TYGAPAW

Dion Mckenzie known as TYGAPAW, is a Producer, DJ and Artist, originally from Mandeville, Jamaica, and based in Brooklyn, New York. Through creating Fake Accent, an event series established to create safe spaces for the Black queer and trans community in nightlife across New York, TYGAPAW was able to break into the New York club scene. This shift inspired them to move into founding an independent record label, a solo music career and lead to multiple tours around the world.
Today, TYGAPAW stands firmly in a fast-paced music culture. Since their debut release on Sweat Equity in 2017, they’ve established themself as a force within the electronic music scene. Their two stand-out releases Love Thyself and Handle With Care caught the attention of the producers from UNDERPLAYED, a music documentary that premiered at TIFF in 2020. TYGAPAW’s personal journey is featured amongst other prominent DJ’s in the documentary. UNDERPLAYED interrogates gender inequality in the electronic dance music industry, addressing the question of why it is that only 4 of the top 100 dance tracks in 2019 were made by women.


TYGAPAW is releasing their debut album “Get Free”, November 13. It follows the release of their Ode to Black Trans Lives EP. Slated on legendary Mexico City imprint N.A.A.F.I., “Get Free” explores techno landscapes and sonically presents a vision of black joy, as well as a celebration of personal freedom.