Homegrown DJ has a ‘Wish for Love’
Avela ‘Ethic Soul’ Mdingi, a house music producer, DJ, film scorer and songwriter is set to release his fifth extended play (EP) album Wish for Love on April 26.
Mdingi said the six-track album was a reflection of his life in the music industry.
He worked on the album with Deep75, Gift of Africa and Golden Yang.
“I worked with those three artists and for the rest of the songs, I worked on my own,” he said.
After matriculating at Maria Louw High School, Mdingi attended the Soul Candi Institute of Music, from which he graduated in 2019.
“I noticed my love for music in 2009.
“I was listening to music before but to be involved in producing and being a DJ started in 2009.
“The late DJ Quje always took me to his gigs to see him play,” Mdingi said.
In 2010, he met Masta J J, Yolo Lounge’s resident DJ, who taught him mixing skills.
He learnt to produce by himself before he attended the academy, where he polished his skills.
In 2016, he signed his first record label contract with Stagz Jazz Records in Pretoria, through which he released two albums before signing a contract with Amaridge Records from the US, and releasing a single album with them in 2020. I then signed with TD Grooves Records.
“I released my first album with them last year and they will be releasing this one as well,” he said.
The album’s title track, Wish for Love, expresses his love for music, his hometown, and the bond that he said existed between DJs.
He said the track Ways of Peace, was a song for everyone.
“It is a message about making peace with people who like you and those who do not.”
Asked about his journey as a
musician from Komani, he said it had been hard to try make others understand his taste in music.
“I do amapiano, three step, Afro but mostly deep house.
“Wish for Love is a deep house album with fusion traces of gqom and amapiano,” Mdingi said.
He said it was not easy to have a successful career as a DJ in a small town such as Komani, as venues and opportunities were limited.
His new album will be available on digital platforms and via direct purchase.