The Man Behind The Label
The Man Behind The Label
The Man Behind The Label
The Man Behind The Label
The Man Behind The Label
The Man Behind The Label
The Man Behind The Label
The Man Behind The Label
Before the label, before the radio shows, before the international recognition, there was simply a listener. Kid Fonque found music early, and it shaped him long before it became a career.
His taste was never confined to one genre. Soul, hip hop, trip hop, broken beat, bossa, house – what connected them all was emotion.
At age fifteen, the Rebirth of Cool compilations marked a turning point. They carried a common thread across styles, proving that feeling could unite sound. That was the moment he committed to DJing, to culture, and to carving out a sonic identity that would evolve into Kid Fonque.
“I loved how music could move me emotionally. That’s what I’ve always followed — feeling.”
Working in CD stores and later stepping into the industry at Soul Candi Records sharpened his ear. Surrounded by music daily, he developed a simple benchmark: look for the record you can return to again and again, the one that connects beyond the moment
“I want tunes that don’t just knock on a dancefloor, but connect with you emotionally.”
Although he wasn’t originally a house purist, taking over as label manager at Soul Candi during a pivotal time in the label’s history deepened his understanding of the genre and the business behind it. But instinctively, he knew he wanted something more underground, more intentional, a platform for artists driven by soul rather than charts.
Stay True Sounds emerged from that instinct. Built to showcase South African talent across deep house, 3-step, jazz and beyond, the label has, over the past decade, become home to artists whose music isn’t designed for quick consumption, but for longevity.
“It’s always a feeling. Or when someone does something new - a sound or production I’ve never heard before. That excites me.”
He doesn’t sign based on numbers or metrics. He lets the music speak. The result is a catalogue that spans diverse artists and sounds, unified by intention rather than t
“You’re trusting someone with years of digging to show you music you’ve never heard before.”
And the meaning behind the name remains constant. Stay True is not a slogan – it’s a standard. A commitment to South African talent, to emotional depth, to music created with soul and purpose.
“If you create music like fast food, you might get quick income - but you lose integrity and longevity.”
Today, Kid Fonque listens wearing multiple hats; DJ, label head, and former radio host, but his filter remains the same. It’s about gut feeling, about quality, and about that unmistakable spark when something feels new.
