| Sun-El Musician | |||||||
| Birth Name: | Sanele Tresure Sithole | ||||||
| Birth Place: | Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | ||||||
| Birth Date: | 28 March 1989 | ||||||
| Education: | University of KwaZulu-Natal (dropped out) | ||||||
| Module: |
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Sanele Tresure Sithole (born 28 March 1989), known professionally as Sun-El Musician, is a South African disc jockey, music producer, and songwriter.[1] [2] Born and raised in Mooi River, he attended the University of KwaZulu-Natal but dropped out to pursue a career in music. His debut studio album Africa to the World (2018), was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA).[3]
Sun-El's second album, To the World & Beyond (2020), was met with further commercial success, certified Platinum by Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA).
He was a producer for Demor Music before the establishment of his own record label, EL World Music.[4] His most recent album African Electronic Dance Music was released in October 2021.
Sanele Tresure Sithole was born on 28 March 1989 in the town of Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and raised along with his four siblings by a domestic worker mother.[5] [6] He attended the University of KwaZulu-Natal but dropped out in 2007.
Shortly after he left school Sithole spent two years at home and began his musical career in 2007 remixing songs and creating mixtapes.[7] Sithole met Thandukwazi Demor Sikhosana who signed him under his record label Demor Music (Pty) Ltd, worked as music producer for a period of 5 years. During that period he worked in the studio with Bucie from 2011-2014,[8] [9] and he produced three albums for Demor.
See main article: Africa to the World.
In early 2017 he established EL World Music.[10] [11]
Sithole then began to create his own music under the name Sun-El Musician. His debut single "Akanamali" featuring Samthing Soweto was released on May 21, 2017. It became his first biggest song reached no.1 on Shazam and certified Platinum in South Africa.[12] [13]
"Bamthathile" featuring Mlindo the Vocalist was released on February 23, 2018, as album's second single.[14]
His debut studio album Africa to the World, was released on April 20, 2018.[15] [16] The album reached Platinum in South Africa.
The singles "Sonini", "Bamthathile", and "Ntab'Ezikude" all received 2× Platinum certifications from the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA)[17] In June 2018, his single "Akanamali" earned him three awards at the 24th South African Music Awards, including Best Collaboration, Highest Airplay Song and Highest Airplay Composer. Africa to the World was also nominated at the 25th South African Music Awards in June 2019.[18]
Sithole made collaboration with Ami Faku on a single "Into Ingawe", released on June 7, 2019. The song was certified 3× Platinum by RiSA.[19] [20] [21]
Also in 2019, Sithole embarked on an extensive tour of South Africa.[22]
In April 2020, Sithole released album's lead single "Uhuru" with South African singer Azana.[23] [24]
Following month May 2020, his second single "Ubomi Abumanga" featuring Msaki was released.[25] It was certified 2× Platinum by Recording Industry of South Africa.
"Emoyeni", a single by Sun-El Musician, Khuzani, Simmy was released in July 2020, in celebration of Ukhozi FM 60th Anniversary. His second studio album To the World & Beyond was released in December 4, 2020.[26] The album reached Platinum in South Africa.
African Electronic Dance Music was released on 29 October 2021 in South Africa.[27] On African Electronic Dance Music, Sun-El experimented electronic dance music style incorporated with elements of afro house.[28] [29] It was supported by four singles; "Higher", "Amateki/Ululate", "Woza". Pan-African Music enlisted African Electronic Dance Music number 1 on The 30 best albums of 2021 year-end lists.[30]
African Electronic Dance Music received three nominations; Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Best Dance Album at the 28th South African Music Awards.[31]
The previous day, Sithole headlined the Basha Uhuru Creative Uprising Festival alongside Langa Mavuso.[32]
In December 2021, Sithole was chosen by Gallo Records to work on classic songs remix on the Extended Play titled Music is Forever along with Nobuhle, Muzi, and other artists.[33] [34]
In May 21, he headlined to Bassline I AM LIVE concert.[35]
Towards the end of May 2022, he headlined to MTN Bushfire Festival, held at Malkerns Valley, from May 27–29.[36] [37]
Sithole announced his upcoming project AEDM: Interstellar (pronounced African Electronic Dance Music: Interstellar) on December 8, 2022 set to be released on 2023 released double single "Makwande" with Fk Mash, Ami Faku, "Rata" with TNS and Skillz.[38] Both singles were released on December 9, 2022.
