Though his root country Vietnam is over 7000 miles from the African continant, his mixes regularly endorse, Hackney born and raised DJ Neptizzle could not be any closer to the heart and soul of the Afrobeat scene.

To DJ Neptizzle, birth name Michael Hung Nguyen, African music is more than a distinctive sound, it is a soulful, artistic expression that he understands on both academic and aesthetic levels.

Starting off as a club DJ spinning Hip Hop and Grime tracks to party-goers, Neptizzle fell in love with African music when his best friend asked him to play ‘Ghanaian High Life’ at his mother’s 50th birthday. Watching the reactions of the people on the dance floor, it was at that moment when he decided he wanted to explore this genre and eventually made the switch into the niche market. It wasn't long before his turntable talents captured the attention of some of the music industry's biggest names.

Dubbed the "scientist" of the Afro music arena, DJ Neptizzle articulates his desire to transform the specialist African scene with shows, tours and a wide range of bespoke bookings. This DJ has his sights firmly set on his Afrobeats mainstream dreams.

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]