Most of us mark a birthday with a cake, a table booking or a group chat that goes quiet by midnight. South African house music veteran Chymamusique decided that turning 36 in June called for something with more legacy. The result is Musique Compiled Vol. 1, a 15-track album that puts collaboration, discovery and the next generation of music creators at its centre.

The idea began with a simple invitation. The Johannesburg DJ, producer and sound engineer asked producers to send him their music, especially those whose sound hasn't yet found a wider audience. The response was significant: around 1,300 submissions landed in his inbox.

What came next was the unglamorous part of any curation project, which is sitting down and listening. Chymamusique took his time, searching for productions that resonated with him. Faced with more than a thousand tracks, he could have gone big. Instead he went small. A "less is more" philosophy shaped this first instalment, with only the music that met his creative standards making the cut, so each of the 15 tracks has room to be heard on its own terms.

The number 36 runs through the project. He chose 36 producers for the broader Musique Compiled initiative, tying it to his age, and then doubled that figure as part of a vision to carry the series across future volumes. This first release is the foundation, not the finale.

For the selected producers, it is a chance to step into a wider conversation, through a platform shaped by Chymamusique's experience and ear. For the man himself, it extends his role in the house music landscape beyond his own productions and into that of curator. In an industry where exposure often goes to those who already have it, a veteran using his platform to make room for others is worth noting.

Musique Compiled Vol. 1 is out now. Follow @chymamusique on Instagram, X and TikTok, or find Chymamusique on Facebook.