Afro house pioneer and globally sought-after DJ/producer Stan Zeff has been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of the genre on both sides of the Atlantic. After gaining a reputation as the trailblazing visionary behind the Shock Sound System at London’s iconic Notting Hill carnival in his native UK, Stan moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 2000, swiftly establishing himself as an influential force on the US soulful and Afro house scene. In 2009, he launched the highly respected and long-running Tambor Party, a monthly residency considered one of the best deep, Afro house club experiences. Establishing himself as a curator and tastemaker with a keen instinct for bringing together creative kindred spirits, Stan has introduced the North America and Europe scenes to many underground artists who’ve gone on to wider recognition via his legendary Atlanta-based party. Artists include Black Coffee, Manoo, Afro Warriors and Brendon Praise. 

A worthy ambassador for the soulful sounds of Africa, Stan has played numerous renown venues, such as Copacabana, Chelsea Music Hall and Cielo in New York, Revival Toronto, Smart Bar Chicago and Wildpitch Underground and Domaine both of Atlanta. Stan has also been a fixture at festivals around the globe, including the Afro Soul Festival in Costa Rica, Moving Deep in Amsterdam and Chosen Few in Chicago, where he has played to crowds exceeding 40,000. Other notable events include a collaboration with the Brooklyn-founded collective Daybreaker, where Stan was the headline for several features, including to an audience of 78,000 for the first-ever performance at The Man installation at Burning Man in the Nevada desert.

As a producer, Stan has shared his ethereal, soulful aesthetic spanning seminal record labels such as King Street, Nervous and Yoruba Records, as well as Stan’s own label, Tambor Music. Founded in 2012, the label has become a prominent imprint on the deep scene, with releases from homegrown US talent, African artists and, of course, Stan himself, whose eponymous releases have transformed him into a consistently top-selling producer and regular fixture on Traxsource’s Essential Afro House Charts. The London-born artist has collaborated with many influential names in deep house, including Terry Hunter, Osunlade and South Africa’s Toshi.

Stan has dedicated time to curating musical excursions that run the gamut from week-long sea-faring parties, namely the annual Tambor Cruise to holistic dance celebrations. Memorable events include Sacred Sons Convergence men’s retreats, and wellness events like Daybreaker and curating sonic accompaniments for plant medicine ceremonies. All of these festivities seamlessly fuse the healing power of music with physical and spiritual self-care. Stan continues to curate events and foster creative collaborations with fellow artists.

Stan has created seismic shifts, keeping the African-influenced genres of dance, fresh, spiritually-provoking, and, above all, fun. On his mission to spread the Afro house philosophy, Stan isn’t just about the pursuit of the dance, he stands at the intersection of African-influenced music, that incorporates spirituality and movement as a healing ritual, creating a safe space for self-expression and introspection.

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