Sounds of Barulho #058 by Deep Essentials
I am really happy to introduce you to one of my favorite DJ/Producer duos. I’ve been a huge fan of these guys and have played a lot of their songs during my sets. Without further ado, let me present Deep Essentials.
Deep Essentials is a dynamic house music duo from Tembisa, Gauteng, South Africa. Drawing inspiration from pioneers such as Da Capo, Black Coffee, The Layabouts, Henrik Schwarz, and Ralf Gum, London SA and KDD_ZA channel their shared passion for deep and afro house into their music.
Their career kicked off with a debut release on Chymamusique Records before expanding with the Sounds of Houseseries on The Ashmed Hour Records and Candid Beings Records. Along the way, their tracks have also appeared on Stay True Sounds Vol. 4 and House Victimz' compilations.
Over time, they’ve collaborated with respected artists including Ghost, 8Nine Muzique, Fatso 98, C-Blak, and many others. By blending soulful textures with forward-thinking production, Deep Essentials has created a sound that resonates both on underground dancefloors and on larger stages.
When our conversation began, I asked how they see the evolution of the deep house scene over the past few years. They explained that the fusion of electronic elements with soulful influences has created a uniquely South African flavor, one that has steadily gained recognition and influence worldwide.
Curious about what makes deep house stand out from other genres, I brought up the question next. Their answer highlighted the genre’s mix of house rhythms with the soulful essence of RnB and classical music — a combination that makes it irresistibly groovy.
Given South Africa’s strong club culture, I wanted to explore what role the community plays within it. The duo stressed that the community is central: without people to groove, there is no culture, and without the groove, there are no people.
One of the highlights of their catalog for me is “Perere (TequilaGangMix).” The track’s drums and melody make it special, and after a long search, I finally found it on Bandcamp. Since some producers create music for specific gigs or events, I asked if that was true for “Perere.” They told me it was indeed made for the Tequila Gang set and named after the venue. While producing for special occasions isn’t their usual practice, it does happen occasionally.
I also wanted to get a deeper look into their creative process and asked how they know when a track is truly finished. Their response was that there’s no exact formula — the decision comes from the feeling. If the groove gives them chills and feels right, that’s the sign it’s complete.
Another point of interest for me was how their production approach differs from DJing. When playing sets, they typically start with softer tracks, match the mood of the previous DJ, and aim to close strong. Production, on the other hand, often begins with a spark — like a bassline or chord progression — which then evolves into a full track.
As a final question, I asked about their goals for the future. Their ambition is to reach wider international audiences and to leave a lasting, positive mark on South Africa’s music industry.
Having the chance to talk with Deep Essentials about their love for deep house and music production was truly special for me as a fan. This interview only scratches the surface, so if you’d like to dive deeper, check out the Guestmix below, and don’t forget to follow them on socials!
Guestmix
https://soundcloud.com/barulho-world/sounds-of-barulho-058-by-deep-essentials
