The year 2017 has been a hectic and a very tense one for Afro House Music in general. Yet again we have witnessed phenomenal growth and achievements in both Mzansi Hip Hop Music and Gqom Music. We have witnessed Stadiums being filled, Books being launched, Albums going gold and yes through all that we have seen a significant increase in Afro House Music Ep and Single Releases. But, I must say with all that going on, there has also been a decline in the number of albums released this year. Within those albums released this year, we have selected ‘’10 Must Have House Music Albums For 2017’’. You can have your pick, as all of these albums will find a spot within your playlist.
10. Dj Merlon – Pure Black
Starting off the ‘Top 10 Must Have House Music Albums For 2017’ is Dj Merlon with his 2017 offering which is titled ‘Pure Black’. Dj Merlon has proved before that he has the ability to make ‘Mzansi Dance’. ‘Koze Kuse’ is one proof of that ability. The wait has been a long one, as it has been two years since we have had something from Dj Merlon.
That was till the drop of his latest offering which is titled ‘Pure Black’. This is a 10 track album which one can say falls short of the traditional 12 / 13 track albums we have gotten accustomed to. One thing we can assure you is that, you will get ‘maximum value’ out of those 10 tracks as they are perfectly ‘suited for any occasion or mood’ you might be in. Tracks to watch out for include the lead single which is titled ‘Izimvula’ where he features Sandile and ‘Layla’ where he features Toshi. ‘Pure Black’ is packed with features therefore making it a ‘very versatile sounding offering’ which is worthy of a credible spot within ‘Sho Mag 2017 Top 10 House Albums To Have’.
Purchase Dj Merlon – Pure Black Here
9. Lady Zamar – King Zamar
On the 9th spot we have ‘King Zamar’ which is Lady Zamar’s debut album. Lady Zamar has been slowly building up her name within the Afro House Music scene. From the days when she teamed up with Junior Taurus and brought us hits such as ‘Cotton Candy’ and ‘Mamelodi’ to her much recent ‘award winning hit’ with Prince Kaybee which is titled ‘Charlotte’. Lady Zamar has been hard at work perfecting her unique sound.
‘King Zamar’ proves what some of us have been chanting all along and that is, ‘Lady Zamar is one unique talent for Mzansi to have’. Within her 14 track offering one can find hits such as ‘Love Is Blind, My Baby, Kissing (King Zamar)’ as some of the tracks which are bound to move your body and set your tone up for some great sounds. One thing which sets King Zamar apart from any other similar offering, is that you won’t find many artists featured on this one. We are loving that and it brings out the best of Lady Zamar and proves she can handle things on her own and still give us an ‘awesome sounding album’.
Purchase Lady Zamar – King Zamar Here
8. Prince KayBee – I Am Music
It has truly been a good year for Kabelo Motsamayi who is popularly known as ‘Prince KayBee’. Not only has Prince Kaybee given us hits, but he has done that on the regular and without failing. From 2015 when Prince Kaybee was crowned as the ultimate ‘Master Of Spin’, his musical journey is just one to be admired. Who could forget his ‘MMA15 Award Winning’ debut album ‘Better Days’ which went on to also achieve ‘gold status’?
Prince Kaybee has followed that banging debut album with what we just call ‘a masterpiece’, for a lack of a better word that is. ’I Am Music’, is the title of his latest album and falls nothing short of his previous offering ‘Better Days’. Infact this album offers more than what ‘Better Days’ did and ever could do. ‘I Am Music’ defines Prince KayBee’s musical talent, which is quite obvious should one get hold of his latest offering. One could go on and say, ‘I Am Music’ just silences anyone with any opinion that Prince KayBee is a ‘One-Hit Wonder’. Tracks to lookout for in this album include ‘Yonkinto’ where he features Zanda, ‘Charlotte’ where he features Lady Zamar and a whole lot of features within the album just to drop a few ‘Busiswa, NaakMusiq, Mpumi, Trademark’. ’I Am Music’ is a complete offering which is why we are more than happy to include it in our ‘Top 10 Must Have House Music Albums For 2017’.
