Dlala Thukzin has entered a new chapter with the rollout of his ninth solo album, Ember, a project that brings together some of South Africa’s biggest musical names while pushing his distinctive sound further onto the international stage.
The 29-year-old DJ and producer has confirmed that Ember will be released worldwide on 30 October 2026, with collaborators including Young Stunna, Sino Msolo, Funky Qla and Kabza Da Small. International performances linked to the new era are also taking shape, with dates confirmed in Australia, the Netherlands and Portugal.
The fire behind Ember
The title Ember reflects the idea of a fire that continues burning – a fitting description of an artist whose career has been built around constant movement and experimentation.
Dlala Thukzin has become closely associated with the evolution of 3-Step while also moving between amapiano, Afro-house, gqom and broader African electronic sounds.
His catalogue includes major records such as iPlan, while his collaborations have helped establish him as both a performer and producer capable of bringing different parts of South Africa’s dance music scene together.
Speaking about his evolution as an artist, Thukzin recently explained that he does not enter the studio simply trying to manufacture a hit.
“I never go into the studio thinking about making a hit.”
He said it was only after creating records such as iPlan that he began to realise he was moving in a different direction musically.
A new chapter after iPlan
The pressure that comes with having a breakout record has been part of Thukzin’s journey.
Rather than attempting to recreate the formula behind one successful song, he has continued to experiment with his sound.
His recent work has seen him build a reputation around 3-Step while incorporating elements of amapiano, Afro-tech and gqom.
That evolution is central to Ember, which is being positioned as a body of work rather than simply another collection of dancefloor records.
At a recent listening session at Jazzworx Studios, Thukzin spoke about the different phases of his career and the importance of continuing to change as an artist.
Kabza Da Small, Young Stunna and more
One of the major talking points around Ember is its line-up of collaborators.
The album features Kabza Da Small, Sino Msolo, Funky Qla and Young Stunna, among others, bringing together artists who occupy different spaces within South Africa’s contemporary music landscape.
For Thukzin, collaboration has become an important part of his production identity.
Rather than staying within a single genre, his work has consistently created meeting points between different sounds and artists.
That approach has also helped make his music accessible beyond the traditional boundaries of South African club culture.
Taking Ember beyond South Africa
The album arrives as Thukzin’s international footprint continues to expand.
Confirmed dates have been announced in Australia, the Netherlands and Portugal, with additional destinations expected to follow as the Ember campaign develops.
His international shows have also given him a different perspective on how audiences engage with his music.
“Travelling and being able to play the music that I love… because people overseas dance until the end of the show.”
He explained that international audiences often allow him to play more extensively from his catalogue, rather than limiting a set to only the biggest singles.
“Overseas, you’re able to play everything, your album tracks, your full set,” he said.
That relationship with audiences abroad has become an increasingly important part of his artistic journey.
A distinctly South African sound on a global stage
Thukzin’s rise comes as South African dance music continues to find audiences outside the country.
His approach has been to take the rhythms and textures associated with South African music with him, rather than separating his international ambitions from the sound that established him at home.
Ember therefore arrives at an important point in his career – not as a complete reinvention, but as another stage in an evolution that has already taken him from Durban’s music scene to international dancefloors.
The album is scheduled for worldwide release on 30 October 2026, with further details around the full tracklist and additional international dates expected as the rollout continues.
