TouchDown | Per Hammar

There are few places in the world where time folds in on itself—where history hums through

the air and the modern beat of minimal house reverberates against the stone bones of centuries past. Cape Town’s Castle of Good Hope proved to be one of those places. And for Per Hammar, it wasn’t just a gig—it was a deeply immersive moment of connection, discovery, and sonic adventure.

I had the opportunity to chat with Per a few months off his set at the Meoko x MINIMAL show, you could see it in his eyes—Cape Town had left a mark.

“I stepped out the plane and just froze. The sun was rising over the hills, and I just stood there staring at the landscape. It felt like what I imagined Africa to be, even though I’d been here before. This time just hit different.”

Per isn’t new to global circuits. From Malmö to Mexico, from Christchurch to Kenya—he’s seen dancefloors of every shade. But walking into Cape Town with zero expectations, with no built-in network or prior touchpoints, made this experience raw and real. That’s where the magic often lives.

The Castle as a Venue: A Living Paradox

“At first I was like, really? We're throwing a rave in a castle with a dark history of slavery? But then I realised—it’s a museum now, a historical site that’s been reclaimed. And honestly, it was badass. A big stone courtyard with arches and this elevated booth overlooking it all. Unreal.”

The Castle of Good Hope, a site soaked in history, turned out to be a dreamlike space for electronic music. Per described the architecture like a sonic chamber—open archways, echoing stone, and natural reverb that demanded careful sonic navigation. Yet it created a unique energy that you couldn’t replicate in a dark basement or blacked-out warehouse.

The Crowd: Hungry and Honest

One thing that stood out for him was the energy of the crowd. Not just eager—open. Cape Town’s dancefloor was ready for something new, something different. And Per brought just that.

“They weren’t just there by chance. I could tell they chose to be there. They were dialled in, curious, present. And when the feedback started pouring in after my set—it was nothing but love.”

What surprised many was Per’s choice to move away from the dubby, minimal palette he's often associated with. He brought more energy, more push, more elevation. And the crowd met him there.

“Right now, I’m in a space where I need a bit more tempo. I’m not excited by minimalism in the same way I used to be. It still has a place, but I’m reaching for something more charged.”

That’s the direction of his upcoming album, which he hinted is already well underway. It won’t be a complete reinvention—but it will reflect the moment he’s in now.

“The new material is more uptempo, more dynamic. But people will still hear that it’s me. I think I’m just evolving with where I’m at in life and in sound.”

Local Touch Points and Global Vision

Per took time to explore the local scene too. From experiencing Cody Meyer’s set to hanging with event organisers in Nicole (the powerhouse behind Meoko) and passionate locals and DJ’s like Claudia Lovisa, he walked away with more than just another passport stamp.

“Nicole’s heart is really in it. She has big visions for Cape Town and South Africa. And she’s making it happen.”

It’s moments like these that reaffirm why South Africa matters in the global underground. There’s an uncut gem energy here—untapped, full of potential, and ready to explode. Per sees it too.

“There’s something romantic about going to places that not everyone has been to. Cape Town felt like that. It felt rare. And I want to come back—100%.”

Safe Streets, Street Smarts

We also touched on the topic many visitors think about—safety in South Africa. Per didn’t sugarcoat it, but he didn’t dramatise it either.

“It’s dangerous, sure. But so is touring in a lot of places. Just be street smart, move right, and respect the environment. You make it work.”

That’s the mark of a seasoned artist—someone who knows how to move through the world without fear, but with awareness.

Beyond the Booth: Coffee, Curiosity, and Creative Flow

When Per’s not behind the decks or locked in the studio, he’s roaming cities looking for roasteries and soaking up culture.

“I love coffee. I Google places roasting their own beans and just start walking. It’s how I find the real soul of a place.”

And that soul, he says, feeds his creativity. His mixing and mastering work with other artists runs parallel to his own output, but make no mistake—he’s still a full-time artist in his own right. The balance is delicate, but it’s deliberate.

A Final Word

Per Hammar’s trip to Cape Town wasn’t just another date on the tour calendar. It was a convergence of artistry, architecture, and authentic energy—a chapter in his journey that he’s eager to revisit.

For us at SouthBound, this is what it’s all about: spotlighting those crossover moments when the global underground lands in South African soil and makes something unforgettable.