You Should Know:

Culoe De Song is a nineteen-year-old Eshowe boy that has been causing waves on the international house music scene for the past two years: after South African house impresario Black Coffee met him in Dur-ban he signed him to his label Soulistic Music. His stint at Red Bull Academy in Barcelona resulted in him being approached by famed German label Inner-visions, who then released a three track vinyl release of Culoe’s songs.

Thanks to that deal, Culoe now spends a lot of time on the decks both here and abroad. Finally, his much anticipated debut, A Giant Leap, is out. Surely you’ve heard his massive hit ‘Webaba’ (a remix of Busi Mhlongo’s powerful track)? This hot House offering also features a remix of a track by Salif Keita and Jimmy Dludlu. 

he was interviewed in the studio while working on his most recent project, this is how it went:

Okay I just have to ask you about your name, Culoe De Song, what does it mean what inspired it, who gave it to you?

The name Culoe De Song originates from my real name at birth, ‘Culolethu’, which means ‘our song’ in isiZulu and it is a name that spiritually came to me, through my passion.

How long have you been in the music industry and what have your biggest songs been and what compilations did they feature on?
My time in the music industry hasn’t been that long, but somewhere somehow I feel it has been an adventure; roughly two to three years if you will, and I’d say my biggest songs in South Africa thus far would be ‘100 Zulu Warriors’ with Black Coffee (on Have Another One), the remix of ‘100 Zulu Warriors’ on Fistaz Mixwell’s Impressive, ‘Super Afro’ which has a music video, ‘Dwellers of The Jungle’ which was featured on DJ China’s House Kollektives Vol 3 and currently the Culoe De Song Zulu Spirit Mix of the song ‘Let Me Go’  by Reggie Dokes is doing pretty well in the scene….

Where are you from and where are you now based?
I’m originally from a small town up in the north of Durban called Eshowe.

How would you describe your sound?
With all honesty I really don’t have a solid term to describe my sound, but I can say that it draws inspiration from my origins and my world dream.

You’re signed to Innervisions, where is that label, who else is signed to it and how did you get signed to an international label?
Innervisions is a German Label and it is family of the likes of Ame, Henkrik Schwarz, Dixon and other well-known international artists in the electronic/house music scene. I got signed to this stable through my music and they released my first global 12inch EP, ‘The Bright Forest’.

You’re only 19, you’re touring internationally and have an international deal, when did you start playing?
I started DJing a while ago, from back home but only formally joined the industry around 2006. 

Who or what inspired you to start DJing?
My passion for the art and the music is my primary motive behind my skills as a DJ. I really love it, from the times I used to record radio shows and mixes with my cassettes…

When did you start producing?
I started producing intensely around 2006.

What’s the link between you and Black Coffee?
Black Coffee is the man behind my signing in South Africa; his label is Soulistic Music. He is more than just my label boss, he’s like a father through his guidance and support, and we met through a long time brother and friend, DJ Kabila.

Why do you look up to Black Coffee?
I look up to him as person and as an artist. His story in the music industry is an inspiration to many, and his sound brought a whole new era of soul in South African house music, and he is the father of what he does, a man in his own league, very genuine and legendary.

Who are your other favourite DJs and producers?
I have a great list of DJs, producers and musicians who are my favourites: Osunlade, Black Coffee, Vinny Da Vinci, Kerri Chandler, Dj Christos, Boddhi Satva, Charles Webster, Abicah Soul, Louie Vega, Franck Roger, Jazzanova, Henrik Schwarz, Ame… also to mention that I’m a great fan of musicians like Salif Keita, Femi Kuti, Busi Mhlongo, Oumou Sangare, Hugh Masekela, Lira, Thandiswa, Camagwini, the list is endless…

You were at the Red Bull Music Academy in Barcelona in 2008, and now South Africans can enter to take part in it in London next year, what did that do for you as a person and a music maker?
The Red Bull Music Academy did a lot for me spiritually and career- wise. Spiritually I mean; I was exposed to different types of cultures and music and this greatly opened my heart and inspiration.

Speaking of international trips, where in the world have you performed?
I’ve performed in places such as Spain, Italy, Holland, Swaziland, Belgium and South Africa of course…

Is there a difference playing for SA crowds and international crowds?
Well maybe for some DJs this would be otherwise but I feel a difference in atmosphere, in terms of the crowds, and it is a great thing to experience different atmospheres as a performer.

Anything else coming up this year?
This year I had quite a number of projects coming up, The Dragon’s End ft Fatima with Remixes to be released on Offering Recordings, another Culoe De Song 12 inch EP on Mule Musiq, Culoe De Song remixes for Mzee Wa Afrika on Ocha Records, and also a currently unannounced project with Boddhi Satva.

Any plans to study further, seeing as you’re so young!
Well yeah, even though I’m keeping a low profile on that but I’ll be doing something along those lines in the near future, and I believe that each one of us never stops learning until the moment we leave earth.