando Damon

🍿Full hour episode now streaming on YouTube:

EP02: Ray Bennett

Ray Bennett is a gifted artist and musician whose sonic creations transport listeners on a journey through time and space. His music blends together elements of grit and lush instrumentation to create an immediate and immersive experience that captivates and entrances audiences.

Listeners can discover the magic of Ray Bennett’s music through his releases on his own imprints, Sonecy Records & Safe Ttapes , as well as through the local label Citybowl Wax Network. His work on these labels showcases his incredible talent and musical range and has garnered him a dedicated following of fans around the world.

Whether you’re a longtime devotee of Ray Bennett’s sound or a newcomer to his music, his releases are sure to take you on a journey of sonic discovery. So sit back, relax, and immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Ray Bennett’s music.

The Feeling - A project where artists are encouraged to explore their collections and share the sounds that resonate, linger, and most importantly, give them, The Feeling.

The series comprises of 16 one-hour episodes rolling out over the next 8 months (2 episodes per month), showcasing some of my favorite artists, DJs, and colleagues from the Cape Town and South African music scenes.
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Find The Feeling series:

Instagram: https://bit.ly/4iD7C7P
TikTok: https://bit.ly/4j6PWRC

Shoemaker 
Instgram: https://bit.ly/42PRB6A  
TikTok: https://bit.ly/41TN98N

Equipment and lighting provided by MyOh!My Entertainment: https://bit.ly/4lvhIcT

Filmed at Soundcast Studios, Cape Town, South Africa: https://bit.ly/3DYzqV7

The Feeling: Ep 02 - Ray Bennett

🍿Full hour episode now streaming on YouTube.

EP03: Meek

With her signature blend of minimal afro-funk and balearic haze, Meek’s sound is both grounded and otherworldly — familiar grooves laced with unexpected turns. Playful yet precise, she brings a colourful energy to the decks, drawing you into a world that feels sun-drenched, nostalgic, and just a little wild. In The Feeling, Meek leans into her instinct for mood and movement, chasing that spark that makes the body sway and the spirit lift.

The Feeling - A project where artists are encouraged to explore their collections and share the sounds that resonate, linger, and most importantly, give them, The Feeling.

The series comprises of 16 one-hour episodes rolling out over the next 8 months (2 episodes per month), showcasing some of my favorite artists, DJs, and colleagues from the Cape Town and South African music scenes.
------------
Find The Feeling series:

Instagram: https://bit.ly/4iD7C7P
TikTok: https://bit.ly/4j6PWRC

Shoemaker 
Instgram: https://bit.ly/42PRB6A  
TikTok: https://bit.ly/41TN98N

Equipment and lighting provided by MyOh!My Entertainment: https://bit.ly/4lvhIcT

Filmed at Soundcast Studios, Cape Town, South Africa: https://bit.ly/3DYzqV7

The Feeling: Ep 03 - Meek

🍿Full hour episode now streaming on YouTube:

EP04: Luc Veermeer - @user-554701584

Luc Veermeer is a producer and DJ based in Cape Town who first made waves as part of the acclaimed duo Christian Tiger School, performing at Sonar, SXSW and Appelsap. Luc has shared stages with Baauer, Little Dragon, A-Trak, Hudson Mohawke and more. Now, he explores a more intimate and diverse sounds, blending Ambient, Electronica, UKG, and beyond. 

Taking a break from dance music, this set explores the more ambient side of things.

The Feeling - A project where artists are encouraged to explore their collections and share the sounds that resonate, linger, and most importantly, give them, The Feeling.

The series comprises of 16 one-hour episodes rolling out over the next 8 months (2 episodes per month), showcasing some of my favorite artists, DJs, and colleagues from the Cape Town and South African music scenes.
------------
Find The Feeling series:

Instagram: bit.ly/4iD7C7P
TikTok: bit.ly/4j6PWRC

Shoemaker
Instgram: bit.ly/42PRB6A
TikTok: bit.ly/41TN98N

Equipment and lighting provided by MyOh!My Entertainment: bit.ly/4lvhIcT

The Feeling: Ep

The Feeling: Ep 04 - Luc Veermeer

🍿Full hour episode now streaming on YouTube:

EP05: Nyauist

Zimbabwean-born and Cape Town-based, Kapula aka Nyauist is a sonically fearless selector, multimedia artist, and music researcher. His musical roots trace back to playing drums in his father’s church—an early spark that lit a deep, enduring love for sound and performance.

