DESIREE, Drops Remix of Selaelo Selota’s ‘Thrrr… Phaaa!’

South Africa’s own Palesa Desiree Shilabje, better known as DESIREE, has thrilled fans worldwide with the announcement of her remix of Selaelo Selota’s iconic track ‘Thrrr… Phaaa!’, set for release on May 17. The remix has already garnered excitement from her global audience, who have had sneak peeks in her live sets, particularly at the DGTL Festival in the Netherlands.

DESIREE, a critically acclaimed producer, shared the journey behind the remix. “It started as an edit for my DJ sets, a personal homage to a song I loved growing up. But as I worked on it, the remix became something deeply meaningful. My team and I decided to pitch it to Selaelo, and to my surprise, he agreed to let me be the first official remixer of the song. It’s such an honor.”

The production process presented unique challenges. DESIREE explained, “Unlike most electronic music, where producers work with isolated tracks, this song is a live recording. All the elements – drums, vocals, instruments – were on one track. It was tough to manipulate individual components, but that challenge sparked my creativity. I’m a huge fan of live music and jazz, and I was determined to blend that organic energy with my electronic style.”

‘Thrrr… Phaaa!’ has a rich history, debuting in 2001 during Selaelo Selota’s live performances. The live recording was later included in his sophomore album, ‘Enchanted Gardens,’ after a powerful audience response at the pre-release celebration. Although DESIREE was only five years old when the song was released, it left a lasting impression. “The song was a constant presence throughout my childhood and teenage years. Growing up in a Sepedi-speaking household, it resonated deeply with me.”

DESIREE also highlighted the broader cultural significance of her remix. “Despite Sepedi being my mother tongue, there’s a lack of representation of the language in South African music, especially electronic music. Selaelo has always championed Sepedi in his work, and he inspires me to do the same for other underrepresented languages in South Africa and across the continent. Releasing the remix just before Africa Day felt like the perfect timing to celebrate and bring attention to this.”

The remix release is a celebration of Pedi heritage, uniting the talents of an established icon and a rising star. The artwork for the release features the iconic Pedi velvet headwrap, a symbol that DESIREE cherishes from her family’s traditions. She hopes this project will showcase the enduring beauty of Pedi culture and inspire others to appreciate and preserve their cultural heritage.