A popular South African DJ, producer, and radio presenter, Themba Mbongeni Nkosi (aka Euphonik) rose to prominence in 2013 when his collaboration with DJ Fresh and Nyanda, "Cool and Deadly," became a nationwide hit. In 2017 Nkosi began performing techno and house sets under the mononym Themba, and in 2018 he issued his star-studded 13th album, the dancefloor-filling house- and EDM-tinged Perspective. Born in Mpumalanga, Nkosi grew up absorbing the music his father listened to like Marvin Gaye, the Spinners, Hugh Masekela, and Stimela. In his late teens, he began DJ'ing and immersing himself in the club scene, and after his mixes started to get radio play, he was offered a host slot on national radio station 5FM. In 2004 he teamed up with fellow South African DJ, DJ Kent, and produced an LP, Kentphonik. He spent the next few years developing his style, an amalgam of vocal house and EDM, and furthering his radio career at 5FM and regional station YFM. He inked a record deal with Soul Candi in 2006, and in 2009 he formed a band, F.Eu, with longtime friend and collaborator DJ Fresh, with whom he has since issued four albums and traveled to hot spots like Ibiza and Miami to perform DJ sets. In 2013 Nkosi and DJ Fresh teamed up with Jamaican vocalist Nyanda for the single "Cool and Deadly," which topped the South African charts, and in 2014 he took home a Metro FM music award for Best Compilation Album for the LP For the Love of House, Vol. 5. More award nominations followed in 2015 for For the Love of House, Vol. 6 and the single "Busa," and in 2017 he added techno to his oeuvre and began performing under the nom de plume Themba. 2018 saw the release of his 13th LP as Euphonik, the guest spot-heavy and party-starting compilation Perspective. Two new singles, "I'm Worthy (feat. Kelly Fortuin" and "All the Moves," the latter of which was a collaboration with DJ Thakzin and Leko M, arrived the following year. ~ James Christopher Monger