Church roots laid the foundation
South African DJ and producer Dark-Horse SA says his journey into music began in church, where he played the keyboard before transitioning into music production in 2005.
Speaking to TheJournalistDJ.com, the producer said his passion for house music has remained unchanged throughout his career.
“Music is my passion. I grew up in church playing keyboard. I started producing, and now I do house music.”
Staying true to his sound paid off
Dark-Horse SA believes the growth of his brand over the past two years is the result of patience rather than following trends.
Instead of chasing commercially popular sounds, he focused on refining his craft until he found a style that truly represented him.
“I’ve stayed on my craft, trying to master my sound… it was just me staying in my lane, being patient and waiting for the right time.”
Gospel music continues to influence his productions
The producer credits gospel music as one of the biggest influences behind his mellow and soulful production style.
He says South Africa’s house scene often prioritises creating chart-topping hits, but believes there is equal value in making music listeners can enjoy in everyday moments.
“We still need music to listen to when we’re chilled, when we’re driving, when we’re cleaning. There’s a huge gap there.”
Building a community through Somnyama Sunsets
Beyond producing music, Dark-Horse SA has expanded his brand through Somnyama Sunsets, a house music event series held twice a month at Tiger’s Milk in Waterfall.
The concept was born after the release of his Somnyama album, with the aim of creating a long-term platform that celebrates house music culture.
“We didn’t want to just do an album launch and be done. We wanted to create something that will last forever and promote house music at large.”
New album arriving in 2026
Looking ahead, Dark-Horse SA confirmed that he will release a new album titled Flora Ntlemo, named in honour of his late grandmother.
He also revealed that the album’s first single, is scheduled for release on 24 July 2026.
Afro Tech is the future
While attending the launch of Kabza De Small’s Tech Hub label, Dark-Horse SA praised the growing Afro Tech movement, saying the genre represents the future of South African house music.
He welcomed the momentum behind the sound and applauded artists helping push the genre forward.
“I think that’s the future. That’s where we’re all heading to… Seeing house music winning in South Africa is dope.”
Where fans can follow him
Dark-Horse SA encouraged fans to connect with him across social media, where he is active under the name Dark Horse SA on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
