Lady of the House Names South Africa’s Newest Electronic Music Trailblazers
With South Africa past Women’s Month, three artists rise in unison: bold, fresh, and deeply rooted in the pulse of dance music. Lady of the House has officially announced the winners of its inaugural South African demo competition. They are Queen Leshka, Lu-zer and Sharm Pillay. Three artists who represent the sound of tomorrow, rising from the underground to stand center stage.
Listen to snippets of the three winning tracks here.
Lu-zer described the moment as dreamlike. “If you had told me a year ago this would happen, I would not have believed you. From my bedroom demos to this debut, I am so excited to keep dreaming bigger and sharing my art with the world. This is just the beginning.”
Lu-zer | SUPPLIED
Sharm Pillay echoed the significance of the win. “Lady of the House represents visibility, power and resilience. I am honoured to carry that torch for South Africa. This is not just my win. It is for every divine female worldwide who dares to dream through music and walk her soul’s journey with courage and faith.”
Queen Leshka has long held faith in her production and sound. “I started production way before Amapiano and I have been pushing as a producer. I knew my sound would land one day. It is exciting.”
The three winning tracks will be released later this year on the Lady of the House South African Winners Compilation, a powerful showcase of the country’s rising electronic music voices. Each track tells its own story but together they speak to a wider movement. A sonic rebellion. A cultural reset. A celebration of underrepresented excellence.
The judging panel, known as the Godmothers, included some of the most iconic names in South African music. Artists who understand what it means to break barriers while building bridges.
Queen Leshka | SUPPLIED
Shamiso, a bold force in Afro Tech and Afro House, praised the originality of the tracks.
“The entries were outstanding. What struck me most was the creativity each artist brought to their work. Hearing so many original sounds was a highlight for me.”
Namakau Star, a genre bending artist and founder of 7th Mantra, shared: “As Godmothers we found ourselves almost unanimous in our top choices which speaks volumes about the strength of these artists’ projects. They really understood the assignment and gave us music that is both real and authentic.”
Tamara Dey, a legend in her own right, added: “It was an honour to serve as a Godmother and to hear the phenomenal music coming out of our country. We were all looking for authenticity and that is exactly what these extraordinary women delivered.”
Founded in the UK and now growing across the Global South, Lady of the House has partnered with Jägermeister’s Save The Night to host the competition. The prize package includes a release on Lady of the House Records, a full scholarship to the Pete Tong DJ Academy, production tools from Beatport and TribeXR, a professional photo shoot and access to an international network of mentors, tastemakers and career shaping opportunities.
Sharm Pillay | SUPPLIED
Lady of the House founder Laila McKenzie reflected on what made this moment historic.
“We are grateful for all the amazing submissions. The music truly spoke for itself. The Godmothers crowned the winners based purely on sound and not names or faces. We are excited to work with the future of South African dance music.”
Lady of the House was created to celebrate women and non-binary creatives whose voices have too often been overlooked. This demo competition represents a vital chapter in that mission – one that began with a book and now moves through speakers and dance floors across the world.
Keep posted to Lady of the House online for more on the winners and upcoming compilation.