A quest that turned into an obsession underpinned by a labor of love has borne remarkable fruit for Belgian label Deep In Your Soul. After ironically hearing Closure by Kususa as the opening track of Black Coffee's set at Tomorrowland 2018, label owners Amerlegna and Aytiwan searched high and low for the original; only to discover that it had never been released. So started a five-year journey to get the track on their own imprint and then back it up with some powerful remixes.
Kususa themselves are no strangers to the Afro House arena as the South African duo have blazed a trail across the genre over the past couple of years. With scintillating singles and an EP that have truly dominated the field, Deep In Your Soul knew this was the track that could reinforce their reputation as a label to be reckoned with. With their last release being featured on Black Coffee's Spotify playlist, the label heads knew they needed something extraordinary to follow up on that success. They have found that in the remarkable work of Kususa.
The brainchild of Joshua Sihle Sokweba and Mncedi Tshicila, the pair came together in late 2016 and have never looked back. Their music is as translucent as a South African sunset incorporating elements of House Music, Afro Beat, Techno, and African Music. They have appeared on Get Physical, Cadenza Records, Connected Frontline, Moblack Records, Defected, DJOON Experience, Soulistic Music, N.E.O.N Tokyo, and now they can add Deep In Your Soul to that list.
That desire to get them onto the Belgian label became all the more urgent when Amerlegna was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma at the start of the year. Recognizing that time on this planet can be fleeting, the business partners made it an absolute priority to secure the rights to the track and share it with the world.
With the poison of Chemo coursing through his veins, it was the incredible vocals of Lisa M which provided Amerlegna so much peace and tranquillity as the world around him descended into one of chaos and uncertainty. Being able to focus on the track and coordination to get it distributed became part of the healing process and a distraction from the challenges that lay before him.
Hauntingly evocative of a spiritual journey itself, the Kususa original navigates the emotional nexus of the Afro Tech and Afro House sound. Flourishes of percussion with an incessant beat drive towards an endless multi-layered wave of textures that will send dancefloors wild with expectation. Then there are the two remixes by Afro House heavyweights Da Capo and Lemon & Herb which add even more credibility to the package.
Da Capo takes a more relaxed approach to the groove; spacing out the release with minimal arpeggios while still keeping Lisa M's vocals front and center of the track. Glorious pads and a luscious deep reimagining of the original add that signature sophistication that is expected from the mind of the South African icon.
Last but not least, Lemon & Herb bring their own reimagining to the main stage. More upbeat with additional percussive elements, the duo of Sikhumbuzo Hadebe and Don Sithole from KwaZulu-Natal still retains the beauty of the original but includes a dexterity that will light up clubs and festivals everywhere.
There is no doubt that Closure is not the ending but a new beginning that will see the reputation of Deep In Your Soul gravitate to become one of the big players in the industry. A musical blessing as well as a dance floor delight, it will lift you up and deliver an experience that will stay with you forever.
Stream the Remix below.
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