Esa is a London-based DJ and band leader hailing from Cape Town. He’s been on a global mission to revive the legacy of the South African dance music borne during apartheid—a sound that vibrates with the irreverent, conspiratorial spirit of the era’s record collections and illegal music gatherings.

Together with his synth-slinging pals, Ami Koda and Alexander Burke, Esa enlists an everevolving lineup to help unearth the soulful melodies, electrified grooves and bubblegum bass pop of the ‘80s and ‘90s. For RISING, he’s invited Zanzibar-born singer composer and campaigner Mim Suleiman as well as South African disco star Kamazu to the stage