Arrumar: The ‘Shine A Light On’ Mix

This mix follows a similar suit, progressive and wandering. This is one to get lost in and find new moments in as you listen again and again.

Listen below:

How does your own background and influence from your South African heritage inform your own production style?

My South African heritage from Bushbuckridge is the foundation of my identity and production workflow. My name ‘Arrumar’ means ‘to arrange’ or ‘clean up’ in Portuguese,  which perfectly defines my approach to creating what I call Traditional Dance Music— bridging ancestral stories with future-forward club sounds.

My style is built on three simple principles:  

Rhythm-First Structure: I build everything around complex, organic South African  grooves and syncopated percussion rather than traditional Western chord  progressions.  

Minimalism with Intent: True to the meaning of ‘Arrumar’, I clean up my mixes to  create space, letting powerful elements breathe.  

Cultural Storytelling: Inspired by my roots and my album ‘Xa Humba’, I use  modern software to bring stories of resilience and heritage to global dance  floors.  

How did you approach this set? It features a number of your own productions, do you always try to weave your own music throughout?

For this set, I approached it as a live storytelling experience rather than a standard DJ mix. My music is built on the patient, hypnotic rhythms of Muchongolo and my South African heritage. Each track has its own story, and  together, they unfold like a film.

I absolutely make a conscious effort to weave my own productions throughout  my sets. For me, playing my own music—especially tracks from ‘Xa Humba’ or my ‘Matsena’ LP—is  how I stamp my identity on the dance floor. It allows me to seamlessly introduce  my signature Traditional Dance Music (TDM) sound alongside global deep house  and club cuts. Weaving my own tracks into the mix ensures that the set carries the  exact emotional pulse, organic percussion, and cultural narrative that I want to  share with the audience. 

From where do you take most inspiration?

Most of my inspiration comes directly from my roots in Bushbuckridge, the  cultural heritage of my family, and the everyday sounds of South Africa. I am  deeply moved by traditional rhythms like Muchongolo and the stories of  resilience passed down through my lineage.

Beyond that, I find immense inspiration in everyday life, nature, and the rich  textures of organic sound. Whether it is a conversation, a field recording, or a  traditional vocal chant, I am always looking for elements that carry a deep  emotional pulse. My goal is always to take these ancestral stories and raw, organic elements and arrange them into future-forward club music that resonates  on a global scale.

How excited are you to release on QEONE?

I am incredibly honoured and excited to release Xa Humba on Qeone  Polygonia has built an amazing platform focused on deep sound design, organic  textures, and electronic experimentation. To have a label that truly values hyper detailed sonic landscapes embrace my South African heritage, our regional  rhythms, and the stories of my roots is a massive milestone.  

QEONE feels like the perfect home for this project because they appreciate  electronic music that resists easy categorisation. They didn’t just want standard  club tracks; they fully embraced the hypnotic, patient flow of the music. Seeing  the album stand alongside such forward-thinking art, and getting to share the  heartbeat of Bushbuckridge through their global lens, makes this release  incredibly special to me. 

Buy the new album HERE.