South Africa’s own THEMBA reimagines Guetta and Sia’s latest smash with a smooth, Afro-tech edge
https://open.spotify.com/album/1Ts91jbAisF6dtLd74L7zU
The excitement around ‘Beautiful People’, the epic reunion of David Guetta and Sia, is far from over. South African tastemaker THEMBA drops a brand-new essential remix this Friday, 16th May.
Switching the original into an Afro-tech jam, THEMBA takes the euphoria and soaring Sia vocals of ‘Beautiful People’, wraps them in shuffling shakers and a new synth that pans swiftly from ear to ear, then distils the melody into warm, organic piano phrases, creating a moment that feels both powerful and intimately emotional.
‘Beautiful People’ continues its rise as one of Guetta’s biggest hits to date, with 88 million global streams across platforms and 7 million in the UK alone. It recently hit #58 on the Official UK Chart. The track is currently A List at BBC Radio 1, Capital, and more. On Shazam, it’s up to #10 in the UK and #34 globally, both climbing one position. The official video has also now surpassed a huge 16 million views.
This isn’t the first Guetta has worked with Johannesburg’s THEMBA. Building on his collaboration ‘Give Me Something To Hold’ with his JACK BACK alias in 2024, THEMBA continues to push dance music forward with immersive remixes and original tracks, enriched by the vibrant tapestry of his African heritage. Alongside the JACK BACK collab, THEMBA also notably remixed the Saltburn smash-hit, Sophie Ellis Bextor’s ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’ in 2024, and this year has released the singles ‘Lucid Dreams’, ‘Alegria’ and ‘Sorofe’.
Since his 2018 debut, THEMBA’s signature blend of house, techno, and African rhythms has earned him over 8 million streams for hits like ‘Disappear,’ a collaboration with Nico de Andrea and Tasan. His 2023 tour included over 30 headline shows at major festivals and venues such as E1 in London, Untold, Neversea, Pacha Ibiza, and the incredible Red Rocks.
THEMBA’s take on ‘Beautiful People’ arrives after a truly historical moment at Ultra Music Festival’s 25th anniversary in March, when Guetta and Sia performed the track and their iconic chart-topping 2011 hit ‘Titanium’. Watch footage of it below:
The THEMBA remix of ‘Beautiful People’ by hit-making duo David Guetta and Sia, arrives today, 16th May.
