Soweto born DJ and producer Tshepo Molefe has been making waves in the South African music scene as well as internationally. He produces impactful House Music under the moniker Echo Deep and while he’s currently considered underground, he’s definitely one of the most up and coming names in the genre at the moment.

The South African DJ has shown talent in being able to work with others and yet stand alone as an established musician in his own right. He participated in the complication album, ‘House Afrika’ before going on to release his own solo debut album, ‘The Music City’.

Tell us about your earliest musical memory?

When I was 11 years old, I used to listen to radio every day when I came home from school. My Uncle had this stereo that plays cassette and I used to record all the songs I like on the radio. On the other hand, I was asking myself how can one create music so till then I met this guy he was a hip hop beat maker and introduced me to one of the DAW he used to create his beats. So till then, I learned, I watched tutorials and deeply fell in love with what I was doing. So, I came to a point where I said to myself this is what I wanna do for the rest of my life. Obviously, I faced a lot of difficulties in this journey but kept on pushing till I heard my music on the radio too and that’s when I decided to push even harder.

At what point in your life did you have that moment where you said to yourself “This is it. This is the type of music I want to create?”

At that time I had no idea what I was doing, I just open the DAW then play around with sounds, I was never gonna tell you if this is Deep House Or Afro House I just went with the flow. So things changed until I got an email from one of the dominant record labels here in South Africa, asking to compile my song and telling me they like my sound… That’s when I said this is it. This is the type of music I wanna make.

Please list some of the most influential albums on your creative outlook and output:

I have always listened to these albums and become inspired :

Soul Candi – Electro Candi

DJ Fresh – Definition Of House 1,2,3

Oskido – Church Grooves 1,2,3

Culoe De Song – Giant Leap

Black Coffee – Home Brewed

Rocco – Memories

Vinny Da Vinci – Deep House Sounds 1 to 10

What key pieces of gear/software are you using to define your sound?

I’m more into FL Studio lately but it all started with Propellerhead Reason I actually love both softwares. Great Synthesizer, Powerfull ARPs, Super Leads and Best Analogs.

What inspires you outside of music? What do you turn to when the creative well runs a little low?

I take a break from Music for about 7 days and design artworks ad flyers with my CS6 photoshop that is the other software that what’s keeping me busy when I’m not doing music.

What is your opinion on the ever-spreading sub-genre vine? Are there too many? Do you think there’ s perhaps a sub-genre that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

I believe that every sub-genre out there has its own followers. It’s all about you, what moves you.

Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, what do you prefer?

I prefer both. U get to work in your studio and later perform your project for the audience, this is another way of getting your projects out there and giving them the exposure.

As a music artist, it becomes apparent that there is a huge difference between the art and the business. Is there anything about the music scene that you would personally change?

In the Music business, as creators, we deserve to get everything that belongs to us in terms of royalties and all, but it seems to be a very difficult part to deal with in the music industry. I wish I could personally change how this works.

Any new or upcoming artists on your radar? Who shouldn’t the world sleep on?

I would personally say it’s me, Echo Deep, the world shouldn’t sleep on when they see this name, I’m coming with fire. The world must recognise this name. I’m an independent artist, I do everything on my own, market my music, release my music, finance my music so it might take me a while but the world must wake up when they see Echo Deep Name!

What can we expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or gigs in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?

I’m currently working on my one project or more with LJ Pepper, shes amazing, started working on my EP due out October 2019 and about the gigs as mentioned earlier as I’m an independent artist, I’m still gonna have to find myself some gigs for this festive season.

Famous last words?

Don’t do it for the fame do it for the love. Don’t prove shit, improve shit.

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