#MusicInTheAir Podcast hosts this week :
ECHO DEEP (SA)

New week, new debut: today for the MusicInTheAir Podcast it is the turn of TshepoMolefe, known as Echo Deep SA, DJ and producer born and raised in Soweto and currently living in Johannesburg South.

His peculiar traits are precision, timing and good mixing skills, which make him one of the most respected underground and emerging artists, both locally and internationally. Most of his music is afro house but the musical genres that influence him the most are Soulful, Deep, Progressive and Melodic Techno house.

There have been numerous awards that Echo Deep has netted during his career, such as in the dance music scene at the age of 18. He says about it: “Honestly it feels great when you get noticed out there, actually let me say when your work is getting noticed. It sure tells you that you got to keep moving”.

Among them, an award from the Akademia Music Award of Excellence in the “Dance/Electronica” category in Los Angeles and a nomination for Artist of the Year 2019 for outstanding talent.

But also hit singles and album releases under House Afrika, a world-renowned house music label, such as the House Afrika Mixtape 1 album which received a nomination at the 14th edition of the Metro Awards.

And it is with this label that Echo Deep released his debut solo album, The Music City, in 2015.

In the same year, on Traxsource he ranked 73rd among the 100 best afro-house artists of the year, and ranked here again in 2019 and 2021.

He reached #53 on Mixcloud’s Trending Top 100 Deep House Charts, and was also featured in Traxsource’s Afro House Top 100 Chart Top 5, as well as good positions in Channel OTop 5 music reviews on 5FM #TheHouseConnect. Also on Mixcloud, it ranked 17th in the Global Deep House Charts, and also 13th in the Global Techno House Charts In 2020 he was nominated for the City Awards as Producer of the Year.

He released his second album under the South African label Motherland Distribution, which releases big names such as DJ Christos and Dino Michael. The album includes the likes of Melrdy B, Maya Spector, Robyn Kate Pritchard and the legendary Steve Paradis, and among others various international and local artists.

He also achieved good positions on iTunes: with the album “If We Try EP” of 2020 he positioned himself among the 5 best dance albums, and with “Soulful Therapy Vol. 1” of 2021 among the 10 bests.

He has released on several labels, such as Nervous Records, Switchlab, Soul Candi Records, Unconfined Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music, Defected Records, Bosom Records, Melomania Records, Merecumbe Recordings, Open Bar Music, Ocha Records, Scoob & Freez, Amarrage Recordings, Uno Mas Recordings, Syndicate Records, Celsius Degree Records, Pasqua Records, Selebogo Capital Records and many other international labels.

For him, even radio: he participated in various radio programs both internationally and locally. He appeared on DJ Vinny Da Vinci’s popular radio show on Metro FM, Goodhope FM, Lesedi FM, Ukhozi FM, Deeplomattik Radio (UK), YFM, 5FM, Child of Hope (Greece), just to name a few.

He has also just landed a new residence on the UK-based radio station, Drums Radio, which its fans can stream online. He has also been booked on various occasions in and out of South Africa’s famous venues, including one owned by the world-famous Soweto-born DJ Black Coffee; Zone 6 Seat.

He currently owns a slot as a MIX DJ at the Dia Roropa Show every Friday on Lesedi FM.

But also TV: he starred in the popular production Don’t Look Down, HitRefresh, and a DJ TV show on Vuzu TV.

As a DJ, Echo Deep has shared the console with other great artists such as Vinny Da Vinci, Lady Zamar, Sjava, Tim White, Julian Gomes, Dj Christos, MoFlava, Lars Behrenroth, Rocco, just to name a few.

For his projects for the future, his plan is to release an afro House album and working with his favorite artists.

When and how did your musical journey begin?

I grew up in a family of music, at home they used to have a choir and when they went for recording, I used to go with them to the studio to see how all this is done, how do you record and how do you compose… so one day I went to the studio alone and I asked the producer what software I could use myself to make my own music and he introduced me to FL studio, I taught myself how to make music and I am still learning to be good.

What evolution do you think electronic music is experiencing on the international scene? What do you think are the differences with the country where you live?

Electronic music is growing everyday locally and internationally and I love how we celebrate this movement, so today there is no difference because we are all making the same vibe but sometimes being unique helps. I am unique hahaha…

How much and how where you live, where you come from and your background influence your music production?

By the current situation we are living as a nation, lack of Jobs, people struggling with drug abuse etc … This influences me more to make music that helas the nation and the youth, when you listen to my music, I want it to take you to a different dimension, that is what influences me. I just want people to listen to my music and be happy.

Speaking of releases, what were your past/most recent projects, what are the current ones and those of the most immediate future?

I have lots of release which created mass on the dancefloors talking about Save Us, Children Of Africa, Kuana and recently I have released Sunrise Anthem, Maye and still going to drop more including my collaboration with Dr Feel and Sontshikazi, both are great artists I know of. Sunrise Anthem & Maye are slowly doing well, I know they are going to get there and that’s why they say music has no expiry date.

What do you foresee for your next few months? Are you planning DJ sets or festivals?

Hopefully I will. The thing is I am alone, I have no one on my side helping with all this management etc. So yeah, hopefully something will come up, either than that I will continue being in studio because that’s where I feel welcomed.