A co-founder of Pungwe Nights and ChiNdanga! Radio, Kapula has been instrumental in shaping innovative musical platforms and curatorial projects across the continent. 

His current work includes ASTRO SONIC TRAILS—an evolving, vinyl-driven installation that explores Black sonic legacies and African heritage through archival digging and crate culture.

The Feeling - A project where artists are encouraged to explore their collections and share the sounds that resonate, linger, and most importantly, give them, The Feeling.

The series comprises of 16 one-hour episodes rolling out over the next 8 months (2 episodes per month), showcasing some of my favorite artists, DJs, and colleagues from the Cape Town and South African music scenes.
------------
Find The Feeling series:

Instagram: bit.ly/4iD7C7P
TikTok: bit.ly/4j6PWRC

Shoemaker
Instgram: bit.ly/42PRB6A
TikTok: bit.ly/41TN98N

Equipment and lighting provided by MyOh!My Entertainment: bit.ly/4lvhIcT

Filmed at Soundcast Studios, Cape Town, South Africa: bit.ly/3DYzqV7

Follow the 🔗 in bio to watch the full episode and others 🥤🍿

The Feeling: Ep 05 - Nyauist

🍿 Full hour episode now streaming on YouTube:

Ep09: DJ Okapi

DJ Okapi, founder of Afrosynth Records, is widely respected as one of the key figures preserving South Africa’s electronic, bubblegum, and kwaito heritage. More than a DJ, he’s an archivist and connector, unearthing lost South African sounds from the ’80s and ’90s while championing a new wave of local jazz artists — like Mabuta and Ayanda Sikade — through his New Horizons compilation series, pressed on vinyl and distributed worldwide by @rushhourrecords in Amsterdam.

Afrosynth began as a blog in 2009–2010, with deep dives into disco, funk, bubblegum, and early kwaito that helped put these sounds back on the map for collectors, DJs, and reissue labels globally. The label naturally grew from that archival work.

A vital connector and collector, Okapi ran the legendary Afrosynth record shop in downtown Johannesburg before returning to Cape Town, where you’ll now find him DJing at venues like Gorgeous George and The Commons, or digging up vinyl treasures at local record fairs. His sets are living archives — a dance floor journey through priceless holy grails and bargain-bin surprises, all stitched together with groove and deep knowledge

Instagram: https://bit.ly/46XFcCl
Afrosynth Bandcamp: https://bit.ly/4m6g9kP
Afrosynth Soundcloud: @afrosynth 
Afrosynth blog: https://bit.ly/4mdscgv

The Feeling - A project where artists are encouraged to explore their collections and share the sounds that resonate, linger, and most importantly, give them, The Feeling.

The series comprises 16 one-hour episodes rolling out over the next 8 months (2 episodes per month), showcasing some of my favorite artists, DJs, and colleagues from the Cape Town and South African music scenes.

------------
Find The Feeling series:

Instagram: https://bit.ly/4iD7C7P
TikTok: https://bit.ly/4j6PWRC

Shoemaker 
Instagram: https://bit.ly/42PRB6A  
TikTok: https://bit.ly/41TN98N

Equipment and lighting provided by MyOh!My Entertainment: https://bit.ly/4lvhIcT

Filmed at Soundcast Studios, Cape Town, South Africa: https://bit.ly/3DYzqV7

Follow the 🔗 in bio to watch the full episode and others 🥤🍿

The Feeling: Ep 09 - DJ Okapi

DJ Okapi (@afrosynth) DJ set at El cuerpo del Disco, berlínClub (@bclubmadrid), on October 6th 2018.

Dj Okapi at El cuerpo del Disco (berlínClub, Madrid)

Shoemaker grew up in a family on the east coast of the United States where music was always the cornerstone of the home. When he first left the States over a decade ago, his love for music was only magnified by his travels around the world. Shortly after, an obsession for disco music sent him down a path of collecting and playing records.  With multiple residencies in the city under his belt over the years, his drive for finding new music and sounds inspires him to consistently dig deeper. Today, Shoemaker’s sets are influenced by disco, Latin, African, Zouk, house, and music from all corners of the world - never one to stick to one sound or genre. He aims to spoil listeners with music they are unfamiliar with but find irresistible not to move to! 
Shoemaker has played at MCQP, Sexy Groovy Love, Kinky Summer, Rocking the Daisies, Retreat Yourself among other festivals and is a regular DJ in the city bowl where you can catch him playing at various venues around town.

The Feeling: Ep 09 - DJ Okapi

Charlie Shoemaker