Ash Padayachee: Stacey and J Sbu’s afro-house anthem

Updated May 27, 2025, 1:36 p.m. | By Reeshni Chetty-McConnachie

Pietermaritzburg-based musician Ash Padayachee, creator of NeuroGroove SA, has created a rhythmic Afro-house beat in honour of our very own Stacey and J Sbu.

We caught up with Ash Padayachee, the creator of NeuroGroove SA, who made a catchy Afro-house beat about East Coast Radio’s Stacey and J Sbu.

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"I've been professionally DJing for many years. I started in my early teens, so it's been roughly about 25 years of being in the music industry. So the track 'Stacey and J Sbu' was inspired by the energy and the vibe that they bring to the drive time show," the Pietermaritzburg native said.

According to Padayachee, he was inspired by their electric chemistry and how they're unapologetically themselves.

"They represent such a strong part of KZN culture, so I wanted to capture that feeling in a track that's sort of like a beat that feels like a Friday afternoon, windows down, volume up kind of vibe. It's a celebration of who they are and what they mean to so many listeners across the province," said Padayachee.

He explained that the Drive Team’s energy after a long day at work “brings your vibe back.”

After learning that Stacey and J Sbu heard his song, he said: "I think it's also that they've listened to it and the fact that they enjoy it. I think I'm excited to know that somebody out there is, you know, appreciating the work that we do."

Take a listen to the track here:

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