Aidin Caye Promises High-Energy, Forward-Thinking ULTRA South Africa Set

With ULTRA South Africa 2026 fast approaching, one name local fans are buzzing about is Aidin Caye. The veteran producer and DJ is set to take over the UMF Radio Stage presented by Confessions.za stage in Johannesburg with a set packed full of brand-new, unreleased music. 

Ahead of the festival, Aidin shares what makes ULTRA so special for South African electronic artists, how festival crowds shape his approach, and the unexpected story behind his new single ‘Fast Lane’.

You’ve become a prominent name in the local club scene over the years. How did your passion for music, and specifically producing and DJing, come about?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been able to connect with music on a much deeper level than anything else. I would fool around with instruments as a child, but I didn’t show much natural talent, so the guitars stayed hung up on the walls, and I never seriously considered a career in music. That changed when I saw a DJ control and ignite a crowd for the first time. I felt immediately drawn to the energy and interaction between music and movement. Suddenly, I was badly mixing MP3 rips on a friend’s laptop and recording them to share with friends. That was 16 years ago, and I haven’t looked back since.

Producing can be very solitary, while DJing is all about the crowd and the moment. How do you balance those two sides of your creative life, and does one feed the other more than the other?

It’s a huge challenge for a lot of us, and it can be difficult to cope with the contrast between energetic crowds and the performance high, versus the solitary struggle of creating and grappling with self-doubt and criticism in the studio. It’s important to have the right people around you who can support you, but also keep you accountable. 

You’re set to perform at ULTRA South Africa this year. What does playing a festival of this scale mean to you as a South African electronic artist?

A festival like ULTRA draws in a huge, diverse crowd that you wouldn’t normally be exposed to in other circumstances. The anticipation of the occasion really comes through in the energy of the crowd, and everything feels slightly amplified.

Festivals like ULTRA bring international and local acts onto the same stage. Why do you think platforms like this are so important for growing and legitimising the local electronic music scene?

We’re unfortunately geographically separated from the rest of the world, which makes up the majority of the touring market. What’s great about a festival like ULTRA is that it brings together such a high calibre of international acts every year and exposes fans to artists they love, many of whom they would otherwise never get the chance to see. For a lot of people, travelling overseas to catch these artists on their regular touring schedules will never be an option.

ULTRA South Africa audiences are known for their energy and diversity. How does that kind of crowd influence the way you approach your set?

You definitely have to elevate your game for a set at ULTRA. The crowds have incredible energy, but they also respond quickly to changes in that energy. You have to prepare a selection that keeps them engaged and moving, because it’s very easy to drift to another dancefloor the moment your feet stop dancing.

Can you give us a hint of what fans can expect from your ULTRA set? How do festival sets differ from club or solo shows for you?

Fans coming through to the Confessions stage for my set at ULTRA this year can expect to hear a lot of unreleased music I’ve been working on over the past few months. There’ll also be a lot of new stuff I prepare for this set that people won’t have heard before. With festival sets, I always try to plan big moments that leave a lasting impression, whether that’s through emotional breaks and build-ups or high-energy drops.

ULTRA South Africa has become a key moment on the South African music calendar. How do you think its presence has shaped the local electronic landscape over the years?

I believe for many local artists, ULTRA has become the benchmark standard that validates their work and efforts by earning the recognition of being included on the lineup. It’s a huge honour to be booked, and it motivates newcomers who dream of one day performing there, just as much as it motivates artists like myself who want to earn the opportunity to return year after year.

You’re also riding the momentum of your new single, Fast Lane. Tell us a little more about the track.

Fast Lane wasn’t actually a song I planned to release. I posted a clip of it online, and the response was positive enough that I thought, “Screw it, why not do something different?” I wrapped it up within a few days and released it less than two weeks later. There are some tracks I’ll agonise over for months, constantly tweaking them to work on the dancefloor, and then there are songs like this that don’t necessarily fit the mould, but that I know someone out there will connect with. Sometimes, that’s reason enough to put it out into the world.

ULTRA South Africa 2026 is set to deliver another landmark weekend of cutting-edge production, top-tier sound, and an unmatched atmosphere at Johannesburg’s Expo Centre at Nasrec and Cape Town’s The Ostrich. With a diverse lineup of international headliners and South Africa’s finest talent, including Aidin Caye, fans can expect an experience that celebrates both global electronic music and the vibrant local scene.

ULTRA SOUTH AFRICA 2025 TICKETING INFO

Don’t miss out—tickets are selling fast! Secure yours before prices increase.  

• General Access: From R995 (limited availability)  
• VIP: From R2,000 (limited availability)  
• VVIP (Johannesburg only): From R4,500  
• For those wanting to elevate their ULTRA South Africa experience and book an exclusive VVIP table, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tickets are on sale now at https://ultrasouthafrica.com/

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