AQUTIE announces the launch of PELE PELE, a new independent label and culture-led platform, arriving alongside its debut single ‘Obey The Drum’ featuring Tenesha The Wordsmith – a percussive, high-energy record rooted in global dancefloor connection.
Founded as an extension of her artistic world, PELE PELE – named after the Zulu word for “chili pepper” – is built around heat, rhythm and freedom. More than a label, it operates as both a musical and physical space, spanning releases and parties designed to bring people together through movement and shared energy.
The platform will make its live debut at We Belong Here Festival in Brooklyn on June 19, with a stage takeover featuring AQUTIE, ZAINAB, Dennis Free, and Kevin Aviance – marking the first official PELE PELE event. The date is intentional – landing on Juneteenth and during African-American Music Appreciation Month, grounding the launch in a wider cultural moment that reflects the roots and influences shaping AQUTIE’s sound and vision.
Raised between Harlem and South Africa, AQUTIE has built a reputation for blending African-rooted rhythms with a contemporary, genre-fluid approach to house and electronic music, shaping a sound that feels both globally informed and instantly physical. With PELE PELE, that vision is given a defined home – one that centres community, expression and connection.
The label’s first release, ‘Obey The Drum’, sets the tone. Driven by hypnotic percussion and a rolling, groove-led structure, the track is built for the dancefloor – instinctive, immersive and rhythm-first. It captures the essence of AQUTIE’s sets: music that moves between cultures and scenes while staying grounded in feeling.
Speaking on the project, AQUTIE says:
“PELE PELE started as a way to express myself without limitations while offering that same space to others. PELE PELE is the sound of freedom through self-expression and represents those who feel misunderstood. It’s about creating a community with the people who want to feel the energy, the music, and experience that together.”
Designed as a platform for both emerging and established artists, PELE PELE will continue to evolve through future releases and events, building a world where sound, space and identity intersect.
With ‘Obey The Drum’ as its opening statement, PELE PELE introduces a clear intention: music as a shared experience – raw, rhythmic and without boundaries.
‘Obey The Drum’ is out Friday, May 22nd via PELE PELE.
AQUTIE (aka Queen of the Dance) is a globally rising DJ and artist shaping the sound of a new, culturally connected dance movement. Raised between Harlem and South Africa, her sound blends African-rooted rhythms with a bold, genre-fluid approach to house music, resulting in an energetic, boundary-pushing style that’s fast becoming a staple on dancefloors worldwide.
Her growing profile has seen support from leading platforms including Billboard, DJ Mag, Beatport, PAPER, Mixmag and NTS, alongside collaborations and performances with artists such as Keinemusik, Skepta, Carl Cox, HoneyLuv, Black Coffee, Louie Vega, ANOTR and Aluna. From New York and London to Cape Town, Bali and beyond, AQUTIE has played globally recognised stages including Coachella, Boiler Room, The Brooklyn Mirage, Time Warp and Lightning in a Bottle.
At the core of her work is a commitment to unity and inclusivity, using music, movement and culture as a shared language to connect audiences across borders. As she continues her ascent, AQUTIE is carving out a distinct space within global dance music – one defined by energy, identity and community.
AQUTIE Tour Dates
May 2nd – Matinee @ Flash – Washington, DC
May 8th – Kingdom Presents: Ape Drums + AQUTIE – Austin, TX
May 9th – Bauhaus: Ape Drums + AQUTIE – Houston, TX
May 23rd – Apr Drums + AQUTIE @ The Spotlight – Los Angeles, CA
June 19th – PELE PELE Takeover @ We Belong Here – Brooklyn, NY
June 28th – W Hotel w/ Pablo Fierro – Barcelona, ES
+More TBA
Follow AQUTIE
Apple Music | Spotify | Soundcloud | Bandcamp | Beatport
Instagram | RA Page | KOMI Page
Follow PELE PELE