New Zealand’s DJ Soane Passes Away

DJ Soane passes away

Mainstay New Zealand DJ Soane Filitonga has died after tragically suffering a heart attack. One of New Zealand’s most popular DJs, Soane, who was born in the village of Vava’u, located in the northern islands of Tonga in the South Pacific, began mixing records while working briefly as a doorman at The Box/Cause Celebre in Auckland’s High Street. Years of hard work helped Soane become one of the country’s most popular and highest paid DJs.

He later gravitated toward house music and began producing music, releasing his TonganChic album in 2004 featuring the singles “Where Do We Go?” and “All I Need.” named after his former 95bFM radio show.

One of his other achievements includes his role in Troffman, a trio rounded out by Ben Davis, Dick Johnson, who recorded for singles for UK-based Shaboom Records between 2000-2003. Soane also recorded for Manchester label Paper Recordings and helmed a DJ mix for the imprint. Soane also remixed local tracks by DLT, Che-Fu, King Kapisi, Annie Crummer and more recently Fat Freddy’s Drop.

Here’s a mix of the master in action. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Darren Ressler

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