In April 2023, Sun-El Musician and Msaki teased a single "Amandla" on a snippet video clip and announced release date on October. The song was released on November 3, 2023.[39] [40]
| Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Akanamali" (featuring Samthing Soweto) | 2017 | 1 | RiSA: Platinum | Africa to the World | ||||
| "Ntab'Ezikude" (featuring Simmy) | 2018 | RiSA: 2× platinum | ||||||
| "Bamthathile" (featuring Mlindo the Vocalist) | RiSA: 2× Platinum | |||||||
| "Sonini" (featuring Simmy and Lelo Kamau) | RiSA:2× Platinum | |||||||
| "Bomi Abumanga" (featuring Msaki) | 2020 | RiSA: 2× Platinum | To the World & Beyond | |||||
| "Garden" (featuring Julia Church) | — | |||||||
| "Uhuru" (featuring Azana) | ||||||||
| "Never Never" (featuring Nobuhle) | RiSA: Gold[41] | |||||||
| "Into Ingawe" (featuring Ami Faku) | RiSA: 3× platinum | |||||||
| "Higher" (featuring Simmy) | 2021 | 6 | African Electronic Dance Music | |||||
| "Amateki" (featuring Bholoja) | ||||||||
| "Woza" (featuring Linos Rosetta) | ||||||||
| "Respond" (Miči, Sun-EL Musician) | 2022 | — | ||||||
| "Amandla" (Sun-El Musician, Msaki) | 2023 | — | ||||||
| "Hamba Nami" (Sun-El Musician, Fearless Musiq, Section Five)[42] | 2024 | — | ||||||
| "Inhliziyo" (Sun-EL Musician, Mthandazo Gatya, Anzo featuring Kenza) | — | |||||||
| "feelings" (Miči, Frigid Armadillo, Sun-El Musician) | — | |||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||
| Album details | Certifications | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa to the World[43] |
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| To the World & Beyond |
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| |
| African Electronic Dance Music |
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| EP details | ||
| AEDM: Interstellar |
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|---|
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album | Credit(s) | Written with: | Produced with: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Ngiyesaba" | 2018 | Simmy | Tugela Fairy | Producer | Simmy | ||
| "Wawundithembisile" | 2021 | The One Who Sings | Zolani Mahola | Kenza (SA) | |||
| "Light House" | TRESOR | Motion | Co-producer | TRESOR Da Capo | |||
| "Ezangakini" | 2022 | Professor featuring Shwi, and Sun-El Musician[47] | Producer | Mkhonzeni Langa, Mandla Xaba, Zwelenduna Magubane, and Khethonjani Dludla | Mpho.Wav and Tebogo Mbolekwa | ||
| "Indlela" | 2023 | Drega, Sun-El Musician and Maline Aura | Producer | Bonga Ntozini, Sanele Sithole and Thandolwethu Nkomo | Drega |
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Ndivulele" | 2019 | Imali | |
| "Hosana" | 2020 | ||
| "Yasha Imizi" | Claudio x Kenza | Circle of Life | |
| "Shine" | S-Tone | Mbabane | |
| "Control" | 2021 | Imizamo | |
| "Jungle" | Kenza | Fly Away | |
| "You need Me" | Black Coffee | Subconsciously | |
| "Ngaphesheya" | Mobi Dixon, Nombila, Massive Ricco | When House Was House | |
| "Idwala" | 2022 | Idwala | |
| "Africa Hey" | Ndlovu Youth Choir | Greatful | |
| "Esikhathini" | Murumba Pitch | Horumar | |
| "Umthwalo" | Vitoto | Afro Nation |
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZA | ||||||||
| "Best Friend" (Sun-EL Musician, Msaki) | 2021 | 75[48] | Gold | African Electronic Dance Music | ||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||
| 2018 | 24th South African Music Awards | Collaboration | [49] [50] | |
| Highest Airplay Song | [51] [52] | |||
| Highest Airplay Composer | [53] | |||
| 2019 | 25th South African Music Awards | Record of the Year | [54] [55] [56] | |
| Newcomer of the Year | ||||
| Best Dance Album | ||||
| 2020 | KZN Entertainment Awards | Best Club DJ Male | [57] | |
| Best Producer | ||||
| 2021 | SAMAs 27 | Best Dance Album | [58] [59] | |
| Male Artist of the Year | ||||
| Best Produced Album of the Year | ||||
| Remix of the Year | ||||
| Best Live Audio of the Year | ||||
| M K H M A | Best DJ | |||
| 2021 | All Africa Music Awards | Best Male Artist in Southern Africa | [60] | |
| 2022 | SAMA 28 | Album of the Year | [61] | |
| Best Dance Album | ||||
| Male Artist of the Year | ||||
| Remix of the Year | [62] |