Purchase Prince KayBee – I Am Music Here
7. Chymamusique – After The Storm
Ohhh!!! What is there to say about Chymamusique which hasn’t been said before? Chymamusique stayed winning this year both in music and with his other personal projects as well, ‘big up for that’. This Burgersfort born musician started his musical journey way back in the year 2000 as a ‘Jazz Pianist’. Chymamusique only started in 2006 with House Music Production and as they say, ‘the rest is history’.
‘After The Storm’ is Chymamusique’s 2017 ‘eargasmic offering’. This is a 14 track album and it is the kind you can just ‘pop’ into CD player, without skipping or repeating of tracks just to ‘let the music get hold of you’. ‘Hauntingly hypnotic sounds’ are packed within this album, with ‘sprinkles of melodic keys’ which we have gotten accustomed to as ‘Chymamusique’s Signature Sound’.
Loving this offering as at the moment only Chymamusique and Sir Lsg were bold enough to offer us pure ‘Soulful House Music Albums’ this year. Tracks within ‘After The Storm’ which will blow you away include ‘African Dance, After The Storm, Follow, I Choose You’. Chymamusique packed ‘After The Storm’ with features from ‘Afrotraction, Kent Smoke, Yves, Ree Morris’ and a whole lot of other equally talented musicians just to add some music variety within his album. Chymamusique’s remixes of tracks from ‘Dj Fresh, Glen Lewis, Stones & Bones’ are worth a mention as well they are a breath of fresh air.
Purchase Chymamusique – After The Storm Here
6. Surreal Sounds Selections Vol 1.5 Mixed By Kunzima Theology
We are off to number six of our ‘Top 10 House Music Album To Have In 2017’. As we have been saying throughout the year, Surreal Sounds has to be the hardest working label this year. Proof is the quality sounds they have put out throughout the year. ‘Surreal Sounds Selections Vol 1.5’ is their latest offering for 2017 and it is a build-up to the bigger picture which is Volume 2. Surreal Selections Vol. 1 was the gate opener to all this sound where they managed to attract to the Surreal Sounds Label. Second Part of ‘Surreal Selections Vol. 1.5’ will be available early 2018, and promises to bring ‘more heat’ with it as well.
‘Surreal Selections Vol. 1.5’ is mixed by very capable ‘Kunzima Theology’ who holds nothing back when it comes to ‘creating captivating moments’ whenever called upon deck or studio duties. On Surreal Selections Vol. 1.5, ‘Kunzima Theology’ seamlessly takes us on one way musical journey as he brings us nothing but the ‘best of 12 tracks’ which are ‘perfectly selected for every occasion’. Surreal Selections Vol. 1.5 features music from the likes of ‘Vandal M, Trabal Franko, Kususa, Nelo, Ben Da Producer and International Acts such as El Mukuka’. With so much talent all packed in one compilation album, you are bound to have one or two or even more tracks to keep you ‘jamming throughout this Festive Season’. ‘Surreal Selections Vol. 1.5’, fits perfectly on one of our few timeless house music compilation albums ‘category’ and we know it will be part of your playlist even far beyond 2017.
Purchase Surreal Sounds Selections Vol 1.5 Here
5. House Afrika Sessions 8
‘House Afrika Records’ needs no introduction at all as it is one of ‘Mzansi’s Pioneer House Labels’. This label has been in existence since the early 1990’s and that was an era way before the ‘born frees’. Since then year after year, ‘House Afrika Records’ has brought us hit album after hit album. Under their belt would be compilation series albums such as ‘Africanism, Deep House Sounds, Amapiano Sessions, House Africa Sessions’ just to mention a few from the top of my ‘House Music Head’.
