# Sun-El Musician

Sanele Tresure Sithole (born 28 March 1989), known professionally as Sun-El Musician, is a South African disc jockey, music producer, and songwriter. Born and raised in Mooi River, he attended the University of KwaZulu-Natal but dropped out to pursue a career in music. His debut studio album Africa to the World (2018), was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA).
Sun-El's second album, To the World & Beyond (2020), was met with further commercial success, certified Platinum by Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA).
He was a producer for Demor Music before the establishment of his own record label, EL World Music. His most recent album African Electronic Dance Music was released in October 2021.

## Life and career
### Early life and education

Sanele Tresure Sithole was born on 28 March 1989 in the town of Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and raised along with his four siblings by a domestic worker mother. He attended the University of KwaZulu-Natal but dropped out in 2007.

### Career

Shortly after he left school Sithole spent two years at home and began his musical career in 2007 remixing songs and creating mixtapes. Sithole met Thandukwazi Demor Sikhosana who signed him under his record label Demor Music (Pty) Ltd, worked as music producer for a period of 5 years. During that period he worked in the studio with Bucie from 2011-2014, and he produced three albums for Demor.

### 2015-2019: EL World Music, Africa to the World

In early 2017 he established EL World Music.
Sithole then began to create his own music under the name Sun-El Musician. His debut single "Akanamali" featuring Samthing Soweto was released on May 21, 2017. It became his first biggest song reached no.1 on Shazam and certified Platinum in South Africa.
"Bamthathile" featuring Mlindo the Vocalist was released on February 23, 2018, as album's second single.
His debut studio album Africa to the World, was released on April 20, 2018. The album reached Platinum in South Africa.
The singles "Sonini", "Bamthathile", and "Ntab'Ezikude" all received 2× Platinum certifications from the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) In June 2018, his single "Akanamali" earned him three awards at the 24th South African Music Awards, including Best Collaboration, Highest Airplay Song and Highest Airplay Composer. Africa to the World was also nominated at the 25th South African Music Awards in June 2019.
Sithole made collaboration with Ami Faku on a single "Into Ingawe", released on June 7, 2019. The song was certified 3× Platinum by RiSA.
Also in 2019, Sithole embarked on an extensive tour of South Africa.

### 2020-2021: To the World & Beyond, African Electronic Dance Music

In April 2020, Sithole released album's lead single "Uhuru" with South African singer Azana.
Following month May 2020, his second single "Ubomi Abumanga" featuring Msaki was released. It was certified 2× Platinum by Recording Industry of South Africa.
"Emoyeni", a single by Sun-El Musician, Khuzani, Simmy was released in July 2020, in celebration of Ukhozi FM 60th Anniversary.
His second studio album To the World & Beyond was released in December 4, 2020. The album reached Platinum in South Africa.
African Electronic Dance Music was released on 29 October 2021 in South Africa. On African Electronic Dance Music, Sun-El experimented electronic dance music style incorporated with elements of afro house. It was supported by four singles; "Higher", "Amateki/Ululate", "Woza". Pan-African Music enlisted African Electronic Dance Music number 1 on The 30 best albums of 2021 year-end lists.
African Electronic Dance Music received three nominations; Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Best Dance Album at the 28th South African Music Awards.
The previous day, Sithole headlined the Basha Uhuru Creative Uprising Festival alongside Langa Mavuso.
In December 2021, Sithole was chosen by Gallo Records to work on classic songs remix on the Extended Play titled Music is Forever along with Nobuhle, Muzi, and other artists.

### 2022-present: AEDM: Interstellar

In May 21, he headlined to Bassline I AM LIVE concert.
Towards the end of May 2022, he headlined to MTN Bushfire Festival, held at Malkerns Valley, from May 27–29.
Sithole announced his upcoming project AEDM: Interstellar (pronounced African Electronic Dance Music: Interstellar) on December 8, 2022 set to be released on 2023 released double single "Makwande" with Fk Mash, Ami Faku, "Rata" with TNS and Skillz. Both singles were released on December 9, 2022.
In April 2023, Sun-El Musician and Msaki teased a single "Amandla" on a snippet video clip and announced release date on October. The song was released on November 3, 2023.

## Discography
### Albums

List of albums, with selected details, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Certifications |
| Africa to the World | Released: 20 April 2018 Label: EL World Music Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | RISA: Platinum |
| To the World & Beyond | Released: 4 December 2020 Label: EL World Music Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | RISA: Platinum |
| African Electronic Dance Music | Released: 29 October 2021 Label: EL World Music Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | |

### EPs

List of EPs, with selected details :
| Title | EP details |
| AEDM: Interstellar | Released: 9 December 2022 Label: Under Da Sun Formats: Streaming, digital download |

