Sun-El Musician

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Sun-El Musician
Birth nameSanele Sithole
Born (1989-03-28) 28 March 1989 (age 32)
Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Occupation(s)
  • DJ
  • songwriter
  • music producer
Years active2011–present
Labels
  • EL World Music
Associated acts

Sun-El Musician (born Sanele Sithole,[1] 28 March 1989[2]), is a South African disc jockey, music producer, and songwriter.[2][3] Born and raised in Mooi River, while sithole was attending University of KwaZulu-Natal, dropped out to purse his career in music. His debut studio album Africa to the World (2018), which was certified gold by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA).[4]

He was a producer for Demor Music before the establishment of his own record label EL World Music.[1] His most recent album African Electronic Dance Music was released in October 2021.

Life and career[]

Early life and education[]

Sanele Sithole was born 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.

Career[]

After he left school Sithole spent two years at home. He then started to remix songs and create mixtapes, eventually meeting becoming associated with Demor Music.[5] He worked in the studio with Bucie in 2011 and 2014,[7] and during this period he produced three albums for Demor.

Sithole then began to create his own music under the name Sun-El Musician. His debut single "Akanamali" reached no.1 on Shazam in 2016.[8][9] In early 2017 he established EL World Music.[10][11] His debut album Africa to the World was released in 2018.[12][13] The singles "Sonini", "Bamthathile", and "Ntab'Ezikude" all received platinum certifications from the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA)[14] 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.[15] Africa to the World was also nominated at the 25th South African Music Awards in June 2019, and was certified gold by RISA the following year.[16]

Also in 2019, Sithole embarked on an extensive tour of South Africa.[17] The single "Into Ingawe", featuring Ami Faku, was certified platinum by RISA.[18][19][20] His second studio album To the World & Beyond was released in December 2020.[20] The single "Ubomi Abumanga" featured Msaki.[21]

In April 2021, Sithole released the single "Uhuru" featuring Azana.[22][23] A live recording titled Kunye Live Mix was released in August 2021.[24] His third studio album African Electronic Dance Music was released on 29 October 2021 in South Africa.[25] The previous day, Sithole headlined the Basha Uhuru Creative Uprising Festival alongside with Langa Mavuso.[26]

In December 2021, Sithole was chosen by Gallo Records to work on classic songs remix on the Extended Play titled Music is Forever alongside with Nobuhle, Muzi, and other artists.[27][28]

Discography[]

Singles[]

As lead artist[]

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
"Akanamali" (featuring Samthing Soweto) 2017 1 RiSA: Platinum Africa to the World
"Ntab'Ezikude" (featuring Simmy) 2018 RiSA: 2x platinum[14]
"Bamthathile" (featuring Mlindo the Vocalist) RiSA: 2x Platinum
"Sonini" (featuring Simmy and Lelo Kamau) RiSA:2x Platinum [14]
"Bomi Abumanga" (featuring Msaki) 2020 RiSA: 2x Platinum To the World & Beyond
"Uhuru" (featuring Azana)
"Into Ingawe" (featuring Ami Faku) RiSA: 3x platinum[19] non-album single
"Higher" (featuring Simmy) 2021 6 African Electronic Dance Music
"Amateki" (featuring Bholoja)
"Woza" (featuring Linos Rosetta)

Albums[]

List of albums, with selected details, sales figures and certifications
Title Album details Certifications
Africa to the World[29]
To the World & Beyond[32]
African Electronic Dance Music

Production and songwriting credits[]

List of production and songwriting credits, showing original artists, year released and album name
Title Year Artist(s) Album Credit(s) Written with: Produced with:
"Ngiyesaba" 2018 Simmy Tugela Fairy Producer Simmy
"Wawundithembisile" 2021 The One Who Sings non-album single

Sun-El Musician Zolani Mahola

Kenza (SA)
"Light House" TRESOR Motion Co-producer

TRESOR Da Capo

Tours[]

  • EL World Music Experience (2019)[17]

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award Ceremony Prize Result Ref.
2018 24th South African Music Awards Collaboration Won [15][34]
Highest Airplay Song Won [35][36]
Highest Airplay Composer Won [37]
2019 25th South African Music Awards Record of the Year (Sun-El Musician featuring Simmy and Lelo Kamau – Sonini) Won [38][39]

[40]

