South African Producers Who Influenced Deep Owen's Sound

Johannesburg-based producer, DJ and remixer Deep Owen has steadily emerged as one of the rising names within South Africa's underground house movement. Blending deep house, Afro-house, minimal, dub and techno influences, his productions are rooted in groove, atmosphere and emotional storytelling.

His latest release, I'm Spinnin' For A Reason on Dealt With Records, explores the idea that dance music can carry meaning beyond the dance floor. Across the EP, Deep Owen combines soulful vocals, hypnotic rhythms and immersive textures into a deeply personal statement about intention, movement and connection through sound.

For Nightclubber.ro, Deep Owen reflects on the South African producers who helped shape his musical identity, production approach and artistic philosophy. Take it away Deep Owen…

Discovering South African House Music

My journey into music production wasn't born in expensive studios or through formal training. It came through curiosity, long listening sessions, and an obsession with understanding why certain records made me feel the way they did.

Growing up in South Africa, house music wasn't just something you heard in clubs. It was part of everyday life. It played in taxis, family gatherings, neighbourhood car washes, and local taverns. It carried stories, emotions, and identities. Yet what fascinated me most was the underground side of South African electronic music—the producers who weren't simply making dance tracks, but building entire worlds through sound.

The artists who shaped me didn't influence me because they were famous. They influenced me because they taught me different ways of hearing music. They changed how I approached groove, bass, arrangement, atmosphere, and storytelling. If I had never encountered their work, I honestly don't know if I would have become the producer I am today.

Jullian Gomes: The Art of Musical Patience

Jullian Gomes was one of the first producers who taught me that house music could be elegant.

I fell in love with the way he constructed soulful, groove-driven records that sounded both deeply South African and effortlessly international. There was sophistication in his work that felt timeless. His DJ sets fascinated me because he understood how to represent South African house culture while blending it with global influences without losing authenticity.

One of the records that left a permanent mark on me was Don Esquire, his collaboration with Atjazz. The track showed me how emotional depth could be created through subtle musical decisions rather than obvious gestures. Nothing feels rushed. Every element arrives exactly when it needs to.

From Jullian, I learned that vocals can function as emotional instruments rather than simply carrying lyrics. More importantly, I learned the importance of musical patience. He showed me that a track doesn't need to reveal everything immediately. It can unfold gradually, inviting listeners deeper into the experience.

Ed-Ward: Making Space for the Groove

Ed-Ward completely changed the way I thought about rhythm and bass.

What drew me to his music was the way he combined electronic textures with Afro-centric rhythmic foundations. His productions always felt alive because they breathed. Nothing was overcrowded. Every percussion hit, synth stab, and bass movement had room to exist.

As someone obsessed with basslines, this had a huge impact on me.

His Joker EP became one of those projects I revisited repeatedly. The bass never dominated the mix; it conversed with it. The percussion patterns created movement without becoming overwhelming, while atmospheric textures drifted in and out almost like passing thoughts.

He taught me that silence is part of the groove.

That lesson continues to influence my own productions today. You can hear it in my love for spacious basslines and arrangements that allow every element to breathe naturally.

Pierre Johnson: Fearless Experimentation

Pierre Johnson expanded my understanding of what South African house music could be.

What fascinated me most was his refusal to be boxed into a single sound. While many artists become associated with one particular style, Pierre always seemed willing to explore different territories while maintaining an identity that was unmistakably his own.

His album Outsiders had a profound impact on me, particularly the track Cure. There was a willingness to take risks and follow creative instincts rather than expectations.

That freedom inspired me.

As producers, it's easy to become trapped by formulas that seem to work. Pierre reminded me that artistic growth often comes from stepping outside familiar territory. His music encouraged me to trust experimentation and understand that developing your own voice requires a willingness to evolve.

Krippsoulisc: Atmosphere and Introspection

Krippsoulisc introduced me to another dimension of South African electronic music.

I discovered his album Soul Dwelling at a point when I was becoming increasingly interested in atmosphere and storytelling through sound. What struck me immediately was how introspective his productions felt.

His music was underground, unique, and deeply immersive. Listening to it felt like hearing South Africa's response to artists like Stimming, translated through local experiences, rhythms and perspectives.

He showed me that dance music doesn't always have to chase peak-time moments. It can be meditative. It can be intimate.

That lesson continues to shape the emotional side of my work today. Whenever I'm building atmosphere within a track, I'm thinking about how sound can communicate feelings that words sometimes cannot.

Da Capo: The Spark That Started Everything

Da Capo's influence on my journey is deeply personal because it arrived at a crucial moment in my life.

While I was still in high school, I spent countless hours mixing songs on an app called Cross DJ. Around that period, tracks like Pretty Disaster (Da Capo Remix) were making waves throughout South African dance culture.

Then, during my final years of high school, one of my classmates introduced me to FL Studio.

Learning production wasn't easy. There were frustrations, failed projects, and plenty of moments when I questioned whether I was capable of doing it. But hearing producers like Da Capo made the possibility feel real. He represented someone creating globally respected music while remaining connected to South African roots.

Without that inspiration during those formative years, I may never have taken the leap from listener to creator.

How These Influences Live in My Music Today

These artists didn't teach me to imitate. They taught me how to listen.

From Jullian Gomes, I inherited a love for soulful progression and emotional storytelling.

From Ed-Ward came my obsession with spacious basslines and textured minimalism.

Pierre Johnson encouraged fearlessness and experimentation.

Krippsoulisc deepened my appreciation for underground intimacy and atmosphere.

Da Capo gave me the courage to begin.

Together, these influences helped shape the artistic perspective behind my music today. They can be heard throughout I'm Spinnin' For A Reason, where groove, atmosphere, patience and emotion remain at the centre of every track.

South Africa's Lasting Impact

South Africa's electronic music scene occupies a unique place within global house culture.

Our producers understand rhythm differently. They embrace patience. They honour percussion. They allow emotion to coexist with dance-floor functionality. Whether it's soulful house, Afro-house, deep house or experimental underground sounds, there is often a sense of humanity embedded within the music.

The current generation continues to push boundaries while remaining connected to heritage. What excites me most is seeing South African producers influence dance floors around the world without sacrificing authenticity.

As I continue developing my own voice as Deep Owen, I carry these influences with gratitude.

Not as templates to follow, but as reminders.

Reminders that music can be soulful and sophisticated. That bass can breathe. That experimentation matters. That underground sounds have value.

And that sometimes all it takes is hearing the right record at the right moment for someone to realise that they have a story worth telling through sound.

With I'm Spinnin' For A Reason, Deep Owen channels many of the lessons discussed above into a release that balances deep grooves, soulful energy and introspective atmosphere. Released via Dealt With Records, the EP showcases an artist continuing to carve out his own path while remaining connected to the rich lineage of South African underground house music.

As South African producers continue to shape dance floors across the globe, artists like Deep Owen represent a new generation carrying that tradition forward—one built on authenticity, emotion and a deep understanding of the power of rhythm and story.

I'm Spinnin' For A Reason is available now HERE via Dealt With Records.

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