Tygapaw

ion Mckenzie known as TYGAPAW, is a Producer, DJ and Artist, originally from Mandeville, Jamaica, and based in Brooklyn, New York. A polymathic artist injecting their Jamaican heritage into techno, TYGAPAW operates at the intersections of their musical and cultural roots.

TYGAPAW was featured on the cover of DJ Mag North America for their february ‘22 issue. The cover was accompanied by a 10 page in-depth interview, and serves as the prelude to forthcoming 2022 releases. Most recent single ‘Diffusus’ (Tresor) was part of Tresor’s 30th Anniversary compilation and featured songs by Jeff Mills, Helena Hauff, LSDXOXO, Robert Hood, Juan Atkins and more. The release saw an accompanying video, animated by Gabriel Massan, and press support from Mixmag, DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, The Vinyl Factory and more. To celebrate the release, TYGAPAW contributed a guest mix for Mary Anne Hobbs on BBC 6Music.

Released via influential Mexico City imprint N.A.A.F.I., debut album ‘GET FREE’, features singles ‘Run 2 U’ and ‘Facety’ with vocal features from Mandy Harris Williams and TYGAPAW. An 11-track collection of hard-hitting, cathartic energy, the project explores black joy, the active dismantling of imagined limitations, and the eradication of self doubt using techno landscapes. The album garnered an array of press support from the likes of Resident Advisor, Mixmag (interview), DJ Mag (premiere, interview), Electronic Beats (interview), o32c (interview), DEKMANTEL (Artist Pick), Mixmag Japan, DAZED, DJ Mag Spain, XLR8R, The Vinyl Factory, Ransom Note, Pan African Music, Faze Mag, Metal Magazine, Document Journal and more. The campaign also saw TYGAPAW contribute mixes for Crack Magazine, XLR8R and FACT, which Resident Advisor awarded Mix of the Day. Radio support from Amelie Lens (BBC Radio 1), Tom Ravenscroft (BBC 6Music), Nemone (BBC 6Music) and more.

Previous releases ‘Ode To Black Trans Lives’ and ‘Handle With Care’ saw TYGAPAW release via Fake Accent, their own imprint and club night. Tracks from both EPs saw support from Dazed (interview, playlist), The Beijinger (interview), NYLON, Pioneer Works (interview), Annie Nightingale (BBC Radio 1), Jubilee (BBC Radio 1), Young Turks (NTS), Yaeji (NTS) and more. Debut EP ‘Love Thyself’, was released on NYC label Sweat Equity. Promo support from Vogue (interview), i-D (interview), FADER (interview), PAPER (interview), Mixmag (interview + mix), Vice (mix), Sway in the Morning (mix – Sirius XM) and more. Lead single ‘The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth’ accrued an array of radio support, with multiple plays from Benji B (BBC Radio 1), BAMBII (BBC Radio 1), PAN w/ Bill Kouligas + Eartheater (NTS). TYGAPAW has also previously contributed singles for release via NYC labels DISCWOMAN and MIXPAK, which garnered support from the likes of Pitchfork and FACT.

Live highlights include MoMA PS1, The Hydra (London), Boiler Room (Toronto, LA), RBMA Weekender (Montreal, LA), AFROPUNK, Toronto Pride, Moonshine (Montreal), Institute of Contemporary Art (Boston, Miami), alongside NYC institutions Webster Hall, Knockdown Center, Brooklyn Museum, Bossa Nova Civic Club, Elsewhere, Nowadays and more. TYGAPAW has also embarked on tours in Asia, Australia and Europe.

Having premiered at TIFF in 2020, TYGAPAW features as a lead alongside the likes of SHERELLE and TOKiMONSTA in music documentary UNDERPLAYED. Directed by Stacey Lee, the film explores gender, ethnic and sexual equality issues in dance music and was released worldwide via Amazon.

TYGAPAW has future releases slated for 2023. A multidisciplinary artist resolute in reminding the world of dance music’s revolutionary black roots, next year is set to further cement TYGAPAW as one of the techno trailblazers to watch.