South African producer Teleki Wilfred Mphahlele, better known as Da Africa Deep, has become a new school Afro house favourite in recent years. His music draws on jazz, gospel and the rhythmic traditions of home, all filtered through the influence of artists including original pioneers like Hugh Masekela and new school torchbearers like Black Coffee. His international profile has grown through the success of cuts like ‘Feel The Love’ and ‘Were We Belong’, collaborations with Da Capo and Zakes Bantwini, and extensive touring in Europe and Africa. This LP is, says the artist, “seeing the beauty in all the bad and good things that have happened in my life” and is about “bringing peace and joy.”
Opener ‘Azania’ is a collab with Mici that welcomes you with a gentle dubby pulse, wispy chords and soft, velvety vocals that are immediately intimate. ‘My Side’ with Lyrik Shoxen is another deep, cuddly groove, this time with swung hits and fragile keys accompanying a voice that goes from pained to empowered. Da Africa Deep then goes it alone for a remix of Darkstate & Clara Pople’s ‘Rest My Hands’ which has an angelic vocal rising up out of a warm broken beat and ascending arps. ‘Ndzi ta hlula’ with Sky White & Nyeleti is another comforting groove with goals that rouse the soul, and ‘Need To Know pt.2’ with Jordan Arts is a shimmering and hypnotic roller with twinkling keys and vocals that smoulder.
‘Dreams’ with White Sky sweeps you up on sumptuous melodies and feathery percussion that’s heightened by an expansive vocal; ‘Feel Good’ is as warm and fuzzy as a hug from a loved one and ‘Escape Reality’ is an unhurried hymn that lifts your spirts though carefully layering of chords and glistening pads. Closer, ‘Nobody’ with Bishop is a quiet and profound end to a spiritual album of immeasurable musical and emotional depth.
Da Africa Deep’s ‘Love Your Life’ comes on Mayonie Productions on 28th October 2026.
Tracklist
1. Da Africa Deep & Mici – Azania
2. Da Africa Deep & Lyrik Shoxen – My Side
3. Darkstate & Clara Pople – Rest My Hands (Da Africa Deep Remix)
4. Da Africa Deep, Sky White & Nyeleti – Ndzi ta hlula
5. Da Africa Deep & Jordan Arts – Need To know pt.2
6. Da Africa Deep & Sky White – Dreams
7. Da Africa Deep – Feel Good
8. Da Africa Deep – Escape Reality
9. Da Africa Deep & Biishop – Nobody
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