This year we saw ‘House Afrika Records’ do what they have successfully done for over the past two decades, which is to give us another ‘hit album’. ‘House Afrika Sessions 8’ is just that album, and trust me when I say ‘nothing gets better than this’ as the album takes the ‘House Afrika Sessions Series’ up a notch. ‘House Afrika Sessions 8’ is a ‘four cd pack’ compilation album with contribution mixes by ‘House Afrika Records’ heavy hitters ‘Dj Strat3gy, Enosoul, Tim White and the legendary Vinni Da Vinci’. Within this offering, some of the compilation tracks are by world renowned musicians such as ‘Eric Ericksson, Jimpster, &Me, Pastor Snow, Regalo Joints, Drumatic Soul, Tronix Deep, Dj Meron, Kant, and a whole more to look out for’. . ‘House Afrika Sessions 8’ is a very special offering by ‘House Afrika Records’ and yes it does live up to the standard which is expected from this highly decorated House Music Label.
Purchase House Afrika Sessions 8 Here
4. Dj Ganyani – Ganyani’s House Grooves 10
Ganyani Tshabalala who is affectionately known as ‘Dj Ganyani’, has been in the music industry for over 20 years. With his great passion for music, at the age of 15 he started teaching himself several DJ techniques to manipulate the pre-recorded music. These include ‘cueing, equalization, phrasing, beat juggling etc’. to perform the transitions and overdubs of a number of sources in a more creative way. Over these years ‘Dj Ganyani’ has kept us dancing with his compilation series which is simply titled ‘Ganyani’s House Grooves’.
‘Ganyani’s House Grooves’ has been a household favourite and has never failed in providing us with ‘Dance Floor Bangers’. Some of the recent ‘Dance Floor Bangers’ from ‘Ganyanis House Grooves’ include hit tracks such as “Be There” where Dj Ganyani features Mlu and Big Nuz, “Xigubu” where Dj Ganyani features the dynamic FB(Fiesta Black), “Lengoma” where he features G-Kah and ‘Talk To Me’ where Layla featured.
This year Dj Ganyani has once again ‘dropped heat’ on us with the release of his latest offering which is titled ‘Ganyani’s House Grooves 10’. ‘Ganyani’s House Grooves 10’ carries off where his last offering left us ‘On A Musical High’. At my first listening session of ‘Ganyani’s House Grooves 10’, I honestly had no high expectations as I felt that Dj Ganyani (Master G) has proven to us what he is capable of over the years. That soon was proven wrong as this a ‘heat packing album’, not only does it carry with it ‘melodic vocals’, but it is a ‘serious groovy offering’ from first to last track. Tracks to lookout for in ‘Ganyani’s House Grooves 10’ include ‘Fading featuring Goodluck, Dit Moi Que Tu M’aime featuring Dboy, Emazulwini featuring Nomcebo’.
Purchase Dj Ganyani – Ganyani’s House Grooves 10 Here
3. Glen Lewis – Matters Of House
What would the local dance/house music scene be without ‘Glen Lewis’? The name ‘Glen Lewis’ has become synonymous with ‘deep house tunes, electrifying masses into motion on dance floors throughout the world’. He is one of the ‘pioneers of the MidTempo trend’, releasing the first of the Mid-Tempo CD compilations in 1999. Five months later he released ‘Numero Uno’, which is a collection of ‘pulsating Latic house tracks’. ‘Midtempo 2000 followed’. In 2001, he teamed up with ‘DJ Fresh to release Gatecrusher Meets Afrika’ and ‘Glenzito’ has been at it since then till this day.
This year Glen Lewis has released his ‘much anticipated compilation album’ which is titled ‘Matters Of House’ and that is worthy of the third spot within our ‘Top 10 Must Have House Music Albums For 2017’. ‘Matters Of House’ was worth the wait, this compilation album is nothing short of a ‘masterpiece’. You can tell that Glen Lewis had a specific goal in mind with ‘Matters Of House’ and the goal was to bring us ‘House Music In The Purest Form’. With features from ‘Jimpster, Andre Lodemman, Rampa, &ME and many more’, Glen Lewis has achieved his goal. With ‘Matters Of House’ there are just no specific tracks to lookout for, this is a complete and a definite must have to complete your collection for 2017.
