Thando is a New York-born DJ and producer with deep South African roots, making waves in the electronic music scene. He has released music on esteemed labels such as Fool’s Gold, Spinnin’, and Selected. His unique sound has garnered attention and respect within the industry, leading to notable songwriting and production work for artists like Duck Sauce and Coco and Breezy. Thando1988’s versatility extends beyond club hits; he has also scored music for a Tiffany & Co. campaign directed by Mario Sorrenti.

Last year, Thando’s track “Special” with Mat.Joe on Fool’s Gold made significant waves on radio stations like Sirius and Kiss FM. Now he’s back with a collab alongside Teo Mandrelli, Let’s Go Together.

Build around a classic soul vocal, Let’s Go Together combines elements of disco and house for a super-groovy, party-ready, floor filling anthem, with chopped strings, intricate drums and a thunderous bassline combining to powerful effect.

How have your South African roots influenced your music style, and how do you integrate these elements with your New York upbringing?

Great question. My earliest memories of dance music are from South Africa in the 90s. Dance music was not mainstream in the USA, so I was oblivious to it until I spent summers in South Africa as a child. My NYC upbringing was strictly hip-hop for a long time, so I would say the crossover between house and hip-hop is where I get my sound from.

What inspired your collaboration with Teo Mandrelli on “Let’s Go Together,” and what was the creative process like?

I met Teo on Instagram, and then we connected in Miami for WMC. He sent me a demo that made perfect sense for my sound, and I developed the track from there.

Can you walk us through the production process of “Let’s Go Together,” especially how you achieved the blend of classic soul vocals with disco and house elements?

I struggled for a bit to find the right music for the track (chords and bass) because I can be quite indecisive, but once I found it, I quickly fleshed out the arrangement. I wanted to go the disco route because, to me, timeless dance music from the 90s always merged the two seamlessly. From there, my frequent collaborator Anton Karskiy helped me enhance the sound to get it to where it is now.

How do you feel your sound has evolved since your early releases on labels like Fool’s Gold and Spinnin’?

I think when I was just getting my first releases, I was concerned a lot with radio and commercial appeal. Now I’m just trying to make funky stuff that feels authentic to my roots.

What was it like working with Duck Sauce and Coco and Breezy, and how did those experiences shape your approach to music production?

Working with those two was such a treat. Duck Sauce is such a legend, and A-Trak has always been so kind to me that being able to work with them was a dream come true. With Coco and Breezy, I sent them a demo last year that I had sat on for a while, and I’m so pleased with how it came out. I met them for the first time in Ibiza recently, and they were so kind and welcoming.

Can you describe your experience scoring music for the Tiffany & Co. campaign directed by Mario Sorrenti? How did it differ from your usual music production?

My experience working with Tiffany & Co. was quite different, as it was more like a job, which was a fun approach to music production. The posts ended up going viral as the campaign was a collaboration with Black Pink, the K-pop group.

“Special” with Mat.Joe received significant radio play. What impact did that success have on your career and approach to subsequent projects?

“Special” was such a great experience. To have people like Diplo and Claptone play your tunes is quite gratifying. I think it kind of ‘broke me’ as an artist and put me on the radar of people in the industry.

What unique elements do you think Teo Mandrelli brought to “Let’s Go Together,” and how did his style complement yours?

Teo brought the arrangement and did the amazing mixdown. He has a great ear and produces for many stars in house music.

Your music spans various aspects of the electronic music scene, from club hits to commercial campaigns. How do you navigate these different realms while maintaining your artistic identity?

When I’m making music for someone else, I am in service to them, but when I’m creating for myself, I think, “What would I like to hear?” It’s very easy to get caught up in trends to try and achieve quick success, but I’m more interested in longevity. I feel this is achieved by originality, and I strive for that daily.

With the success of your latest track, what future projects or collaborations are you most excited about?

I’m really excited for “Let’s Go Together” with Teo, which comes out on July 19th (my birthday!). It feels familiar and commercial, but also funky and quirky enough for an underground club. Also, Jamie Jones downloaded it, so Coachella, here I come.

Let’s Go Together is out now on Nocolors Records