## Singles
### As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| "Akanamali" (featuring Samthing Soweto) | 2017 | 1 | RiSA: Platinum | Africa to the World |
| "Ntab'Ezikude" (featuring Simmy) | 2018 | | RiSA: 2× platinum | Africa to the World |
| "Bamthathile" (featuring Mlindo the Vocalist) | 2018 | | RiSA: 2× Platinum | Africa to the World |
| "Sonini" (featuring Simmy and Lelo Kamau) | 2018 | | RiSA:2× Platinum | Africa to the World |
| "Bomi Abumanga" (featuring Msaki) | 2020 | | RiSA: 2× Platinum | To the World & Beyond |
| "Garden" (featuring Julia Church) | 2020 | — | | To the World & Beyond |
| "Uhuru" (featuring Azana) | 2020 | | | To the World & Beyond |
| "Never Never" (featuring Nobuhle) | 2020 | | RiSA: Gold | To the World & Beyond |
| "Into Ingawe" (featuring Ami Faku) | 2020 | | RiSA: 3× platinum | Non-album single |
| "Higher" (featuring Simmy) | 2021 | 6 | | African Electronic Dance Music |
| "Amateki" (featuring Bholoja) | 2021 | | | African Electronic Dance Music |
| "Woza" (featuring Linos Rosetta) | 2021 | | | African Electronic Dance Music |
| "Respond" (Miči, Sun-EL Musician) | 2022 | — | | Non-album single |
| "Amandla" (Sun-El Musician, Msaki) | 2023 | — | | Non-album single |
| "Hamba Nami" (Sun-El Musician, Fearless Musiq, Section Five) | 2024 | — | | Non-album single |
| "Inhliziyo" (Sun-EL Musician, Mthandazo Gatya, Anzo featuring Kenza) | 2024 | — | | Non-album single |
| "feelings" (Miči, Frigid Armadillo, Sun-El Musician) | 2024 | — | | Non-album single |
| "Dangerous" (Sun-El Musician, Jnr SA) | 2024 | — | | Non-album single |
| "Sunshine" (Frigid Armadillo, Sun-El Musician) | 2025 | — | | Non-album single |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |||||

### Production and songwriting credits

List of production and songwriting credits, showing original artists, year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album | Credit(s) | Written with: | Produced with: |
| "Ngiyesaba" | 2018 | Simmy | Tugela Fairy | Producer | Simmy | |
| "Wawundithembisile" | 2021 | The One Who Sings | Non-album single | Producer | Zolani Mahola | Kenza (SA) |
| "Light House" | 2021 | TRESOR | Motion | Co-producer | | TRESOR Da Capo |
| "Ezangakini" | 2022 | Professor featuring Shwi, and Sun-El Musician | Non-album single | Producer | Mkhonzeni Langa, Mandla Xaba, Zwelenduna Magubane, and Khethonjani Dludla | Mpho.Wav and Tebogo Mbolekwa |
| "Indlela" | 2023 | Drega, Sun-El Musician and Maline Aura | Non-album single | Producer | Bonga Ntozini, Sanele Sithole and Thandolwethu Nkomo | Drega |

### Guest appearances

| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
| "Ndivulele" | 2019 | Ami Faku | Imali |
| "Hosana" | 2020 | Black Motion | The Healers: The Last Chapter |
| "Yasha Imizi" | 2020 | Claudio x Kenza | Circle of Life |
| "Shine" | 2020 | S-Tone | Mbabane |
| "Control" | 2021 | Karyendasoul | Imizamo |
| "Jungle" | 2021 | Kenza | Fly Away |
| "You need Me" | 2021 | Black Coffee | Subconsciously |
| "Ngaphesheya" | 2021 | Mobi Dixon, Nombila, Massive Ricco | When House Was House |
| "Idwala" | 2022 | Mafikizolo | Idwala |
| "Africa Hey" | 2022 | Ndlovu Youth Choir | Greatful |
| "Esikhathini" | 2022 | Murumba Pitch | Horumar |
| "Umthwalo" | 2022 | Vitoto | Afro Nation |
| "Am Going" | 2022 | DJ Bongz, Zaba, Sykes | Road Trip |

## Other charted and certified songs

List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | ZA | Certifications | Album |
| "Best Friend" (Sun-EL Musician, Msaki) | 2021 | 75 | Gold | African Electronic Dance Music |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |||||

## Tours

* EL World Music Experience (2019)

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award Ceremony | Prize | Result | Ref. |
| 2018 | 24th South African Music Awards | Collaboration | Won | |
| 2018 | 24th South African Music Awards | Highest Airplay Song | Won | |
| 2018 | 24th South African Music Awards | Highest Airplay Composer | Won | |
| 2019 | 25th South African Music Awards | Record of the Year (Sun-El Musician featuring Simmy and Lelo Kamau – Sonini) | Won | [55][56] [57] |
| 2019 | 25th South African Music Awards | Newcomer of the Year | Nominated | [55][56] [57] |
| 2019 | 25th South African Music Awards | Best Dance Album | Nominated | [55][56] [57] |
| 2020 | KZN Entertainment Awards | Best Club DJ Male | Nominated | |
| 2020 | KZN Entertainment Awards | Best Producer | Nominated | |
| 2021 | SAMAs 27 | Best Dance Album | Nominated | |
| 2021 | SAMAs 27 | Male Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2021 | SAMAs 27 | Best Produced Album of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2021 | SAMAs 27 | Remix of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2021 | SAMAs 27 | Best Live Audio of the Year | Won | |
| 2021 | M K H M A | Best DJ | Nominated | |
| 2021 | All Africa Music Awards | Best Male Artist in Southern Africa | Nominated | |
| 2022 | SAMA 28 | Album of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2022 | SAMA 28 | Best Dance Album | Nominated | |
| 2022 | SAMA 28 | Male Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2022 | SAMA 28 | Remix of the Year | Won | |