3x GRAMMY™ Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir, Aria-nominated DJ Groove Terminator and GRAMMY™ Award-winning, certified Platinum-selling producer Dennis White (aka Latroit) whose contributions to the world of Electronic Music span three decades, along with Gallo Music present History of House, a project highlighting dance music’s roots in Africa with a collection of house classics re-imagined in Zulu.
On this innovative project due this June, these icons take an exhilarating journey through the history of dance music.
“It’s a natural evolution from the shows we’ve been performing together for the last few years,” says Groove Terminator. “We wanted to inspire people with our takes on classic house songs that uplift them.” Lead single Good Life– a reworking of the seminal dance music classic Good Life by Inner City droppingtomorrow, March 29 – has been met with international acclaim boasting support from some of the world’s most influential DJs and broadcast outlets including Fatboy Slim, Themba, Francis Mercier, KCRW, Radio 1, Defected Radio and more.
In keeping with the spirit of reimagination, on this first instalment the Australian dance maverick and renowned South African outfit invite a kaleidoscopic line-up of DJs and producers to offer their renditions of the re-imagined“Good Life”. Crafted by Devitchi, Chantty Natural, Mayj-C, Luke Taylor, Drumetic Boys and Siphe Tebeka, were curated by ‘Orna Create’ (Orna Crea+) – a program spanning the Southern African Development Community (SADC) whose mission is to discover, promote and create opportunities for emerging artists from within the region. “Collaborating with such an esteemed brand allowed us to contribute our unique sound to a global audience while embracing the rich heritage and spirit of South African gospel music,” say the Drumetic Boyz. For Namibian producer Devitchi, meanwhile, participation expanded his sonic versatility. “Working alongside these exceptional artists has been an enriching experience that has not only stretched my creative boundaries but also opened my eyes to the beauty of cultural exchange through music,” he says.
The second single which comes out April 12, “Everybody’s Free”, premiered exclusively on GRAMMY.com’s ‘Global Spin’, showcasing the unique confluence of gospel and dance music to be expected on History of House. The album contains iterations that incorporate gqom, electronic, downtempo tech, reggae, deep house, and worldbeat with richly crafted soundscapes cocooning homegrown lyrics, harmonies and melodies.
“South Africa is recognised as one of the prime countries for music in general, especially house music,” says choir member Mary Mulovhedzi.“We have seen the evolution of house music into what we know today as Amapiano. I personally still love old-school house music and being part of History of House with Groove Terminator is like living my childhood again. “Good Life” is sung in our language, isiZulu, and that just adds more flavour to my joy.”
With the Soweto Gospel Choir boasting previous collaborations with Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Queen and Steve Wonder under their belt, their contributions to global musical history are a feather in Gallo Music’s legacy-preserving cap. “Gallo is the longest running independent record label and music publisher in Africa, managing the largest catalogue of African masters in the world,” says GMI Legacy Manager Goodwill Nkuna. “We’re home to some of Africa’s most loved legends, and we are proud to partner with Soweto Gospel Choir and Groove Terminator on their latest project.”
Good Life is an undeniably thrilling sonic voyage through space and time – weaving together musical styles, generations, and regions. With Groove Terminator’s three decades of capturing prized memories on the dancefloor and Soweto Gospel Choir’s well-documented historical feats, partnering with a new generation of talent shows this duo’s appreciation for art’s timelessness.