Purchase Glen Lewis – Matters Of House Here
2. Sir LSG – Moving Circles
South African House Music artist ‘Sir LSG’ debuts his first album, a stunningly crafted piece of art for which he pulled together an ‘impressive collective of international vocalists, musicians and collaborators’. Titled ‘Moving Circles’, the long-player represents the concept of life seen as a journey. It highlights events of ‘love, life, inspiration, sadness and loneliness’ in one big turn. Just as there’s a start and an end to everything, the musical journey begins with ‘Departure’ and takes you through different walks of life, before getting to ‘Arrival’.
While South Africa has been at the forefront of a global House Music revival for many years now, ‘Sir LSG’ has been tipped of as the “one to watch” inter alia – leading industry US download-store ‘Traxsource put him in their Top 20 African House producers of the year in 2014’. Since his first single release in 2011, LSG has perfected his magical ‘soulful and jazzy, yet clearly afro-influenced sound’, now culminating in this well rounded long-player, which took him ‘four years to complete’.
‘Moving Circles’ features renowned crooners like ‘Germany’s Clara Hill, Chicago’s Carla Prather, UK’s Joseph Junior, South Africa’s new R&B sensation Ayanda Jiya and established musician Zano’, all of whom sound their best and complement the beautifully crafted grooves and soundscapes. Coproduced by one of South Africa’s fast-growing piano players, ‘Thandi Ntuli’, and one can feel that more ‘first-league jazz musicians’ enjoyed contributing to Sir LSG’s tunes. ‘Moving Circles’ is just a ‘once in a life time’ sort of an offering making it the ‘perfect collector’s item’ for any House Music loving individual.
Purchase Sir LSG – Moving Circles Here
1. DaCapo – Indigo Child
Inspired by the biggest names in the house music industry such as ‘Nick Holder, Zepherin Saint, Andy Compton, to name a few’, ‘Da Capo’ has set on a journey to create his mark on the House Music scene with the release of his much awaited album. ‘Soulistic Music’ unveils the highly-anticipated album of this prolific House Music Producer & Deejay, ‘Da Capo’. Titled ‘Indigo Child’, ‘Da Capo’ simply extends his offering across new frontiers of Afro House music that’s expected to now take centre stage on the circuit.
The self-taught Producer and DJ from Limpopo whose real name is ‘Nicodimas Sekheta Mogashoa’ has seen it all from ‘Afro House, to Tribal House, then Deep House’. However, Da Capo compliments the ‘Soulful Deep House And Afro Deep Tech House Scene’ with the masterclass that the ‘Indigo Child’ album is as well. This is ‘Da Capo’s’ first album as a ‘Soulistic Music’ artist. ‘Indigo Child’ first single is called ‘Found You featuring Berita’. The album includes features from the likes of ‘Darian Crouse, GoodLuck, Jackie Queens, Renee Thompson, Wanda Baloyi to mentions a few’. Not forgetting the already previewed and loved ‘Thando Lwami featuring MsDippy’ and ‘Afrika featuring Tshepo King’.
If the title of the album has you wondering, why ‘Indigo Child’? ‘Da Capo’ explained it as, “I believe my ability to produce music is a spiritual experience.” ‘Soulistic Music Label Manager, Greg Nate’ had this to say about the album, ‘As long as it has taken, trust that it is worth the wait’. That, we fully agree with and firmly place this offering as ‘thee to get in 2017’. ‘Indigo Child’ is a well-rounded album taking the listener on a musical journey from ‘deep, soulful sounds to afro club bangers’ and anything in-between. ‘Da Capo’ has really ‘shown off’ with this project!