Newcomer of the Year Nominated
Best Dance Album Nominated
2020 KZN Entertainment Awards Best Club DJ Male Nominated [41]
2021 SAMAs 27 Best Dance Album Nominated [42][43]
Male Artist of the Year Nominated
Best Produced Album of the Year Nominated
Remix of the Year Nominated
Best Live Audio of the Year Won
M K H M A Best DJ Nominated
2021 All Africa Music Awards Best Male Artist in Southern Africa Pending [44]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Sun EL Musician | Music In Africa". Music In Africa.
  2. ^ a b Makena, K. (12 May 2020). "Sun El Musician bio: age, real name, girlfriend, family, songs, album, awards". Briefly. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  3. ^ Musician, Sun El. "Sun El Musician mixes for GeeGo". www.geego.co.za. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  4. ^ Lefevre, Zachary (15 March 2021). "Sun-EL Musician is Bringing Africa to the World - EDM Identity". EDM Identity. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b Dayile, Qhama. "Singer Sun-El Musician going from broke to hugely successful". Drum. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  6. ^ "10 Things You Do Not Know About Sun-EL Musician". SA Music Magazine. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  7. ^ "THE SUN'S EL". Deep HouseLove Affair.
  8. ^ "'Akanamali' by Sun-El Musician is the No.1 most Shazamed song in SA | YOMZANSI". www.yomzansi.com. 1 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Interview: Sun-El Musician Is Going 'To the World & Beyond'". okayafricasite. 4 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Africa to the World by Sun-El Musician on TIDAL". Tidal.
  11. ^ ""ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Sun-El Musician delivers a majestic & groovy debut 'Africa to the World' [REVIEW] | YoMzansi". YoMzansi. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Sun-El Musician's 'Africa To The World' Album Knocks Hard". okayafricasite. 4 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Sun El Musician releases debut album Africa To The World – ZAlebs". Zalebs. 22 June 2020.
  14. ^ a b c "PressReader.com – Your favorite newspapers and magazines". www.pressreader.com.
  15. ^ a b "Sun-El Musician, Joyous Celebration big winners at first night of Samas". SowetanLIVE.
  16. ^ "Africa to the World – Sun-El Musician | Top Charts". Top Charts.
  17. ^ a b "Sun-El Musician launches El World Music Experience Tour | JustNje". JustNje. 24 May 2019.
  18. ^ "Sun EL-Musician x Ami Faku's Into Ingawe goes Double Platinum". SA Music Magazine. 19 May 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Sun-EL Musicain x Ami Faku – Into Ingawe, Goes Double Platinum". Zkhiphani. 21 May 2020.
  20. ^ a b "Ami Faku & Sun El Musician's Hit Into Ingawe Now Double Platinum »". Ubetoo. 20 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Sun-EL Musician Announced New Msaki Featured Song "Ubomi Abumanga" And Release Date »". Ubetoo. 20 May 2020.
  22. ^ Jabulani, John (6 April 2021). "Sun-EL Musician's Upcoming Song "UHURU" Gets A Release Date". Ubetoo.
  23. ^ Israel A, John (14 July 2020). "Sun-El Musician Previews Upcoming Album "Uhuru", With Single Featuring Azana". Ubetoo.
  24. ^ Jabulani, John (14 August 2021). ""Sun-EL Musician – Kunye Live Mix (12 August 2021) Ubetoo"". Ubetoo.
  25. ^ Shumba, Ano (29 October 2021). "Sun-El Musician drops African Electronic Dance Music album | Music In Africa". Music In Africa. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  26. ^ "Langa Mavuso and Sun El Musician to headline the 2021 Basha Uhuru Creative Uprising Festival | YoMzansi". YoMzansi. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  27. ^ Darangwa, Shingai (20 December 2021). "Sun El Musician, Muzi and Nobuhle added to 'Music Is Forever'". Independent Online. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  28. ^ Siyabonga, Thato (17 December 2021). "Music Is Forever - Iconic Songs Remixed By Sun El Musician, Muzi, And More, For A New Generation". Ubetoo. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  29. ^ "S-Tone: Meet the muso Sun El Musician thinks could be the next big thing". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  30. ^ "Africa to the World by Sun-El Musician on Apple Music". Apple Music. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  31. ^ "Certificate Reporting". Recording Industry of South Africa. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  32. ^ "To the World and Beyond Album". iminathi. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  33. ^ "African Electronic Dance Music by Sun-El Musician on Apple Music". Apple Music. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  34. ^ "2018 Collaboration of the year Nominee : Sun-EL Musician ft Samthing Soweto – Akanamali".
  35. ^ "All the winners from SAMA Awards 2018". www.gq.co.za.
  36. ^ "Samas 2018: All the winners". Channel.
  37. ^ News, Fakaza (2 June 2018). "South African Music Awards 2018 – Full List of Winners #SAMA24 | Fakaza News".
  38. ^ "2019 Collaboration of the year Nominee : Sun-El Musician – Sonini".
  39. ^ "All the 2019 SAMA nominees". www.bizcommunity.com.
  40. ^ Mathebula, Kwanele. "2019 SAMA Record of the Year nominees | Bona Magazine".
  41. ^ "Talent overload: All the winners from the first KZN Entertainment Awards". The South African. 16 December 2020.
  42. ^ "Samas 27 nominations are out and its male dominated | The Citizen". The Citizen. 19 May 2021.
  43. ^ Poelano Malema (20 May 2021). "Full list of SAMA nominees". East Coast Radio.
  44. ^ Hansen, Gabriel Myers (23 September 2021). "All Africa Music Awards 2021: All the nominees | Music In Africa". Music In Africa. Retrieved 21 November 2021.

External links[]

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