Anjunadeep - South Africa

By Gabriel Matias Castilho

On Feb. 28, the downtempo/deep house music label Anjunadeep released their seven song-compilation album from South African producers and singers. The songs contained within capture perfectly the essence of what is known as Mzansi House—when jazz, traditional South African music, contemporary dance and pop merge together. With ethereal and inspiring beats to vibe with, this album will surprise you.

The compilation starts with the track “B27” from Nqamakwe-born platinum & award winning producer Karyendasoul. “B27” is a song that elevates your state of mind, driving it to places only you can imagine by harboring very vague melodies but an attention-grabbing climax. It is followed by “Andikayeki”, a song from Johannesburg-based producer Heavy-K and former “The Voice: South Africa” contestant Ami Faku. Sung in isiXhosa—one of the languages spoken in the country—the song tells the story of an individual who faced numerous challenges and overcame adversities in their life. Its distinct 3-step beat reinforces the uniqueness of the song, while its beautiful composition makes it such a joy to listen.

There is one song in this compilation I believe to be different from all others. My consumption of Downtempo house tracks—known for their calm and chill melodies, and their shy drums—is very limited. I listen to those songs when I want inspiration to come to me, to elicit a cathartic experience and motivation. The song that made me feel the closest to this feeling was “Solitude”, by Pretoria-born producer Cornelius SA and organic deep house DJ Sebee. “Solitude” feels like a barren landscape filled with our imagination, a canvas for us to paint our own picture, a place where we want to lay down and gaze while the wind carries us away from our problems.

In fact, if you are looking for a path to bliss, away from your worries, this compilation is for you.