Exploring Son of Patricia’s unique sound Son of Patricia

On the spotlight this week is Brilliant Lunga, also known as Son of Patricia, a DJ and producer hailing from Bulawayo.

With a deep passion for house music, Son of Patricia has been making waves in the electronic music scene with his unique sound that seamlessly blends traditional African rhythms with modern electronic production. Since the inception of his career in 2010, Son of Patricia has performed at various local clubs and events across Hwange, Bulawayo, Plumtree, Gwanda and Victoria Falls.

He initially performed under the alias Deep Soul, later evolving in South Africa into a more aggressive act known as The Ranter. His mellow deep house sets and infectious beats quickly gained recognition. As a producer, he has released music on prominent labels in South Africa including Sheer Music, Groveland Africa and Union Records, garnering support from international DJs and tastemakers.

He has produced for a number of artistes, including Oluhle, Rakeem, Thandy Dlana, Lord Skeelz, Thabiso The Vocalist, Freedy Masamba (Kenya) and Kusini. He is hosting the Deep Café series at Cafe Baku with Kead Wikead and MduSevan.

Son of Patricia draws inspiration from his Zimbabwean heritage, incorporating elements of Afro-beat, Township Jive and traditional Ndebele music into his productions.“Growing up in Bulawayo, I was exposed to a rich cultural heritage of music and dance. I draw inspiration from my Zimbabwean roots, incorporating elements of Afro-beat, Township Jive and traditional Ndebele music into my productions.”

His productions are characterised by uplifting energy, percussive rhythms, and soulful melodies, often exploring themes of hope, resilience and cultural pride. “My sound is a testament to the power of music to transcend borders and bring people together,” he said.

His influences include legendary African artistes such as Fela Kuti, Salif Keita, the late Hugh Masekela and Oliver Mtukudzi and international icons like Deadmau5 and Daft Punk. Reflecting on his career, he highlighted some of his proudest moments: “Working with DJ Tokzen on his Mthiis Selections 8 compilation, which became the best dance compilation in South Africa on iTunes and curating the ‘My Africa Remix Compilation’ from US African-born spoken word artist, Antonio Lyonz with Mthulisi Patrick were incredible experiences.

It featured artistes like Nitefreak, Murphy Cubic and others.“Additionally, my techno remix was nominated for Best Underground Dance Remix at the BBC Electronic Dance Awards. In 2017, I was endorsed by Voltcom Clothing Centurion Foresthill for a year and a half and I secured a two-year residency at the prominent R55 Chillout Nightclub (in South Africa).”

However, the Covid-19 pandemic brought challenges. “During the blossoming of my career in South Africa, Covid halted everything and as a new emerging artiste, it became difficult to navigate through the scene,” he recalls.
Despite these setbacks, Son of Patricia is now working on new music with artistes such as Vusa Mkhaya, Mzoe 7 and other international vocalists, promising a ground-breaking fusion of traditional Zimbabwean music and modern electronic production.

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