SA: DJ MidTempo to release debut album on 11 September

The 12-track album brings together Afro House, Afro-tech, amapiano, 3-Step and electronic influences, reflecting Mseka’s connections to South Africa, Berlin and other parts of the world.

Mseka, who serves as CEO and managing director of immowelt and AVIV Germany GmbH, has spent more than two decades in executive leadership while developing his work as a DJ, vinyl collector and producer.

The album was created alongside his corporate career, with Mseka estimating that about 70% of the project was produced while travelling between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Berlin. He often worked on tracks during long-haul flights, turning his laptop and headphones into a makeshift production studio.

One of the album’s more unusual tracks, ‘Bu Islak Sokaklarda’, was created at approximately 33,000 feet. The Turkish-language song uses lyrics drawn from a poem written by a close friend during Mseka’s five-year period working with Turkish real-estate platform Hepsiemlak.

Despite his international career and ties to Berlin, South Africa remains central to the album. Several tracks feature South African collaborators, including ‘Zimbali’, featuring Deestar ZA, Luvintage and K.D.M Luminous; ‘Nobody Else’, with August Muzika, Wade Yarrow and Maijor Habe; ‘Sabela’, featuring Kamza HeavyPoint and Yarah Lerah; ‘Zaka’, with August Muzika and NATASHA MD; and ‘Durban Nights’, featuring Rocktea and Still Matah.

The collaborations also reflect Mseka’s ambitions for Tahoe Studios, which he established to support African talent and help African and hybrid electronic sounds reach international audiences.

The album has a personal dimension as well. Kalemela pays tribute to the village of Kalemela in Tanzania’s Mwanza region, where Mseka’s father originates. Its title also echoes Kalimera, the Greek word for “good morning”, referencing Thessaloniki, where Mseka was born.

Mseka was born on 11 September at 3.5a.m, meaning the album will be released on his birthday. He has also incorporated the significance of the time into his DJ sets, with Kalemela intended to play at 3.5a.m whenever a performance continues beyond that hour.

The album’s lead single, ‘Nobody Else’, brings together Mseka with August Muzika, Wade Yarrow and Maijor Habe. The track combines Afro-influenced production with English-language vocals.

For Mseka, the transition from executive leadership to music represents a second creative chapter rather than a departure from his established career. His professional background has allowed him to approach music independently, while his experience as a DJ and vinyl collector has shaped his production style.

Cheza Kidogo, which means “dance a little” in Swahili, will be released across major streaming and digital music platforms on 11 September.