Music

Welcome To The Ascension: Charisse C and Interdisciplinary Artist and Vocalist Koek Sista- – With their debut single ‘Khulula’

April 26, 2023

The Ascensio are made up of DJ and producer Charisse C and interdisciplinary artist and vocalist Koek Sista. Based in London but hailing from South Africa and Zimbabwe respectively, they produce music fusing Amapiano, Gqom and African dance music. Charisse is a rising authority of Amapiano in the UK and has been getting attention from tastemakers like Benji B and publications including i-D, with a regular NTS show. Described as a truly diasporic project, with both halves of the innovative duo containing globe-spanning touchpoints, it’s no surprise that their pairing of elemental electronic production with cathartic vocal layerings is as radical as it is club-ready.

The two connected through social media via a now mutual friend, DJ DBNGOGO, and became fast friends of their own during the pandemic, bonding over a shared passion for Southern African electronic music and the desire to push it beyond its current boundaries. Aesthetically, The Ascension are pushing boundaries and reaching for the same otherworldly landscapes they’re creating sonically too. Both online and IRL, you’ll find the pair adorned with metallic embellishments, abstract makeup, and avant-garde fashion full of color and structural design.

You can also get a vibe of The Ascension from their Boiler Room session.

 

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