Jax Panik

Started initially as a parody, Jax Panik (aka Jacobus van Heerden) did things differently, initially refusing to play live, only distributing music online, making use of fan content and using social media/networks to promote himself. By 2008, debut album 'Cigarettes & Cinnamon' was released featuring hits like ‘Hit or Miss’, ‘Cigarettes & Cinnamon’ and ‘Russian Roulette’. The album earned Jax an MTV Africa Viewer’s Choice Award nomination.

Things changed in 2010 with the release of 'I Am Jax Panik'. It won the Sama for Best Pop Album in 2011. Jax Panik played live, with 4 members, some typically wearing masks, supporting touring stars like David Guetta, Akon and Sean Kingston. As a producer he won a 2013 Sama for Best Producer for his work on Toya DeLazy’s Due Drop. In 2013, having relocated to London, Jax Panik formed a new group, called K/DZ, releasing the single ‘Haters’. Picking up where Jax Panik left off, K/DZ offers the same pop sensibilities but with a harder, international-inspired dance influence. Jax also co-runs Soft Light City, doing music design for adverts and other commercial projects.